RACING NORTH
August 21/22, 2026
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| My map: 60 km of new trails for cyclists!! |
A year ago, I explored the latest extension of the OVRT (the
Algonquin Trail) north from Petawawa to Chalk River. I’m now just catching up on the next dramatic
extension of the trail northwards from Chalk River, all the way to Bissett
Creek, another roughly 60 km of brand new rail trail.
During these past two days I biked most of this latest
section of trail, and now I only have to finish the roughly 16 km from Chalk
River to James Lake Road. In two days I
biked almost 90 km, in four legs, using two different bases. As a result, I’ve actually biked the new
section from James Lake Road to Bissett Creek twice – there and back! Not bad for a 75 year old!
I saw only one cyclist during these four trips, and he was a
local guy on an errand. I only met a
handful of ATVs, a man and his dog, and a young black bear! I
had the place to myself. Perhaps this is
just too remote for many cyclists to explore – but they should do so. I will let my photos speak for themselves.
If anyone would like to have details of my logistics, just
let me know. I explored some remote access
roads, perhaps only busy in winter with snowmobiles. And I can highly recommend the Deep River
Motel for amazing value for money.
And I must find out more on the history of this section of the railway line, which had to be rerouted in the late 1940s, due to the raising of the Ottawa River water levels caused by the building of the Des Joachims dam.
Congratulations to everyone responsible for creating this
new section of trail. It is a superb
job, and any intrepid cyclist must come and explore it.
Here's a link to my photo album, but I also attach the pics below: OVRT James Lake Rd to Bissett Ck. (44 km) - Google Photos
The Passionate Hiker (Biker??)
23 August 2026
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Early starts
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| Just west of James Lake Rd. |
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| Remote access point on day 2 |
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| Baby bear beside the trail |
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| One of many lakes along the route |
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| Hard to tell, but this is a huge embankment |
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| Mackey Creek view West |
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| Mackey Creek view East |
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| The only crossing of Highway 17 |
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| Same bridge view south |
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| Handy parking at the Municipal offices on Boat Launch Road - I was given permission to park behind the building |
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| At Boat Launch Road in 2012 (from Google Maps) |
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| Easy access to the river from the trail |
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| Ottawa River from Boat Launch |
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| Ottawa River looking downstream |
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| Ottawa River views from the trail |
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| Ottawa River |
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| View of the Quebec side of the river |
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| This line was rerouted in the late 1940s |
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| Typical trail scenery |
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| The only rail remnant that I noticed |
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| Some rock cuttings |
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| A more open view |
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| The trail stretching westwards |
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| END OF TRAIL: at Crossing Road |
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| I walked up this section to the bridge |
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| And found a few old spikes along the way |
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| Bissett Creek bridge across Hwy 17 |
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| Two busy days! |
