Ottawa Canal Cruise – Full 7 Day Itinerary

Boating the Rideau Canal is likely one of the finest issues to do in Canada, and by chance going by the historic lock system will be finished with out proudly owning your personal boat. Heck, you don’t even want boating expertise. Due to Le Boat establishing store in Smiths Falls, Ontario, there’s a fleet of luxurious houseboats simply ready so that you can drive up or down this well-known UNESCO World Heritage Web site.

Le Boat is the primary supplier of sailing holidays has been providing canal journeys all through Europe for greater than 50 years. When deciding to start out working houseboats in North America, The Rideau Canal was a pure match. This beautiful 200 km (125 miles) lengthy waterway is like driving by a bit of slice of Europe. It’s dotted with quaint villages, historic ruins, scenic vineyards, and exquisite surroundings. To not point out the 200-year-old locks which have been constantly in operation since 1832.

Household pleasant boating holidays – Household Day Financial savings

The Rideau Canal Le Boat Expertise

The journey begins with an hour-long introduction to your Le Boat. Throughout this time you’ll be proven the best way to learn the maps and charts, the best way to use the range, and the place the entire essential devices and tools are, present you the knots you’ll have to tie up on the docks, however most significantly, the best way to drive the boat!

Le Boats on the Rideau Canal are very simple to drive. The Horizon Fleet boats are all outfitted with entrance and rear thrusters making it simple to activate a dime. When pulling as much as moor, it’s simple to park between boats are in tight areas by utilizing the aspect thrusters to inch right into a slot. All Le Boats have throttlers on them so you’ll be able to’t go quicker than 10 km per hour making it simple to cruise and loosen up all through your journey.

After your lesson and when you really feel assured, your teacher will information you thru the primary set of locks educating you lock etiquette and the best way to safely pull in. You should have all of the instruments it is advisable to comfortably cruise by the Rideau Canal in your luxurious yacht.

Horizon Fleet

We booked a four-bedroom, four-bath for 3 {couples}. My dad and mom got here with us in addition to my brother and Sister in Regulation. We additionally had two cats on board. Le Boat is pet-friendly, so you’ll be able to deliver the complete household together with the pets alongside!

Every room has its personal toilet and bathe. There’s a massive sitting space inside that comfortably sat all of us. Although there are 4 bedrooms and 4 baths, I feel it could have been crowded downstairs with {couples}, however there are the higher deck and picnic tables the place individuals can unfold out. If the climate is sweet, it could be simple to suit 4 {couples} within the Horizon 4. We cruised throughout fall colors, so we had some very chilly days and nights and spent extra time downstairs than we did throughout our summer time trip on the Horizon 3.

The kitchen has two small fridges, and there’s a barbecue up high, so cooking is straightforward on Le Boats. We additionally introduced coolers to retailer drinks and meals because the fridges on the Horizon 4 aren’t full dimension. There may be loads of deck house, so that you don’t have to fret about it being crowded.

Easy methods to Select Which Route to go

Selecting to take a ship journey on the Rideau Canal is the straightforward half, however selecting which option to go could make for a troublesome choice. Smiths Falls is positioned nearly immediately in the midst of the Rideau Canal. When you go north, you’ll be heading to Ottawa, Canada’s capital metropolis. When you go south, you’ll be making your option to Kingston, Canada’s first capital metropolis. Each are nice cities to go to and each instructions supply fascinating stops alongside the best way, so right now, we’re going to offer you some perception into selecting which option to boat on the Rideau Canal from Smiths Falls.

Overview of North and South

We had the chance to drive each north and south and may attest that each are excellent journeys. They’re, nonetheless, fairly completely different, so selecting which option to go relies on the kind of journey you need to have.

When boating north in direction of Ottawa, there are numerous extra locks to undergo. Between Smiths Falls and Ottawa, there are 12 lock stations containing 21 locks. The waterways are narrower and the journey feels extra like an precise canal journey than a boating trip in Ontario. It’s potential to get to Ottawa and again on a week-long journey when going on this path.

When going south, the bodes of water are bigger and you may be driving on lakes which are related by locks. At occasions you don’t even really feel like you’re on a canal system, however as an alternative in Ontario’s cottage nation. There are extra decisions of cities to cease at and you are able to do extra of a loop as an alternative of an out and again journey.

