Featured location
Perth
Stone-town charm, quiet farm roads, and a rail trail into the Highlands.
Perth is one of Ontario's best-preserved 19th-century stone towns, sitting on the Tay River about 80 km southwest of Ottawa, and it makes an ideal ride destination or overnight base. Cyclists love the web of flat, low-traffic county roads radiating out through the "Heart of Lanark" farmland, plus a heritage downtown packed with cafes and patios along the Tay Basin. It is a genuine cycling hub, with route maps curated by local riders and a rail trail leading straight out of town toward the Lanark Highlands.
What the riding’s like
Terrain around Perth is mostly flat to gently rolling on well-paved county roads through old family farms, with more sustained rolling climbs if you head north into the Lanark Highlands. Traffic is light on the back roads, and several regional connectors, Rideau Ferry Road, Perth Road, and Highway 43 toward Smiths Falls, offer paved shoulders. For gravel riders, the Tay-Havelock Rail Trail runs off the edge of downtown toward Maberly and Sharbot Lake on a flat, packed-surface former railbed.
Points of interest
Worth a look on the bike or a reason to linger after the ride.
Stewart Park
ParkPerth's leafy crown-jewel park set on the Tay River behind the historic Town Hall, laced with footbridges and gardens.
Tay Basin & Crystal Palace
LandmarkThe scenic downtown waterfront where the Tay Canal meets town, anchored by the four-season glass Crystal Palace pavilion.
Perth Museum (Matheson House)
HistoryA National Historic Site in an 1840 stone home, displaying the pistols from Canada's last fatal duel.
Heritage Downtown / Gore Street
LandmarkA remarkably intact streetscape of early-1800s cut-stone architecture that makes the whole core worth a slow roll.
Last Duel Park
HistoryRiverside park marking the site of Upper Canada's last fatal duel, fought in 1833 over a young woman's honour.
Food & coffee stops
Where riders refuel — coffee, baked goods, and a proper post-ride meal. Tap a stop for photos and details.
Coutts Coffee Roastery & Cafe
CafeFair-trade coffee roaster in the 1841 stone Sheriff's House with a waterfront patio right on the Tay.
View stop →Fieldhouse
BakeryPopular Herriott Street bakery known for fresh bread, croissants, morning buns, and custard-filled cruffins.
View stop →Perth Brewery
BreweryA beloved local institution since 1993, with a tasting bar, taproom, and retail store on Highway 7.
View stop →Jazzy's Brewhaus
CafeSpecialty coffee, pastries, and gelato served in a circa-1854 heritage building on Gore Street East.
View stop →O'Reilly's Ale House
PubDowntown pub for a post-ride meal and pint, pouring a rotating range of Ottawa Valley craft beers.
View stop →Ride ideas
Rides to, from, and around Perth to get you started.
Glen Tay Loop
A short, flat, paved beginner loop up the upper Tay River through the heritage farmland and village of Glen Tay.
Murphy's Point Loop
A rolling paved ride out via Rideau Ferry Road past the Rideau Canal toward Murphy's Point Provincial Park on Big Rideau Lake.
Tay-Havelock Rail Trail to Maberly
A flat gravel out-and-back on the former railbed leaving downtown Perth and heading west toward Maberly and the Highlands.
Frequently asked questions
- How far is Perth from Ottawa?
- Perth is about 80 km from downtown Ottawa, in Lanark County, Ontario.
- What's the cycling like in Perth?
- Terrain around Perth is mostly flat to gently rolling on well-paved county roads through old family farms, with more sustained rolling climbs if you head north into the Lanark Highlands. Traffic is light on the back roads, and several regional connectors, Rideau Ferry Road, Perth Road, and Highway 43 toward Smiths Falls, offer paved shoulders. For gravel riders, the Tay-Havelock Rail Trail runs off the edge of downtown toward Maberly and Sharbot Lake on a flat, packed-surface former railbed.
- Where should cyclists stop for food or coffee in Perth?
- Popular stops include Coutts Coffee Roastery & Cafe, Fieldhouse and Perth Brewery — see the full list of food and coffee spots on this page.
- What's a good cycling route from Perth?
- The Glen Tay Loop is a great start — a 15 km road ride. A short, flat, paved beginner loop up the upper Tay River through the heritage farmland and village of Glen Tay.
- What is there to see in Perth?
- Highlights include Stewart Park, Tay Basin & Crystal Palace and Perth Museum (Matheson House).
Plan your ride around Perth
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.