Rideau Canal

The Rideau Canal is a recreational nirvana created by one of the 19th Century’s greatest engineering feats. The National Historic Site and Canadian Heritage River was formed via a chain of scenic lakes, rivers and canals winding from Kingston on Lake Ontario to Ottawa, our Nation’s Capital.

The Rideau offers 202 kilometres (125 miles) of beautiful shorelines and memorable natural and historic sights for visitors and residents alike. It was opened in 1832 after two river systems were linked using 47 locks. Today the boater’s paradise remains one of the oldest continuously operating canals in North America.

Recognized as a UNESCO World Heritage Destination, the Rideau is operated and preserved by Parks Canada. The canal’s wetlands are home to rare plant and animal species and a diverse fish population. There are four distinct natural landscapes along the route: the Ottawa Clay Plain, the Smiths Falls Limestone Plain, the Frontenac Axis extension of the rugged Canadian Shield and the Napanee Plain. It is Canada’s 14th and Ontario’s only World Heritage Site. This diverse waterway is a delight to explore by canoe, kayak, tour and motorboat, or experience it by automobile, bicycle or on foot along the Rideau Trail and the Rideau Heritage Route.

The Rideau Canal was considered a busy national highway until the 1950s when rapids on the St. Lawrence River were tamed by a series of locks and commercial traffic switched to the more direct route into the Great Lakes.

Fast Facts:

• Number of locks: 47
• Number of lock stations: 24
• Length of Canal: 202 km (125 miles)
• Estimated travel time (one way) 3-5 days by power boat, 6 to 10 by paddle boat
• First official opening: 1832