Until you’ve gotten a variety of time, most individuals received’t make all of it the best way to Kingston and as an alternative often cease on the high of Jones Falls Locks, which is usually thought of essentially the most lovely locks on the Rideau Canal. To get to Jones Falls, you’ll undergo 8 lock stations (after departing Smiths Falls) with solely 8 locks which suggests you’ve gotten extra cruising time and fewer time contained in the locks.

For extra info on cruising south on the Rideau Canal, learn our full submit right here: Superb Rideau Canal Cruise – A Distinctive Cruise Vacation with Le Boat

The Journey North to Ottawa

We had been most excited to spend the evening downtown Ottawa on our boat when planning our northern Le Boat journey. Le Boats park proper downtown in entrance of the Rideau Heart with views of the Parliament Buildings and the Fairmont Chateau Laurier. In previous journeys to Ottawa, we’ve seen yachts moored within the canal and will solely dream of constructing this journey. Now that it’s potential to lease a houseboat, anybody can be part of this unique membership of sailing the historic Rideau Canal.

Day 1 Merrickville (4 hours)

The primary cease from Smiths Falls is the city of Merrickville the place we moored for the evening on the blue line of the Merrickville locks. When mooring in Merrickville, we recommend staying on the high of the locks so you’ll be able to simply get pleasure from exploring the city. You don’t have far to go the subsequent day, and Merrickville is certainly a spotlight of this Rideau Canal cruise.

This was our favorite cease on our northern Rideau Canal route. Merrickville has every part you possibly can want. Merrickville was voted “Canada’s Most Stunning Village by Communities in Bloom” and it is rather fairly. There may be loads of procuring downtown and we picked up fairly a couple of gadgets for our home. Make certain to walk its most important avenue and pop into the outlets. Our favourite place was the Grey Artwork Glass Studio the place we purchased a beautiful centerpiece for our eating room desk and Stella Luna Cafe for gelato. The proprietor studied the artwork of constructing Gelato at Carbigiani Gelato College in Bologna! Dave and I’ve truly toured that college!

Merrickville Ruins

A spotlight of visiting Merrickville is strolling to the gorgeous ruins. The muse of an deserted woolen mill is positioned in a picturesque setting simply on the opposite aspect of the Rideau Canal from city. There’s a strolling path, lovely stone foundations, an influence generator, and views of the Rideau Canal. Don’t miss strolling throughout the bridge to see them. Whereas docked in Merrickville, you can too go to the outdated blockhouse that has been was a museum.

Day 2 – Burritts Rapids (3 hours)

The following cease is Burritts Rapids. When leaving Merrickville there are three locks and a swing bridge to undergo. As soon as you’re by these locks, it’s not lengthy till you’re at Burritt Rapids. At Burritts Rapids there’s a good climbing path, The Tip to Tip. It’s a 4.3 kilometer is an out & again path the place you’ll go the village of Burritts Rapids as you make your approach out to the tip.

For us, the spotlight right here was visiting Rideau Woodland Ramble. When you’ve rented bicycles together with your Le Boat (or bringing your personal) you’ll be able to bike to this lovely show backyard and middle. It’s only 1.7 km from the Burritts Rapids Lock station, so you can too stroll there. These gardens are lovely with strolling trails by beautiful shows. There’s even a labyrinth within the backyard the place you’ll be able to take a second for quiet meditation. There are Japanese maples, quiet ponds, backyard gnomes, and the Totem Path. Make certain to spend a while perusing the gardens and stocking up on provides to your personal backyard.

It’s dinner on the boat tonight as you get pleasure from an attractive sundown from the lock station.

Day 3 – Lengthy Island (5 hours)

At this time is an extended boating day so attempt to be first by the locks so you may make your option to Lengthy Island. As soon as you’re by the Merrickville Locks, it’s clean crusing as you cruise the Rideau River to Manotick. It is a lengthy portion with lovely surroundings and it’s alongside this route that the massive houses begin coming into view. We simply liked sitting on the deck watching the surroundings go by.

