This easy cycling trip is designed for 30-50 km rides, enjoying Quebec’s dedicated bike paths in the area from Montreal to Ottawa.
Day 1, Montreal: Two large inns in Montreal participate in the “Bienvenue cyclists” network: Hotel Pomerol 819 boul. de Maisonneuve Est, (800)361-6896 ; and Hotel St-Dennis 1254, RUE ST-DENIS, (800) 291-5927
Day 2, Montreal’s canals: Ride from the hotel today, taking the bike path along the Lachine Canal. The return is along the Piste Cyclable des Berges on the southern Shore. The distance is approximately 32 km (20 miles). When you reach the Champlain bridge, you have the option to ride across to the other side of the St. Lawrence, crossing Isle des Souers. A bike path takes you to Isle Notre Dame, and your return downtown on the bike lane on the Victoria bridge, for about 40 km of cycling. Spend a second night in Montreal.
Day 3: The Soulange canal bike path. Depart Montreal today, driving west 45 km to Pont des Cascades, where you’ll bike on the paved Soulange Canal Bikeway to Coteaux continuing through St-Zotique to Cornwall as a bike lane for up to 50 km. You’ll pass by quite a few abandoned locks, as well as the National Historic Site at Coteau du Lac. (At Les Cedres you have the option to cross the river on a unique cycle ferry to the Regional Park du St Timothee on Isle de Salisbury). After the ride , drive to charming Hudson on the Ontario River to the Auberge Willow Place in Hudson.
Day 4: Beauharnois-Salaberry Trail Today from Hudson back to Les Coteaux, which you went through on the Soulange Canal Trail. Cross Lac Saint-Francois to Grande-Ile on Rt. 201 or the bike bridge from the Solanges Trail. here you pick up the Beauharnois-Salaberry Cycling Trail , which follows the south side of Grande-Ile to Melocheville. You may cross here to Beauharnois, and continue on the trail heading back along the other side, for a total of 50 km.
Day 5: Parc d’ Oka and La Vagabonde Bike Path Today we’ll cross the Ottawa River on the Hudson-Oka ferry. We ride through Parc d’ Oka, and continue on the La Vagabonde bicycle trail which parallels the Ottawa River heading back toward Montreal. We’ll reverse course, possibly taking local roads back to the Ferry in Oka. Since this is an out and back ride, distances are up to you, with many enjoyable stops along the way. Spend a second evening at the inn in Hudson.
Day 6: Hudson-Carillon loop Today we ride 30 km west from Hudson on local roads to Pointe-Fortune, which is on the Quebec-Ontario line. We take the ferry across to the other side of the Ottawa River to Carillon, and ride back on La Route Verte 1 east, returning to Hudson at the Oka ferry for a total distance of 60 km (38 miles) of very flat cycling.
Day 7: Ottawa River Bike Path. Today we depart our inn and drive from Hudson to Rosslyn, Ottawa , where you cycle west on the Ottawa River bike path, continuing 31 km to the Rockcliffe Parkway. You can be picked up here for a drive into downtown Ottawa . A couple of inns are the Byward Blue Inn in the popular Byward Market area of downtown Ottawa at157 Clarence Street, not far from the Alexandra Bridge, and Gasthaus Switzerland .
Day 8: Cycling in Ottawa In Ottawa, several major roads are closed to motorists on Sunday mornings for “Sunday Bike days”. Take advantage of this in the morning to ride west on the Ottawa River Parkway for a 16 km loop, crossing to the Gatineau Park area at the Champlain Bridge and returning downtown on the Alexandra bridge. After lunch, continue on the Rideau Canal Bikeway, a 25 km (16) mile loop on both sides of the canal. You may also ride south on the western side of the canal, and return north into Ottawa on the Rideau River bike path. We stay a second night in Ottawa..
Bike New England 