Start the car! Grab a hot drink and hit the roads to enjoy the fall colours in Rideau Lakes on a leisurely drive. The only thing more vibrant than the colours is the history and charm that weaves through some of our favourite routes.

South Elmsley & South Burgess Driving Tour

A fairy-tale cottage, former turn-of-the-century hotels, homesteads and 175 year old schools cause the imagination to wander during this 35 km driving tour that takes visitors through forest lined roads and hills accented by a rainbow of fall colours. See roads hundreds of years in the making, with agriculture still present on either side to appreciate farms and barns of yesterday. Use the Rideau Lakes driving tour guide to spot local landmarks!

Fall Drive photo by Matthew Litplo

Crosby to Salem Driving Tour

Travel the historic Stone Road to drive a part of local history. Completed in 1857, the Stone Road boasted a surface made of compacted layers of crushed stone – unlike any other in the area at that time. Repeated winter frosts pushed larger stones to the surface resulting in an extremely bumpy road for wagons traversing with iron-rimmed wheels. These days, the road is freely travelled for enjoyment by residents and visitors seeking waterfront views of Newboro Lake and Upper Rideau Lake. Visit Salem (where no one was burned, thankfully…) and along the way see the farmland and more than a dozen historic buildings still in existence, crafted by talented carpenters and masons in the 1850s and 60s. Learn more about the Stone Road and its significance in the Rideau Lakes by downloading the guide.

Morton Bay

Morton to Crosby Driving Tour

See the stunning waterfronts of Sand Lake, Clear Lake and Newboro Lake, while experiencing historical gems of the Rideau Lakes region including Hotel Kenney Rideau, a Lockmaster’s House at Davis Lock now available for accommodations, and even a former cheese factory. This 50 km tour is steeped in history with many tangible sites still ready to link past to present. Have a look at the driving guide for more information and stops along the way!

Jones Falls by Ken Watson  

Stop by the Township office or visit any branch of the Rideau Lakes Public Library to pick up a physical copy of the driving tours or walking tours. Grab a coffee or tea from one of our cozy cafes or enjoy a locally-baked treat on the road!

Which way will you go this fall in Rideau Lakes? Delve deeper and discover even more tours to put history within reach as the seasons change.