Possible Destinations & Trips
One of the best parts of keeping Lucky Enough on the Rideau is that there is no single way to use her. Some days are short and local. Others turn into easy overnight runs. And a few grow into longer journeys that slowly stitch the whole system together.
This page captures the destinations and trip ideas that are on our radar right now. It is not meant to be complete, and it will evolve as our experience grows.
Day Trips
Day trips are about relaxed cruising and familiar water. They are perfect for getting out without committing to an overnight stay, and for learning the boat, the lake, and the rhythm of the Rideau.
-
Westport
A classic Rideau destination with a lively harbour, shops, and waterfront patios. -
Rideau Ferry (lunch or dinner)
An easy run for a dock-and-dine stop. -
Colonel By Island
A relaxed cruise that feels like a destination without leaving the Big Rideau. -
Murphy's Point
A scenic shoreline and a reminder to slow everything down. -
Cruise around Big Rideau
Sometimes the destination is simply the lake itself.
Multi-Day Trips
Multi-day trips are where the Rideau really opens up. Locks become part of the daily rhythm, mornings start quietly at the dock, and distances matter less than pacing.
-
Westport
A simple overnight run that never gets old. -
Westport + Newboro
A natural pairing that adds locks and variety. -
Newboro + Chaffeys + Davis
A relaxed hop through classic Rideau lockstations. -
Newboro + Chaffeys + Davis + Jones Falls
Adds distance, elevation change, and one of the most iconic lock flights on the system. -
Beveridges + Poonamalie
Quiet stretches with a strong sense of place. -
Poonamalie + Kilmarnock + Merrickville
A rewarding run that ends in one of the prettiest villages on the Rideau. -
Bike trip to Kemptville (stay at Pirate's Cove)
A multi-day run that combines cruising with cycling, using Pirate's Cove as a base to explore Kemptville and the surrounding trails by bike.
Longer Trips
Longer trips are where the Rideau Canal becomes a journey rather than a destination. These runs require planning, flexible schedules, and a willingness to let weather, locks, and timing set the pace.
-
To Kingston
A full Rideau Canal transit to the historic waterfront where the canal meets Lake Ontario. This trip combines open water, lock flights, and a true sense of arrival. -
To Ottawa
A northbound journey through narrowing waterways and increasing lock density, finishing with the dramatic descent through the Ottawa Locks into the heart of the city.
These longer trips are aspirational for now. Some may be completed in stages, others as full end-to-end journeys. As experience builds, these ideas will turn into plans, and eventually into logged trips.
Long-Term Goal (2027)
Looking further ahead, there is one larger journey that sits firmly in the long-term category. It will require careful planning, the right timing, and confidence built over several seasons on the Rideau.
-
Portland to Kingston, then up the Trent–Severn Canal to Georgian Bay
A major cruising goal that extends beyond the Rideau system, connecting inland waterways to the open waters of Georgian Bay and marking a shift to extended multi-week travel.
This is not a fixed plan, but a direction. Whether it happens exactly as imagined or evolves along the way, it serves as a long-term horizon for how far Lucky Enough might eventually take us.