Region · Ottawa Valley
Lanark County
Gravel heartland, heritage towns, and endless quiet roads.
Just west of Ottawa, Lanark County is Eastern Ontario's quiet-roads playground — a patchwork of rolling farmland, lakes and the Mississippi River, stitched together by more gravel concessions than you could ride in a season. Its walkable heritage towns make perfect start lines and coffee stops, and the crushed-stone Ottawa Valley Rail Trail runs flat and car-free right through the middle of it.
Towns to explore
Each makes a great start line — dive into a full guide for the riding, stops and routes.
Carleton Place
Flat, car-free rail trail along the Mississippi River, capped by a heritage main street built for a mid-ride coffee or pint.
Explore Carleton Place →Almonte
Waterfalls, wool mills, and hard-packed gravel that rides like glass.
Explore Almonte →Perth
Stone-town charm, quiet farm roads, and a rail trail into the Highlands.
Explore Perth →Riding Lanark County
The riding is honest Canadian-Shield-edge country: rolling paved backroads with light traffic, an unmatched network of hard-packed gravel concessions, and the flat rail trail for easy days and family miles. Expect punchy climbs, wide-open farm views, and long stretches where you won't see a single car.
Lanark wears its heritage proudly — Perth's stone main street, Almonte's waterfalls and wool-mill history, Carleton Place on the banks of the Mississippi River. It's also the self-styled Maple Syrup Capital of Ontario, so a spring ride here comes with sugar shacks and pancake stops.
For Ottawa riders it's the go-to escape: close enough for a day trip, remote-feeling enough to earn the ride, and dotted with cafés, bakeries and breweries that welcome cyclists at the finish.
Gravel paradise
Hundreds of kilometres of quiet, hard-packed gravel concessions — some of the best all-road riding anywhere in Ontario.
The Ottawa Valley Rail Trail
A flat, car-free crushed-stone corridor linking the towns — ideal for family rides, base miles, or point-to-point adventures.
Heritage refuels
Stone-town main streets, waterfalls and mills, plus the cafés, bakeries and breweries built for a proper mid-ride stop.
Where to stop
Cafés, bakeries and breweries across Lanark County that welcome riders.
Foundry Coffee Bar
CafeAn indie coffee bar on historic Bridge Street serving ethically sourced espresso, sandwiches and baked goods.
Carleton Place
Blue Spoon Atelier
BakeryA well-reviewed Bridge Street bakery focused on simple, wholesome ingredients and fresh pastries.
Carleton Place
Stalwart Brewing Co.
BreweryA craft brewery on High Street that has won the Ontario by Bike bicycle-friendly business award.
Carleton Place
Black Tartan Kitchen
RestaurantA casual fine-dining spot on Bridge Street built around local, seasonal ingredients.
Carleton Place
Boulton House
RestaurantA downtown restaurant serving Canadian comfort fare and local Stalwart beers.
Carleton Place
Equator Coffee Roasters
CafeThe fair-trade roaster's flagship Almonte cafe, a go-to fuel stop for espresso, baked goods, and local Hummingbird chocolate.
Almonte
Hummingbird Chocolate Maker
CafeAward-winning bean-to-bar chocolatier whose Hispaniola bar was named best in the world by London's Academy of Chocolate.
Almonte
Baker Bob's
BakeryA long-running downtown bakery known for fresh baked goods, maple syrup, and its house 'jammies'.
Almonte
Cafe Postino
RestaurantA well-regarded bistro set in Almonte's vintage post office, run by chefs with decades of Ottawa and Miami kitchen experience.
Almonte
Don’t miss
Captain Roy Brown Statue & Mural
HistoryDowntown tributes to the Carleton Place WWI flying ace long credited with downing the Red Baron in 1918.
Carleton Place
Carleton Place Town Hall
LandmarkAn 1897 Richardsonian Romanesque landmark anchoring the historic Bridge Street downtown.
Carleton Place
Mississippi Riverwalk & Rail Trail Bridge
NatureA riverside walking path and a new trail bridge over the Mississippi River with viewing platforms right on the rail trail.
Carleton Place
CP & Beckwith Heritage Museum
HistoryHoused in an 1872 former town hall and jail, it holds more than 10,000 local artifacts.
Carleton Place
Pakenham Five-Span Stone Bridge
LandmarkA short trail ride away, this arched stone bridge is one of the Seven Wonders of Lanark County.
Carleton Place
Almonte Old Town Hall
LandmarkOne of the town's most-photographed buildings, a grey-stone hall with a soaring tower and multicoloured roof beside the river.
Almonte
Almonte Riverwalk & Falls
NatureA roughly 3 km riverside walk past the downtown waterfalls, best viewed from the Almonte Street bridge over the Mississippi River.
Almonte
Dr. James Naismith Statue
HistoryA tribute to the local-born inventor of basketball, a point of civic pride in downtown Almonte.
Almonte
Mill of Kintail Conservation Area
HistoryA restored stone mill and museum honouring sculptor R. Tait McKenzie and Naismith, set in forest just outside town.
Almonte
Lanark County FAQ
- Where is Lanark County?
- Lanark County sits just west of Ottawa in Eastern Ontario, roughly 45–90 minutes from the city, centred on the towns of Perth, Carleton Place and Almonte.
- What kind of cycling is Lanark County known for?
- Gravel and all-road riding above all — hundreds of kilometres of quiet concession roads — plus rolling paved backroads and the flat, car-free Ottawa Valley Rail Trail.
- What towns should I base a ride in?
- Carleton Place, Almonte and Perth all make great start lines, each with parking, cafés and easy access to quiet roads and the rail trail.
- When is the best time to ride Lanark County?
- May through October for road and gravel; spring adds maple-syrup season and fall brings quiet roads and colour. The rail trail is rideable any time it's dry.
- Is Lanark County good for beginners?
- Yes — the Ottawa Valley Rail Trail is flat, car-free and family-friendly, while the surrounding backroads scale up to as much climbing and distance as you want.
Ready to ride Lanark County?
Pick a town to start from, plot a route on the map, or come do it with us on a group ride.