Spectacular!
The Thousand Islands region of the western St. Lawrence River, separating Ontario from western New York, is a rugged and beautiful region rich with Indigenous, Revolutionary War era/War of 1812, and maritime history, natural beauty and architectural wonders.
The great river serves as an economic artery of North America, with great container ships and tankers bound to or from ports in the Great Lakes sharing the waterway with fishermen and recreational boaters. Picturesque lighthouses, majestic castles, maritime museums, world-class fishing and boating, quaint downtown shopping, on-the-water dining and more make the 1000 Islands a destination that visitors come to again and again.
It is best experienced by bicycle! Our journey offers 7 days of riding, up to 200 miles in total, with options for less mileage at any point due to our fully-equipped 13 passenger van and trailer always nearby. We start and end this tour in the historic and (once) provincial capital city of Kington, Ontario, which is easily accessible by highway from the U.S. (I-81 through Watertown, NY) and has an airport served through Toronto. We''ll first stay three nights in the waterfront Kingston Holiday Inn, giving us a chance to get to know this quaint walkable & bikeable city, which is home to Queens University, the Royal Military College of Canada (our "West Point", and the 19th century British fortress Fort Henry National Historic site. We'll enjoy near-constant water views as we cycle along the shore of Lake Ontario and the mighty St. Lawrence river all week, passing through and staying overnight in charming waterfront villages, riding ferries and crossing bridges; we'll take in glorious sunsets, enjoy great company and delicious locally sourced food, and create a cycling memory for the ages!
Included
- 6 nights lodging at three or four-star hotels or inns
- 13 meals: 6 breakfasts, 4 lunches and 3 dinners
- Experienced and cycling expert tour guideis
- In-ride drinks & snacks
- Van/sag support (mechanical assistance and van ride, if needed)
- Route navigation via free use of Ride With GPS
- Post-ride informal gatherings with light snacks (fruit, cheese, crackers, chips, nuts etc.) and non-alcoholic beverages
Itinerary
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Day 1 - Saturday
We’ll convene Saturday afternoon in Kingston and spend our first three nights of the tour at the ideally-located Holiday Inn Kingston Waterfront. After our get-acquainted meeting we'll enjoy dinner at a local restaurant and take in the Saturday night vibe of this charming small city.
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Day 2 - Sunday
16- 32 miles – We'll take a ferry to Wolfe Island and ride a loop (of which you may choose the length), returning to Kingston for the night. The island features a 78-turbine wind energy farm with a very informative visitors center, and those looking for a longer ride can catch the on-demand ferry to Simcoe Island and visit the picturesque Nine Mile Point Lighthouse, which was built in the 1830s.
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Day 3 - Monday42.7 miles - Today we'll make a one-hour shuttle westward to Picton Harbor, then cycle back east along the St. Lawrence River. The route starts with a 5 mile ride along the shoreline to the ferry at Glenora, then continues along the northern shore of the St. Lawrence River through Adolphustown, Sandhurst Shores, and Bath, passing farms and wineries on our way back to Kingston.
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Day 4 - Tuesday
22 miles – After checking out of our hotel, we’ll cycle over to the Royal Military College for a tour, followed by a visit to historic Fort Henry. After a scenic picnic lunch, we'll cycle along the shoulder of ON Rt 2 (Waterfront Trail) passing through the villages of King Pitt and East View until we reach Howe Island, accessing it by a small ferry, then pedal along its southern shoreline enjoying expansive views of the river, back to the mainland via an even smaller ferry to Gananoque where we will overnight at the luxurious waterfront Gananoque Inn.
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Day 5 - Wednesday
33 miles / 54 km – We bike from Gananoque enjoying majestic views along the 1000 Islands Parkway through the villages of Darlingside, Rockport, and Butternut Bay to the quaint and historic riverfront city of Brockville where we will spend the night at the Noble Suites, a luxury boutique apartment hotel just steps from the riverfront and lively downtown.
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Day 6 - Thursday
37 miles / 60 km – Brockville to Prescott, Cardinal, Iroquois and Morrisburg where we will spend the night at the plush and welcoming McIntosh Country Inn & Suites.
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Day 7 - Friday
30 miles - On the last morning of our journey, we'll finish with a flourish of water views, crossing 10 little islands before lunch as we pedal from Morrisburg to Ingleside, Long Sault, and finally Cornwall. We’ll enjoy another picnic lunch in the waterfront park, and then load into the van to return to Kingston where we’ll bid each other farewell.
Difficulty Level: Advanced
This tour’s route is approximately 1/3 riding on a road shoulder, 1/3 riding on an unpaved bike trail, and 1/3 riding on small quiet backroads.
Suggested bicycle: Touring bikes, road bikes, hybrids
Suggested tire size for this tour: 28mm – 37mm (or larger)
Pricing
$2,750 USD per person (based on double occupancy)
$650 – Single Supplement (extra price to have your own room)
$150 - Standard Bike Rental
$400 - E-bike Rental
Your Travel Plans
The city of Kingston is located at the northeast corner of Lake Ontario at the mouth of the St. Lawrence River, easily accessible by car from the U.S. (Interstate 81, Watertown NY) and served by an airport served by connecting flights from Toronto. Self-parking adjacent to the hotel is CD $30/day (~$21.50 USD).
IMPORTANT NOTE regarding Registration and Credit Card fees: Senior Cycling has adopted WeTravel as our payment platform in order to enable us and our customers to avoid the cost of credit card processing fees, which can amount to $100 or more on just the single rider cost of a trip. When you get to "Payment Method", if you choose "U.S. Checking Account", you'll avoid the 3% credit card processing fee.
