Rideau Canal
Photo: (WT-en) Jpatokal at English Wikivoyage, CC BY-SA 3.0 via Wikimedia Commons
The Rideau Canal is a historical scenic waterway that connects the towns of Kingston and Ottawa in Ontario, Canada. It has been declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
UnderstandThe canal was built by the British after the War of 1812 to provide a secure link between Montreal and Kingston, without passing along the Saint Lawrence River because that river borders American territory.
PrepareThere are two main ways to see the Rideau Canal: either you can travel by boat in the canal, or you can drive alongside. You can drive or sail by yourself, or go for a guided tour. Some people also cycle this route.
Get inThe entry points to the canal are Kingston to the south, from Lake Ontario and the St. Lawrence River (elevation 74 m), and Ottawa in the north from the Ottawa River (elevation 40 m).
GoThere were 49 locks in the original Rideau Canal, which Parks Canada numbers from Ottawa. Some sites operate as multiple adjacent locks in series, numbered individually here.
Stay safeThis should go without saying, but always wear a life jacket while boating on the canal. The canal varies from a channel a few dozen metres wide to lakes a few kilometres wide.
Sources and licences
- Guide text adapted from the Wikivoyage article "Rideau Canal" by its contributors, available under CC BY-SA 4.0. Read on Wikivoyage · Contributors · CC BY-SA 4.0
- Photo: (WT-en) Jpatokal at English Wikivoyage, CC BY-SA 3.0 via Wikimedia Commons