Featured location
Merrickville
Flat, fast miles down the Rideau to a storybook stone village.
Merrickville rewards the roughly 60 km spin southwest from Ottawa with one of the prettiest main streets in Ontario, a UNESCO-listed canal lockstation, and streets full of stone heritage buildings, galleries, and cafes. The terrain along the Rideau corridor stays gentle and the country roads are quiet, making it a favourite all-day destination ride or a relaxed cafe-hop turnaround. It is compact enough to soft-pedal end to end yet packed with reasons to stop, from a working lift lock to a brewery inside a glassblowing studio.
What the riding’s like
This is the flat-to-gently-rolling Rideau corridor on the eastern Ontario limestone plain, so climbs are short and few and pacelines can hum along. Surfaces are mostly smooth paved rural county roads with plenty of low-traffic backroad options, plus optional hard-packed canal pathways near the locks; County Road 43 through the village centre carries the most traffic, so quieter parallel roads are preferable. Expect open farmland, shady river stretches, and easy navigation with the canal as your constant reference line.
Points of interest
Worth a look on the bike or a reason to linger after the ride.
Merrickville Blockhouse
HistoryBuilt in 1832-33, this National Historic Site is the largest of the four defensive blockhouses along the Rideau Canal and now houses a local history museum.
Merrickville Lockstation
LandmarkA trio of hand-operated locks on the UNESCO-listed Rideau Canal where you can watch boats step up and down beside the water.
Historic stone main street
HistorySt. Lawrence Street is lined with 19th-century limestone commercial blocks, including the landmark 1860s Sam Jakes Inn building, artisan studios, and boutiques.
Blockhouse Park
ParkA shady canal-side green with picnic tables and a playground right beside the blockhouse, ideal for a mid-ride regroup.
Rideau River Riverwalk Trail
NatureA short waterside path good for birdwatching and stretching the legs along the river's edge.
Food & coffee stops
Where riders refuel — coffee, baked goods, and a proper post-ride meal.
The Village Bean
CafeLongtime St. Lawrence Street coffee shop pouring organic, fair-trade coffee and teas alongside house baked goods.
Yellow Canoe Cafe
CafeConsistently top-rated spot serving creative, locally sourced fare with soups, scones, and sandwiches made in-house.
Violets on Main
BakeryVillage bakery known for crusty sourdough, cinnamon buns, tarts, and custom cakes baked fresh daily.
Gather Brewery & Glassworks
BreweryCanada's only combined glassblowing studio and craft brewery, where you can sip a beer while watching an artist work the furnace.
The Goose & Gridiron
PubCozy village pub with a patio, generous burgers and sandwiches, and occasional live music.
Ride ideas
Rides to, from, and around Merrickville to get you started.
Merrickville to Burritts Rapids Canal Loop
A relaxed loop that follows the Rideau Canal past three lockstations with an optional swim stop at Henry Street beach.
Eastons Corners Country Loop
A quiet paved backroad circuit through the farmland of Merrickville-Wolford with almost no traffic and minimal climbing.
Ottawa to Merrickville via River Road
The classic club run southwest from the city through Kars and Burritts Rapids, tracing low-traffic rural roads along the Rideau to the village.
Frequently asked questions
- How far is Merrickville from Ottawa?
- Merrickville is about 60 km from downtown Ottawa, in Rideau Canal, Ontario.
- What's the cycling like in Merrickville?
- This is the flat-to-gently-rolling Rideau corridor on the eastern Ontario limestone plain, so climbs are short and few and pacelines can hum along. Surfaces are mostly smooth paved rural county roads with plenty of low-traffic backroad options, plus optional hard-packed canal pathways near the locks; County Road 43 through the village centre carries the most traffic, so quieter parallel roads are preferable. Expect open farmland, shady river stretches, and easy navigation with the canal as your constant reference line.
- Where should cyclists stop for food or coffee in Merrickville?
- Popular stops include The Village Bean, Yellow Canoe Cafe and Violets on Main — see the full list of food and coffee spots on this page.
- What's a good cycling route from Merrickville?
- The Merrickville to Burritts Rapids Canal Loop is a great start — a 18 km mixed ride. A relaxed loop that follows the Rideau Canal past three lockstations with an optional swim stop at Henry Street beach.
- What is there to see in Merrickville?
- Highlights include Merrickville Blockhouse, Merrickville Lockstation and Historic stone main street.
Plan your ride around Merrickville
Open the interactive map to plot a route, then check the amenities and trails layers along the way.
Explore the routes mapMore featured locations
Local details change — confirm hours and openings before you ride, and always ride to the conditions you find on the ground.