At this time is an efficient day to have somebody put together lunch and snacks on board so you may make good time. We wished to get by the Lengthy Island locks as a result of it’s nonetheless an extended option to Ottawa. However it is very important be aware that when going by lock stations, it is advisable to be on the locks 1.5 hours earlier than closing. Since we had been cruising in Autumn to see the autumn colours, that meant that the lock station closed at 5 pm, so if we had been to get by, we wanted to reach at 3:30. Fortunately we timed today to occur on the weekend when hours are longer, so by leaving at 9 am sharp, we simply made it by the Lengthy Island locks.

That is undoubtedly a lock station that you simply wish to undergo when you can and park on the backside as a result of it’s one other lengthy day on the water, so you will have to have the ability to depart brilliant and early. When you park on the high, you’ll want to attend for the lock station to open at 9 am.

Black Rapids (1 hour)

We made such good time, that when we acquired by the Lengthy Island Locks, we determined to push ahead to Black Rapids Locks. It’s lower than 10 km from Lengthy Island to Black Rapids and since we had been boating on the weekend, we had time to make it by Black Rapids to remain on the backside of the locks in order that we may push ahead to Ottawa very first thing within the morning.

It had began to rain, so this was a very good time to make up a long way. We moved downstairs to drive from under in heat and luxury and continued to Black Rapids the place we spent the evening on the backside of the locks. We had been the final boat by and Now had a really brief day forward of us to Ottawa.

Day 4 Ottawa (4 Hours)

It’s an thrilling day as a result of it’s the ultimate stretch to the Capital Metropolis of Canada. The houses are nearer collectively and proceed to develop in dimension with floatplanes and motorboats lining their docks. Pleasant kayakers wave as you go and after passing marinas and bridges, the channel narrows as you method Ottawa. There are two ultimate locks to go by earlier than reaching the town of Ottawa. Hartwell and Hogs Again locks. At this level, you undoubtedly really feel like you’re in an city setting. Cyclists experience their bicycles alongside the shore, individuals are strolling alongside the trail and crowds cease to look at the boats undergo the locks. Fortunately you’ve been driving Le Boat for 4 days by now, so that you undergo the locks like a professional!

Dows Lake

It’s now time to decide. Dows Lake is simply outdoors of downtown Ottawa, however it’s a excellent spot to moor for the night. The big marina has three eating places and watersport leases. That is additionally the place the place you’ll wish to pump out your boat and replenish your water. You possibly can park right here for the evening, however to remain on the Marina, there’s an additional value. (roughly $80)

Day 5 Downtown (half-hour to 1 hour)

After pumping out and filling our water, we continued on to downtown Ottawa from Dows Lake. This manner, we may park within the coronary heart of the town and are inside strolling distance from many of the metropolis’s high sights. The cruise into Ottawa is gorgeous. Many individuals pay for a Rideau Canal cruise from downtown, and on Le Boat, you get to drive your personal boat on this historic stretch of waterway. From Dows Lake to Downtown, it’s only a 20 to 30-minute cruise, however you do want to attend for one raise bridge. The cellphone quantity is in your charts, so name forward to let the bridge grasp know you’re in your approach. They’ll then cease visitors and allow you to by.

Issues to do in Ottawa close to Le Boat parking

You now have the afternoon to get pleasure from all of the wonderful issues to do in downtown Ottawa. We’ve got visited this metropolis typically and have many articles on Ottawa sights. But when it’s your first time, you’re in an incredible place since you are inside strolling distance to the ByWard Market, The Parliament Buildings, The Rideau Centre, and Sparks Avenue. The ByTown museum is shut by and for simply $2 you’ll be able to go inside and stroll by this beautiful museum that traces the historical past of Ottawa identified then as Bytown

We propose heading to ByWard Marketplace for dinner. There are many locations to eat out there and you’ll want to go as much as the highest of the Andaz Resort for cocktails on the rooftop bar and wonderful views of Ottawa.

Earlier than dinner, take a stroll to Parliament Hill to see the federal government parliament buildings and to look throughout the Ottawa River on the metropolis of Gatineau Quebec. In your approach again, hop as much as Sparks Avenue. This pedestrian avenue is nice for a stroll and comes out on the Struggle Memorial the place you’ll be able to see the altering of the guards on the Tomb of the Unknown soldier at 9 am and 5 pm.

