My Trail

 

 My Trail:

A stroll through Perth on the Rideau Trail

The Rideau Trail passes right beside Town Hall

We all have our favourite sections of the Rideau Trail.  With a long-distance hiking trail as long and as varied as this - it’s about 330 km between Ottawa and Kingston - everyone will have their own opinion of the best section of the route.

For me, it’s the short four kilometre stretch through the middle of the Town of Perth, between Riverside Drive in the east, and Scotch Line in the south.

Of course, many hikers on the Rideau Trail are on a mission – perhaps, for example, to complete a long-distance “end-to-end” challenge, or to take part in an organized hike through the area.  But if you’re not in such a hurry, then this is the stretch of trail for you.  There is so much to enjoy, all without departing more than a few steps from the trail. 

In different times of year, I have strolled beside the Tay Canal, watching the boats and the canoes go by, and have stopped to rent a canoe myself.  On a hot summer’s day I’ve enjoyed a cool ale at the craft brewery beside the trail, and stopped to buy fresh strawberries from the Farmer’s Market at Crystal Palace.  I’ve been serenaded by the Perth Citizen’s Band from their historic bandstand behind Town Hall, followed by an ice cream or a picnic in Stewart Park – and in this same park this winter I discovered an ice rink right on the trail.  I’ve strolled many times across two picturesque footbridges over the Tay River on my way to Conlon Farm.  Here, at different times of year, is a tobogganing hill, and tennis courts, and baseball diamonds.  And starting this spring, I’ll be able to rent a bike from Heritage Bikes, at their new location beside the Rideau Trail on Conlon Drive. 

In earlier blogs I have called Perth the “Jewel of the Rideau Trail”, which isn’t very original, I know.  But I travel this section of trail almost every day, and while I have walked its full length from the Ottawa River to the St. Lawrence on more than one occasion, I am perfectly happy strolling through my own Town and enjoying it, in a different way and in a different weather each time.

That’s My Trail.

 

The Passionate Hiker

26 February 2021

Entering Perth from the north: Riverside Drive

Tay Canal (connects with the Rideau Canal)

Canoeing on the Tay, opposite Last Duel Park

Last Duel Park: A great resource for Perth

Canoe rentals close to the trail

Heading out on the river

At the craft brewery - summer seating by the trail

The trail enters the Tay Basin

At Crystal  Palace

Good winter hiking in town

Rideau Trail Association at Festival of Maples, in front of Town Hall

The Bandstand

Perth Citizens Band

Ice rink right on the trail

Crossing Stewart Park

Picturesque Rainbow Bridge

Winter in Perth

Conlon Farm

The tobogganing hill

The hikers' meeting place at Conlon Farm

Scotch Line: heading south into open country