OFF-ROAD PATH TO STITTSVILLE
Intermediate ride helps build up an appetite, but don’t miss the turns
With more than 230 kilometres of kept pathways, the National Capital Region has a reputation for being a cycling hub. To explore the possibilities, Citizen columnist Wayne Scanlan charted a Summer Ride series, five interesting day trips in and around Ottawa. Who knew it was possible to ride from downtown Ottawa to Stittsville without having to cycle on a single road? Across roads, under Highway 417, yes, but never on a road, always on a path.
This is a terrific route and it culminates in the village square in Stittsville, with an array of refreshment stops along Main Street. I found the route on GoBiking.ca, a website operated by Michael McGoldrick from 2008-15, and still a great resource for rides in the region and beyond.
This one begins on the NCC pathway along the Ottawa River. We kick-started our bike app data from the Champlain Bridge, but one could join the Ottawa River path at any point. Follow the well-marked River path west toward Britannia (as in Ride 1), but this time take the path through Britannia Park and continue on the pathway across Carling Avenue and Acres Road.
Once across Moodie Drive, you enter Watts Creek Pathway, a forested change of pace from the river ride. Birds are plentiful here, and after a wet spring the creek was running strong during our June morning ride. Do look for wildlife. I came across a little turtle crossing the path in Britannia and, on the Trans Canada Trail, a wild turkey deftly disappeared into the deep grasses.
Please note there is no sign on the pathway to indicate where to turn left to join the Trans Canada for the trek into Stittsville. Roughly two kilometres past Moodie, approach slowly and look for an opening in the woods, and a break in the fencing, on the left side of the path. Now you will see a sign indicating the Trans Canada.
It’s easy to miss this turn. I certainly did, and three kilometres later was steered back to the entrance by a couple of kindly hikers. Note — if you see the 19th Tee driving range on your right side, you have missed the turnoff!
From here, you spend the final 14 kilometres of the ride on a fine gravel road through to Stittsville. Though not as sure as the pavement, the gravel path is in good shape and we had no problems with it. A touring tire is better, but my wife managed OK with her thin road tires, using caution across a few little trenches that erupted on a couple of gradients.
This wooded area provides a cool escape on a hot day. After passing underneath the 417, the trail crosses Timm Drive and past farmland until it reaches an old bridge once used for trains. Turn right to get on the bridge and this newly named path, the Ottawa-Carleton Trailway, will carry you the final nine kilometres into Stittsville.
This last portion grows a little monotonous, only adding fuel to the desire for some respite in Stittsville. The path leads right to the square at Main and Abbott streets. From here, without crossing a road, just walk your bike to the left about a hundred feet to arrive at Quitter’s Coffee, a lovely café opened by singersongwriter Kathleen Edwards a few years ago.
We arrived at lunch hour on a Saturday and the café was lit with staff and visitors. That unexpected morning detour made us hungry for the delights awaiting us at Quitter’s, including a tuna melt sandwich, chocolate scone and delicious coffee. A fresh container of water was equally welcomed after a long morning ride.
Leaving Stittsville, the path home was quicker, a point driven home when we looked at the elevation profile afterward.
While the overall terrain is fairly flat (with an elevation gain of 129 metres), the gradient runs slightly downhill on the return trip, which we did comfortably in 90 minutes.
It would have been faster but the prevailing westerly wind shifted to the east in the early afternoon, and the headwind was strong on the ride back to Westboro.