Paddling — Flatwater.
Upper Rideau Lake stretches east from the Westport Municipal Harbour across 61 km² of open flatwater — the highest body of water in the Rideau Canal system at 124.65 m elevation, the canal's summit pool. Sheltered launching from the village's western shore opens onto canoe, kayak, and SUP routes that run the lake's full length and connect through-canal to Big Rideau Lake downstream and Newboro Lake to the south.
The brief.
Launching is direct from the Westport Municipal Harbour at the western end of the lake, staffed May through October. The lake reaches a maximum depth of 23 m; the western basin near the village is the most sheltered water, while the open main lake can build chop in strong winds and calls for stronger paddling skills.
Two Parks Canada lockstations bracket the canal corridor — Narrows Lock to the east connects downstream to Big Rideau Lake, and Newboro Lock to the south opens onto Newboro Lake — both run during the canal's roughly mid-May through mid-October navigation season. Locking-through fees apply.
2. places.
Today's read.
Cool but comfortable for layered effort · light winds.
