There are five official routes for the Rideau Lakes Cycle Tour. GPS files will be available through the OBC RideWithGPS route library for these routes closer to the time of the event. (You can get a listing of all the RLCT routes in the OBC RideWithGPS Club by searching for the tag “RLCT“) The Classic and Century routes are fully supported, the other two are not except where they overlap with the supported routes. Supported routes have directional signage, designated rest stops, on-route repair services, and police supervision.
Riders may, of course, choose alternative routes and may take one route going to Kingston and another back. If you are switching between Ottawa and Perth routes, make certain that your luggage is put in the correct truck on Sunday morning.
Technical Note: All registrants will have no-cost access to turn-by-turn voice navigation and route cue-sheet creation for all RLCT routes, using the Ride With GPS software. The on-bike devices supported are: Android and iPhone native RWGPS apps; Garmin; Wahoo; Hammerhead. All further details regarding app sign-up and use will be provided to registrants by subsequent email.
Classic Route (171km, supported)
The Classic Route has been more or less the same since 1972. In 2025, the ride will start and finish at the Nepean Sportsplex on Woodroffe Avenue – which was the original starting location of the RLCT. From Ottawa it heads west to Perth, then toward Kingston via the scenic Christie Lake Road, avoiding traffic on County Road 10 until the charming town of Westport. It then heads down CR 10 to Kingston. The return is just the reverse, including the ascent, rather than descent, of the Westport hill.
Century Plus Route (119 km, supported)
The Century Plus Route route starts at Conlon Farm, Perth, heads south down Rideau Ferry Road then through Narrows Lock on the Rideau Canal, south to Lyndhurst to avoid most of Saturday’s traffic, then west to Sunbury before heading into Kingston on CR 11 for a total of 118km. Official stops are Narrows Locks, Delta and Ormsbee’s in Sunbury. The Sunday route is simply the reverse of the Saturday route.
Cruise Route (183km, Unsupported)
The Cruise Route route heads south out of Ottawa to the historic town of Merrickville, then south-west through various small towns before arriving in Kingston. Note: the United Church in Toledo will not be offering food this year. However, St. Pauls’ Anglican Community Centre in Delta will be offering food, water, and toilets.
Challenge Route (210km, Unsupported)
This route branches off the Classic Route just after Ashton and goes north to Almonte, then heads west to eventually rejoin the Classic Route before Westport. The ride is, as the name implies, challenging with a good number of hills. Careful navigation is needed as there are no directional signs except where the route overlaps the Classic Route. Lanark County is undertaking significant work on Bolingbrooke Road, CR 36, that is scheduled to be completed just before the tour. Please monitor this page for updates sometime in May.
Cataraqui Route (gravel, 119km)
Back by popular demand, the RLCT is offering a gravel option. The Cataraqui Route starts in Perth, makes use the the Cataraqui and K&P rail trails, as well as quiet country roads.
This is a mixed surface ride, about 50% unpaved, comprising of gravel roads, rail trails, and quiet paved roads. While it’s a “real gravel” ride, it’s intended to be accessible to a wide range of gravel riders.
The feedback from last year’s riders was “two thumbs up”. It’s a great route, quiet and scenic, through the heart of the Rideau Lakes cottage country. The gravel roads and rail trails are in great shape – mostly fast and hard, great for beginner gravel cyclists. The route is best done on smooth-tread tires, and anything 35mm or up greater will be fine (Experienced riders might even opt for 32-33mm). At the south end, approaching Queen’s University, where we are forced to take city roads, the route is less enjoyable.
This is an unsupported route, riders must be prepared to do their own repairs and arrange for emergency assistance if needed. Also note that uses mainly quiet, remote roads and trails with limited services and that parts of the route use trails which are inaccessible to motor vehicles.
The route does parallel the Century Plus Route which is supported, so Cataraqui route riders can take advantage of the RLCT Rest Stops at Narrows Locks and Perth Road Village, as well as Century Route support services between Perth and Narrows Locks.
