Russell - Prescott bike path (eastern Ontario)
The Russell - Prescott bike path (eastern Ontario) is going to be paved. This 72 km path starts just across the quebec ontario border from Rigaud.
Here's info from their website (with a downloadable map):
Trail Overview
The Prescott Russell Recreational Trail is a 72-km rail - to - trail conversion. The Trail traverses the United Counties of Prescott and Russell from east to west and crosses through five of the eight municipalities, East Hawkesbury, Champlain, La Nation, Alfred-Plantagenet, and Clarence-Rockland. The former rail line is owned by Via Rail Canada Inc. and is part of the 104 km Montreal-Ottawa (M&O) line that begins in Rigaud, Quebec and ends west of Mer Bleue in the Ottawa-Carleton region.The trail accommodates a variety of recreational activities including hiking, cycling, and snowmobiling in the winter. Trail users will encounter four pavilions along the trail. The pavilions serve as access points to the trail with provisions for parking, a sheltered picnic area and kiosk containing community and trail related information. The trail pavilions are located in the Town of Hammond, Town of Bourget, and Plantagenet-Central, and one located along Highway 34 in Vankleek Hill- East. A fifth trail pavilion is expected to be constructed in the Town of St-Eugene.
Update: If anyone has ridden this trail, can you leave me a comment describing the present status or condition of the trail? Thanks, CFM
posted by Cycle Fun Montreal @ 2:35 PM
12 comments
12 Comments:
Prescott -Russell bike path condition.
I did this Aug 1 (have photos). They call it a recreational trail here. Picked up map at the Ontario tourist office near Voyageur Park #417.
In the 5 plus hours, I saw two bicyclists (they turned back after 7 kilometers). In my 5 hours, I saw no other bikes, people, nothing on the trail.
If they paved the entire length, (2% of this is paved!), the equivalent would be a fast, really fast bike highway.
As it is now, you're dealing with stone dust surface. However, in places, is very loose. Tractors and cows (signs for cow x-crossing!) are allowed. In those places, tractors chew up the stones surface. Did I ever experience road vibration!
The loose stone is not compacted in places.
Lots of gates when you cross the trail over a road. You have to be careful crossing because the loose stone becomes really loose at the barrier, almost like a powder, white-grey looking, so you have to look for this. You're tires sink in this stuff. You have to come to a complete stop at the barrier and carefully make your way through the gates.
Straight, flat, the west end trail goes through villages, not the east. Ideal for MTN bike, or min. 700 x 32c tires, you're just making it.
Not recommended until its gets paved, and even then it's boring. You won't see any great sights, but you'd blast into Ottawa from Rigaud!!
Thanks for mentioning this in your post.
Came across this Tues. Aug. 7 for the bike rally.
Check their website for more info.
Prescott and Russell Bike Rally - August 25, 2007
www.prescott-russell.on.ca/sentier-trail/frames_en.html
trail is a bit soft and overgrown in places but on a mtb no problem. For an ex railway the scenery is pretty good in places, its the best Ive been on. Most of these trails are shielded by trees and bush and ones sees very little. Nice pavilions. If the trail had a better surface and was advertised it would be popular. its better than the petite trail du nord, which costs $10, and is overhyped and not scenic.
Jim
Good trail for mtb not for skinny tires. Scenery is pretty good for an ex railway as most are closed in with brush and trees. Would be more used if surface was better kept. Its free not like some trails. its OK Ill go again,
Jim
the p'tit train de nord is free, and has been for several years.
It also has several very scenic sections, like Ste-Adele to Val David.
Since when is the petit train du nord it is free? Been riding it for the last 10 years and it costs 10$ daily or you can buy a season pass.
Petit train du nord is not free
http://www.laurentians.com/parclineaire/1418_an.html
free free free free free
http://cyclingfunmontreal.blogspot.ca/2008/04/ptit-train-du-nord-gratuit-free.html
free free free since 2008.
but, nicky you are free to pay if you want.
We went through this trail from Anderson Rd to Rigaud. The trail is good only to the border of Ontario. Quebec part from the border to Rigaud is from poor to super poor. Surface is made of crushed rocks 2-3 inches in size, overgrown in many places. Few kilometers before the end the road turns left ( if you go straight you will be blocked by cement blocks) to dirt road with potholes up to 20 inches deep! You will get to the closed train station at the very end. To the right (not far from the station) you will find a little park to rest. Quebec part of this trail is nothing to brag about and I will never visit again. I wished someone would told me that before we went.
29th August 2014.
Today. started at KM 42 and rode to near Rigaud. It was horrible!!! The surface is not suitable for regular lightweight modern bikes. I was alone and was scared I'd have a puncture......no services on or near the trail. There are very few rest areas and the map did not reflect reality after Eugene. I know we enter QC but it can still be accurate: it claimed a bit more gravel path to be followed by a paved road. This was not the case. The gravel went on and on. In general, this trail is pretty lacking in signs!
Met 2 young men , one of whom fell off his bike on some nasty gravel. They were thinking of finding another way to return to Ottawa.
A good snowmobile trail, but dangerous on a bike. To be avoided.
Rode trail from Anderson Road to Alfred in September 2014. Surface was fine crushed gravel - no problems at all with standard road bike. Recommend Hotel Rouleau in Alfred - not expensive, friendly, excellent breakfast. Countryside is flat and boring - this is no fault of trail. Does not have spectacular sights of Great Allegheney Passage (MD, PA) or New River (VA), Greenbrier (WV) trails, but physical condition just as good.
I rode this with a friend last week (September 2015) from end to end (minus a small part where we detoured to Whispering Pines campground - precisely county 19 in Pendleton to county 9 in Plantagenet).
I have a 700x35 front and a 700x32 rear tire. I found the surface very good in Ottawa until Canaan road, bordering the Prescott-Russell united counties. Starting there, the condition varies from fairly good to mediocre, but overall we were quite content.
Not many campsites along the way, and the scenery is a little monotone, but otherwise an interesting ride. The trail ends at Moore road. We took Concession 3, Montée La Grande, St-Thomas, Wilson, and rte. 342 to get to our next campground just before Rigaud.
I took another route last year to go from Montreal to Ottawa (along the river, both shores), and it was maybe nicer, but the Prescott-Russell trail is perfect if you want to be away from civilization for a few days, as you go through almost no towns between Rigaud and Ottawa, unless you make a short detour.
Be advised : NO DRINKING FOUNTAINS along the trail.
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