Rideau River Provincial Park

Rideau River Provincial Park is about 50 km from Ottawa, in Ontario.

Rideau River Provincial Park is located along the stretch of the Rideau River known as The Long Reach. This is a slow wide section of the river that is about 40 km in length and is uninterrupted by rapids or locks. The park boasts about 200 sites (77 with hydro) and is a popular Day Use destination.

Site Review:

Rideau River Provincial Park is a narrow park. It is sandwiched between Donnelly Drive and the Rideau River.

I would consider the quality of the sites to be good and most are pretty level.

There are no sites directly on the water though many do have a river view.

All of the sites are shaded and have good visual privacy. All have a fire ring and a picnic table.

There are 2 comfort stations with flush toilets and free hot showers to service the park. As well, additional flush toilets can be found at the Day Use Area. 

Many of the sites are close to the park boundary fence and the traffic noise can be quite loud. I had read some reviews that complained that the sites closer to the river were also very loud particularly at night with the sound from the bullfrogs. I guess it’s just a loud park.

Personally, I’d take either of these background noise scenarios over the camper who blasts his music. Not all of us like to listen to Bob Seager or care to hear the blathering from the local radio station, I’m just saying.

We had site #33. It is an electric pull-thru site.

Activities:

Boating:

There is a boat ramp as well as a large parking lot for your vehicle, for those who bring their own boat. I suggest consulting www.rideau-info.com for Rideau River boating information.

Fishing:

Fishing on the Rideau River is popular. The river near the park is slow-moving and shallow and a variety of fish species can be found including Largemouth Bass, Walleye, Muskie, Pike and others.

You will require an Ontario Fishing Licence. This needs to be obtained prior to coming to the park as Ontario Parks do not issue fishing licences.

Canoeing/Kayaking:

My favourite activity at Rideau River Provincial Park is paddling.

The water is calm and there are lots of routes to enjoy. You can rent canoes and kayaks from the gatehouse.

Check out www.rideau-info.com for detailed paddling guides and route suggestions.

I chose to check out Kemptville Creek. This is a 5.5 km route to the town of Kemptville.

Swimming:

The main beach in the Day Use Area is marked off for swimming. The water is very shallow, like maybe only 2ft at the buoy line. So to me, it is not much of a “swimming” beach but is good for little kids and if you just want to cool off. There are no lifeguards.

There is another small beach in the “Reserved” area.

The Reserved Area is a picnic area that is separate from the main beach Day Use Area. You can make arrangements by calling Phone: (613) 258-2740 to reserve this area for private functions like reunions, staff picnics etc. I have never seen this feature at an Ontario Provincial Park before and I don’t know how busy it is. If it is not reserved though then it is free for campers to use. It does make a nice option. The water is not very deep at this beach either, but it is buoyed off and does seem to be kept free of lily pads and weeds.

Hiking:

The Shoreline Trail is the only trail at Rideau River Provincial Park for hiking. The trail is a 2.7 km linear trail that connects the campground with the Day Use area, beaches and forest. It is an easy walking trail with some scenic views of the Rideau River. 

Biking:

There are no dedicated trails for biking within the park. You can bike on the campground roads.

I rode my bike the 6 km into Kemptville. The road is flat and the paved shoulder is generous for cycling.

About 3 km from the park entrance I passed the parking lot at the trailhead for Settler’s Trail. A quick Google search and I discovered that Settler’s Trail is part of the North Grenville Trail System. This system links together 150 kilometres of trails, roads, walkways and waterways throughout the municipality. It is well maintained and worth checking out during your stay if you are looking for additional hiking and biking options.

Day Trip to Ottawa:

The nation’s capital is about 50 km from Rideau River Provincial Park. I would highly recommend a day trip

Click here for more information about things to do in Ottawa.

Other camping options in the Ottawa area are Fitzroy Provincial Park and Voyageur Provincial Park.

Things to Know:

1. Some of the sites in the lower campground loops that are near the water charge a premium rate per night for their location. This amounts to about $4 extra per night. It should be noted that none of these sites actually has water access and are really no better quality-wise than the regular priced site located beside it.
2. There are 2 children’s playground areas.
3. Wood and ice are available at the gatehouse located at the park entrance.
4. There is a public golf course located less than 3 km from the park.
5. There is no store on-site for forgotten items but Kemptville is located nearby with all the amenities (restaurants, gas stations, big box stores etc.)

IMO:

Rideau River Provincial Park is a good overall park offering an authentic camping experience while being conveniently located to enjoy the surrounding area, as well as being close to Ottawa.

I like the park for the paddling experience. The sites were all pretty much the same with an average degree of privacy and some shade. Even the sites that were the furthest away from the water could still access the river easily with a short walk.

I would recommend Rideau River Provincial Park as an RV Place to Go and will likely stop in again when we return to the area.