The Cataraqui Trail is a year-round recreational
trail. Opened on September 4, 2000, welcomes hikers, cyclists, cross
country skiers, and snowmobilers. The trail stretches for 104km
between Smiths Falls and Strathcona (near Napanee). Along a the way
the trail follows sections of the abandoned Canadian National Railway.
Image courtesy of
Cataraqui Trail, Ontario.
There are a lot of attractions along the way.
From saw mills, to cheese factories, to shingle mills. There are
also lots of lakes, rivers, and wetlands that can be explored along
the way. For a full listing of places to visit along the trail,
visit the
official website.
Directions:
There are 48 main and secondary access points
along the trail. Closest access point to the cottage is at Portland,
although Smiths Falls, the official starting point of the trail, is
about 20 minutes away.
Directions from Portland - Traveling along
Highway 15, take Portland Station Road (next to Rideau Realty
Office). The trail starts 0.7 km from Highway 15.
Directions from Smiths Falls - The trail starts behind Harvey's and
Tim Horton's on Highway 15 at the south end of town.
A full listing of access points and a high-res map is
available
here.
Admission Fee:
Free for all ages, but to help with the upkeep
of the trail a voluntary annual membership of $25 is available.
Official Website:
Cataraqui Trail, Ontario.
