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Bikepack Adventures
The Bikes, Boats and Bridges route was designed as a means of showcasing not just the Ottawa River, but also the capital city of Canada. The Ottawa Valley is a relatively flat area that one never has to venture too far off to find some beautiful gravel roads to ride.
Chris Panasky, host of the Bikepack Adventures Podcast.
In the event you are planning to do this in one day as a big, fast training ride, it is very important you plan your bridges according to their schedules. I opted to start from CHamplain Bridge (route start point) as it is a 50km ride to the first bridge and still allows me enough time to ride another 150km to the second bridge in Fassett before it closes.
I have incorporated about 11km of Parc National de Plaisance into the route, but in the event you don't want to spend the ~ $10 entry fee for the parc, you can just continue along Rte. 148, rather than enter the park. However, if you have time on your hands, they have approximately 50km of bicycle friends trails in the Parc which you are sure to enjoy.
There is a great location for camping in Parc National de Plaisance where they have bicycle friendly campsites which only cost a bit over $11 for the night. I believe you will also have to pay around $10 for access to the Parc.
Food and water resupply can be found in regular intervals along the route. After crossing the bridge in Fassett, you will have a chance to resupply in Alfred, after which there won't be many options until you arrive in Ottawa.
At 300km in length, Bikes, Boats and Bridges is for the most part a route with roads that can be considered a difficulty of 2. The route is extremely flat, with very little elevation gain. With regards to type of trail, the route is comprised on paved roads, gravel roads and rail trail.
This route is not technically difficult in the least but does take the rider on a journey through many small towns that make up the Ottawa Valley. There are no trails, or overly rough roads..
