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Driving in Lanark County

Limestone Tour
The ruggedness that characterizes much of Lanark County gives way in the south to the Smiths Falls Limestone Plain, once part of the floor of the prehistoric Champlain Sea, now a mainly flat region of exposed limestone and shallow soils stretching all the way to Cornwall. Transportation dominants the history of this region, from the Rideau Canal, a World Heritage Site built in 1826s as a military supply route linking Montreal and Kingston, to the railway, which took people and businesses to places that water couldnt. The land is more open here, the roads straighter, the discoveries delightfulwhether its antiques, golfing, a fine meal, or just a leisurely afternoon spent exploring in good company.

Mississippi Mills
Quiet villages, rugged farmland, and acres upon acres of sugar bush draw strength from the Mississippi River which, for nearly 200 years, has fuelled the growth of this corner of Lanark County. Mills, timber, agriculture, and now recreation have tapped into the Mississippi as it gathers steam travelling across the breadth of Lanark County before emptying into the Ottawa River.

Rideau Maple Byway Tour
Following the War of 1812, in an effort to improve the defences of Upper Canada against another attack from the United States, the British government ordered Lt. Col. John By of the Royal Engineers to build a secure, military supply route linking Montreal and Kingston. What resulted was a chain of 47 locks at 22 lockstations linking two river systems over 200 km between the Ottawa River and Lake Ontario to form one of the largest slackwater canal systems in the world. Dams, blockhouses, and defensible lockmaster houses were also a part of this massive building project that took a mere six years to complete. In 2007, during the 175th anniversary of the Rideau Canals completion, UNESCO honoured the waterway with a World Heritage Site designation.

Tay Valley Maple Byway Tour
Following the War of 1812, a group of Scottish emigrants took advantage of government incentives to leave the impoverished lowlands and start a new life in the British military settlements of Upper Canada. However, they maintained links to the old by naming communities and landmarks after familiar places back home, and using their skills to build substantial mills, fine homes, and tidy farms. Tay Valley became the cradle for much of this Scottishand Irishindustriousness, much of it lovingly preserved under the careful stewardship of subsequent generations. Explore the hinterland of Perth, the first and most significant of the military settlements, to discover a corner of Lanark County where the past meets the present and everything is aged to perfection.

Perth to Balderson Tour
Explore the rugged highlands of the northwest corner of Lanark County and discover a land of intrepid lumber barons and steadfast pioneers. Vast forests and rocky outcrops stand testament to the opportunities and challenges faced by early settlers, beginning in the early 19th century. Incredible beauty confirms why they stayed.

The Heart of Lanark
The rivers of the Mississippi watershed were the single most determining factor in locating settlements in the northern half of Lanark County. They powered industry, commerce, travel, agriculture and, by the late 19th and early 20th centuries, sport, recreation and tourism. From military to milling, firebrands to farmers, artisans to Olympic athletes, all have found a spark in the heart of Lanark.

Lanark Highlands Tour
Explore the rugged highlands of the northwest corner of Lanark County, and discover a land of intrepid lumber barons and steadfast pioneers. Vast forests and rocky outcrops stand testament to the opportunities and challenges faced by all who have settled here, beginning in the early 19th century. Incredible beauty confirms why they stayed. Follow quiet roads to clean lakes and unspoiled rivers, this is true cottage country, and take the time to play a round of golf, satisfy your sweet tooth at a sugar bush, or tackle one of the many well-groomed ATV/snowmobile trails, including the former line of the infamous "Kick & Push" Railway. Or just relax and enjoy the view.

Tour starts and finishes in Lanark Village, approximately 65 km.