Explore the Waterfront on the St. Lawrence River

  • Cycle from Loyalist at the mouth of the St. Lawrence and just west of Kingston, all the way to the Quebec Border—326 km including the Frontenac Islands.
  • One of the largest tourism regions in Eastern Ontario, the facilities of the St. Lawrence Parks Commission include parkland, beaches, campsites and iconic heritage attractions on the St. Lawrence Heritage Corridor—all connected by the Great Lakes Waterfront Trail.
  • Rural road and trail riding through vibrant farmland and forests. Beautiful beaches, 3 provincial parks, 5 conservation areas along the waters of the St. Lawrence.
  • Sailing — Kingston’s lakeshore location has earned it a reputation for some of the best freshwater sailing in the world. Kingston is also home to the world-renowned 1000 Islands, and UNESCO-designated Rideau Canal.
  • Internationally recognized by UNESCO as one of 16 Biosphere Reserves located in Canada, the Frontenac Arch Biosphere Reserve marks the intersection and merging of five forest regions, giving the area a rich biodiversity.
  • Heritage — The St. Lawrence is rich with historical landmarks, including 8 national heritage sites. Kingston’s iconic Fort Henry  and the notorious centuries-old Kingston Penitentiary, Brockville the home of Canada’s First Railway Tunnel, the Cornwall Canal, sunken shipwrecks in Preston, and the arresting history of the construction of the St. Lawrence Seaway itself in 1958, what was lost, and the resulting Thousand Islands left behind in the aftermath of the flooding.
  • Breweries — Great bicycle-friendly craft breweries in Gananoque, Ingleside, and Cornwall. Check out Cornwall and SDG’s 19 cycle routes showcasing the region’s culinary specialties, craft alcohol, heritage and landscape.
Visit our Self-Guided Cycle Tours Page for the Mini Guide, Maps and Itineraries

Mini guides for our Self-Guided Tours include detailed itineraries for 2-6 day tours from sections of the trail across Lake Ontario and the St. Lawrence, and include suggestions for overnight accommodations, rest stops, free route maps and gps routing.

For detailed maps, visit Maps on our menu.
For community information visit Communities.

What You Need to Know

Over 325 km including the Frontenac Islands

Loyalist – the Québec Border

  • 272 km long + 54km on Wolfe and Howe Island. Mostly paved off-road trails and rural roads, with some riding on shoulder.
  • 15 Communities and First Nations.
  • Route includes roughly 75km of on-road cycling with little to no shoulder where speed limits reach 80 km/h, including sections of County Rd 2 between Brockville and Iroquois. Use caution.

Family Friendly Sections

  • Loyalist — Amherst Island by Millhaven has quiet unpaved roads ideal for families. Known for its artisans, music, birdwatching, beach and tranquil scenery.
  • Cornwall — Cornwall Canal to Lamoureux Park (12 km round trip).
  • Gananoque — Visit the 1000 Islands village, the old downtown, and then take a trip following the Gananoque River (2 km round trip). Or continue on the Thousand Islands Parkway Recreation Trail.
  • Family-Friendly Cyling on Off-Road Paths—the St. Lawrence Parks Commission
    • Gananoque to Rockport and Butternut Bay (Thousand Island Parkway Recreation Trail, 37 km). Provides a number of camping opportunities.
    • Crylser Park Marina to Upper Canada Migatory Bird Sanctuary to the Long Sault Parkway to Cornwall (40 km). A quiet, paved path of flat service roads meadows, beaches, woodlands and wetlands, with camping opportunities along the way.

Connections

  • Prescott-Ogdensburg International Bridge — Connections on the US side to the Seaway Trail and to Adirondack Park. Approx. 26 km from Brockville (neither cyclists nor pedestrians are permitted to cross this bridge).
  • Seaway Trail — This New York State Scenic Byway is accessible via the Ivy Lea Bridge to the United States at Hill Island.
  • The Great Lakes Waterfront Trail connects to La Route verte in Québec.

Frontenac Islands

“It’s incredibly beautiful. I loved riding on the trails in the woods, along the farms and the river. I liked the variety for cycling—rail trail, roads, and paths. It’s a peaceful route with low traffic but enough towns to keep the route interesting; lots of history and old architecture.”

Participant2023 GWTA

“My favourite part of cycling the Trail is exploring sections of the province that are new to me—discovering new communities and their character, their culture and their great local food. This section of trail has some fantastic communities and off-road cycling. The St. Lawrence River is beautiful, especially where the character of the landscape changes and the islands become more rocky.”

Participant2023 GWTA

Photos Showing Unshouldered Sections of County Rd 2

Off-Road Trail

Off-Road Sections of Trail in Cornwall

Itineraries

Gananoque to Brockville
Two day self-guided tour through the Frontenac Arch Biosphere. Take in off-bike activities including kayaking, boat tours, swimming, and hiking.

Cornwall to Long Sault
Immersed in picturesque St. Lawrence River landscape, enjoy two days and +40 km of protected and restored wetlands, forests, beaches, and meadows.

St. Lawrence River Partners