Night

A night in Ottawa provides numerous issues to do. One enjoyable factor for the entire household is to take a haunted strolling tour. Study in regards to the metropolis of Ottawa and its historical past as you stroll to a few of its well-known sights whereas listening to enjoyable tales about ghosts within the evening.

Day 6 Ottawa (Non-compulsory Full Day in Ottawa)

When you solely have someday in Ottawa, one of the best factor to do is to take a tour. We booked an e-bike tour with Escape Bicycle Tours and it was a wonderful option to go to all the highest Ottawa sights. What we liked about e-biking is that it’s good for a multi-generational journey. My dad and mom joined us on this journey and so did my brother and sister-in-law. All of us have completely different ranges of biking, however driving an e-bike ranges the enjoying discipline. It’s really easy!

We met our information Andrew at their workplace on Sparks Avenue. It’s a improbable location the place you’ll be able to order specialty coffees, beer, and wine. We had espresso earlier than the tour and wine after. After studying the best way to navigate the bikes we adopted Andrew by the town on the well-appointed bike paths. Ottawa is a really bikeable metropolis. My household was a bit fearful about biking within the metropolis, however their nerves had been shortly eased as soon as we began biking. There have been paths all through the town and after we had been in visitors, bikes had their very own lanes.

The tour took us throughout the Ottawa River into Quebec the place we noticed Canada’s busiest Museum, The Canadian Museum of Historical past. We then cycled throughout the Alexandra Bridge on the designated bike and strolling path to the Nationwide Gallery of Canada the place we noticed the wonderful Maman spider set up and took within the views of the Notre Dame Basilica. It was then out to Sussex Drive together with to see Rideau Corridor, the house of Canada’s governor-general. The tour was lovely, showcasing one of the best of the town whereas having fun with the good open air.

After our tour, we had some beer and wine on the Escape Bicycle outside patio on Sparks Avenue. It’s such an incredible environment, and proprietor Maria got here out to hitch us for a cappuccino. When visiting Ottawa, ensure to ebook a tour or bicycle rental with Escape Bicycle Excursions, go to their web site for particulars.

Within the night we had a enjoyable household bonding expertise at Escape Manor the place we labored collectively as a crew to get out of the Asylum. It was the primary escape room we’ve ever finished and I extremely advocate doing it. Particularly if you’re with your loved ones.

Dinner

Taking a stroll alongside Financial institution Avenue we made our option to Flora Corridor Brewing for dinner. It is a improbable setting in an outdated storage. The native craft brewery has an in depth menu from falafels and beet hummus to Burrata salads. It’s all open-concept and you’ll see the vats of beer behind glass the place they make their very own microbrew. It’s then again to the boat for cocktails on deck with the Ottawa lights glistening within the clean waters of the canal.

Day 7 – Ottawa to Lengthy Island (3-4 hours)

At this time it’s time to say goodbye to Ottawa and begin making your approach again to Smiths Falls. You’ll be backtracking so that you’ll be seeing a variety of the identical surroundings, however it is a enjoyable time to cease on the locations you could have missed. Since we b-lined it by Lengthy Island from to Black Rapids on the best way to Ottawa, we determined to go immediately to remain in a single day at Lengthy Island on the best way again.

Lengthy Island is a beautiful lock station with three locks and a swing bridge. It’s wonderful to look at the Parks Canada workers at work. They crank the locks by hand and push the trolley to open the swing bridge in circles. It’s actually like stepping again in time.

From the Lengthy Island Locks, it’s a 15-minute bike experience to the city of Manotick. It’s value going into this historic city with 1860s Watson’s Mill being the spotlight. There are a number of cafes and specialty outlets for procuring, or you’ll be able to merely loosen up on one in every of its patios.

Day 8 – Nicolson Locks

At this time is a leisurely cruise as you make your approach again alongside the Rideau Canal. It’s unimaginable to get to Smiths Falls in a day from Lengthy Island, so you’ll be able to resolve the place you wish to spend the evening on the best way again. You might wish to revisit Merrickville to get pleasure from some scrumptious pizza at Iron Forge Pizza, or it’s your decision an evening on the water at Burrits Rapids or Nicholsons Lock. We made it by Burrits Rapids and determined to remain at Nicholsons to get pleasure from a night in peace and quiet on Le Boat.

