Duck Bay

Fri. 2 October:  Duck Bay

Into  the woods west of Narrows Lock Road

One of my favourite sections of the Rideau Trail is also one of the shortest.

Starting at a convenient parking area on Narrows Lock Road, the trail enters the woods, wanders past a small body of water, across a limestone plateau, and unexpectedly arrives at a viewpoint on an open hillside.

This viewpoint makes an ideal stop for lunch.  Below is Duck Bay, a wooded inlet of Upper Rideau Lake, which can be seen on the horizon.  From this point I followed the trail down onto the North Shore Road, a quiet gravel lane servicing the many cottages hidden in the trees along the shoreline.  Kanes Lane leads down to the lake, and then Whippoorwill Lane ends at some attractive waterfront properties.  It’s all private land here, so you can’t reach the lake itself. 

The other highlight of this stretch of trail is the presence of some ancient and gnarled trees which appear to be pointing the way for the uncertain traveller.  Although they look a little scary, I’m pretty sure they are glad to see hikers pass by.

The return trip was exactly five kilometres, ideal for a half-day adventure.  And a short distance down Narrows Lock Road is the Rideau Canal, always worth a visit.  Today there were no boats in sight, and the waters of Big Rideau Lake were choppy in the brisk wind.     

Note:  single-click on the first picture above to scroll through the photos separately.

Statistics:

Total Distance:      5.0 km (hike)

Height Gain:          Say 160 ft.

Time on Trail:       1 hr. 26 mins.

NLock  Road:       1.26 pm

Kane Road:          2.08 pm

Ret. to car:            2.52 pm

Temp:                   +12C

Weather:               Sunny, cool breeze.

Perfect woodland trail

The trees along this section of the Rideau Trail can be scary

Colorful swamp

"This way, if you please!"

Duck Bay from the unexpected hillside viewpoint

"And now turn right":  this tree looks like an out-of-place sea creature

Map of the route