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Rideau Canal – Smiths Falls and Merrickville

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On our trip along the Rideau Canals towards Ottawa, we could see the typical Canadian cattle ranches.

Cattle ranch Canada

We stopped in Smiths Falls and Merrickville.  Smiths Falls is a good place to see the lock facilities.

The Rideau Canal is a masterpiece of engineering of 19th Century. Over a length of more than 202 km, the canal interconnects a variety of rivers and seas by means of canals and 45 locks.

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It was built because the sea route on the St. Lawrence River was constantly threatened by the Americans; the canal became one of the most important trade routes of Canada. With the construction of railway links the Rideau Canal lost its importance.

Along the Rideau Canal

Today, it is mainly used by boaters with houseboats. Parts of the Rideau Canal run through the Frontenac Park, an area of 6,000 hectares of unspoiled nature and wildlife. Canoeing and camping is allowed in dedicated sections.

Merrickville - Ontario

In Merrickville you find a walkable lock and a lot of typical buildings from 19th Century.

Merrickville - Ontario

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  1. Patti Pokorchak

    Ursula,

    What a small world! I had a farm and Down to Earth Gardens – garden centre just outside of Merrickville, in Burritt’s Rapids (South) as I called it, since it was in the middle of nowhere.

    Glad you got to see some of the highlights of Eastern Ontario, following the Rideau Canal is lovely.

    Did you get to Kilmarnock as it’s in-between Smiths Falls and Merrickville

    Merrickville was Canada’s prettiest village one year because of all their lovely flowers.

    • myVideoMedia

      Hi Patty,
      Thank you very much for your nice comment.
      Even if you say you lived in the middle of nowhere, you had chosen a great place.
      I guess, we had driven past Kilmarnock on our way to Merrickville, but honestly I don’t remember.
      If I think of the beautiful old houses in Merrickville, I can image that is was Canada’s prettiest village when they are all decorated with flowers.