Utilizing the barbecue on the higher deck, we loved cocktails and dinner because the solar set over the water. It was the right ending to our final evening on the boat.

Closing Day – On to Smiths Falls

Our ultimate push had us leaving very first thing within the morning to get by to Smiths Falls the place we backed the boat into the slip. We’ve come a great distance child, 8 days in the past we had been nervous about driving Le Boat’s Horizon 4 and now we’re backing it with precision proper into the slip alongside the remainder of the fleet.

As one individual went to get the carts to assist carry our gear, the remainder began to unload the boat and get it prepared for sign-off. It was an exquisite week with household on the Le Boat Horizon 4 and it was bittersweet saying goodbye to it. We extremely advocate getting your loved ones or shut associates collectively to share this once-in-a-lifetime expertise.

Le Boat and Rideau Canal – The Deails

Le Boat is positioned in Smiths Falls within the middle of the Rideau Canal. Boat holidays can go both approach alongside the canal from Smiths Falls and don’t have to go all the best way to Ottawa in your journey. We met many individuals who took shorter three to four-day journeys to Merrickville or Burritts Rapids. You additionally don’t have to spend two nights in Ottawa.

We wished my household to expertise our favorite metropolis in Ottawa, so we selected to spend an additional evening within the metropolis, however you’ll be able to select to remain as lengthy or as brief as you want. The one additional value for Le Boaters in Ottawa on the canal is the price of energy which is $9.20 per evening.

Rideau Canal Hours

When planning your Le Boat route on the Rideau Canal, it’s essential to take a look at lock occasions. Le Boats can solely go 10 km per hour, so you’ll be able to’t zip from lock to lock. It’s meant to be a sluggish and enjoyable boat rip on the Rideau. So, ensure to understand how far you wish to journey and the way a lot you wish to see earlier than reserving the variety of days from Smiths Falls.

Attending to Ottawa in 3 days is doable, however it is very important make good time between locks and to plan if you will keep on the high or backside of locks. Going by the locks can take some time and when you park on the high however wish to transfer on within the morning, you received’t have the ability to till the lock opens. We frequently went by the lock within the night in order that we may park on the backside and be on our approach very first thing within the morning.

Lock occasions change relying on the time of the yr and it is advisable to be on the locks 1 1/2 hours earlier than they shut as it could actually take that lengthy to get boats by. So if the locks shut at 4:00 pm within the autumn, you will want to be going by by 2:30 on the newest.

Opening Hours:

• Could 21 – June 17
  • Monday to Thursday 10:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m.
  • Friday to Sunday and holidays 9:00 a.m. – 7:00 p.m.
• June 18 – Sept. 6:
  • Monday to Thursday 9:00 a.m. – 6:00 p.m.
  • Friday to Sunday and holidays 9:00 a.m. – 7:00 p.m.

• September 7 – October 11:
  • Monday to Friday 10:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m.
  • Saturday, Sunday & Thanksgiving 9:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.

It’s free for Le Boaters to remain on the Parks Canada locks, however if you’d like energy, there’s a cost of $9.80. You don’t essentially want energy as Le Boats cost all day whereas driving, however if you wish to run the air conditioner in summer time or warmth in Spring and Autumn, it’s your decision energy for peace of thoughts. When you keep at a Marina, some are included in your rental and others have an additional price. Simply examine with the workers earlier than you allow to seek out out which marinas are freed from cost. Some supply free stays for the primary two Le Boaters that arrive, so if you’d like an evening at a specific marina, ensure to reach early.

Taking a Le Boat Trip on the Rideau Canal is a once-in-a-lifetime expertise. Going by the historic locks is a dream trip that’s on many an avid boaters bucket checklist. It’s wonderful that Le Boat has opened up store in Canada providing luxurious 45-foot yachts to permit the general public to expertise a visit that was as soon as solely out there for many who personal their very own boats. In case you are in search of one thing distinctive to do in Ontario this summer time, put Le Boat on the high of your checklist!

Go to the Le Boat web site for luxurious boating holidays in Europe and Canada at LeBoat.com