Riverfront Trails and Heritage in Carleton Place: Find Hotels

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Pure Luxury

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Tatjana Herzegova, Kiew, Ukraine

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Sustainable Travel

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Markus Lenk, Düsseldorf, Germany

Carleton Place combines history along the Mississippi River with trails for nature and recreation. Riverside Park is home to the Carleton Place Canoe Club, Canada’s oldest continuously operating canoe club. Other highlights include the RiverWalk along the water, historic architecture and a range of parks. To plan your visit, it’s worth choosing a focus first: short riverside trails, longer outdoor routes or a visit to explore local history.

Riverfront Trails and Nature

The Mississippi RiverWalk Trail is 1.9 km long, surfaced with stone dust and accessible to wheelchair users. It starts on Princess Street near the Carleton Place Arena and follows the Mississippi River to Anthony Curro Park. The trail offers views of autumn foliage and opportunities to observe wildlife. If you plan to use the route, check accessibility conditions on site.

The Ottawa Valley Recreational Trail (OVRT) runs for about 30 kilometres through Carleton Place, from Smiths Falls to Renfrew. The section through town is suitable for cycling, walking and hiking. Its flat, safe gravel surface is paved in some places. As surface conditions may change due to maintenance or construction work, it is advisable to check them before setting out. Compared with the 1.9 km RiverWalk, the OVRT offers a different route format for longer activities.

A short nature trail runs through O-Kee-Lee Park: the 0.6 km O-Kee-Lee Park Nature Trail passes through a filled-in wetland with diverse flora and fauna. This gives it a different focus from the trails along the river. Centennial Park also has a small dock for recreational canoeing and kayaking. The park also features a large soccer field and a sloping beach area; beach conditions and seasonal use may vary.

History, Parks and Local Offerings

The Carleton Place & Beckwith Heritage Museum is located at 267 Edmund Street. Its collections and exhibits include more than 10,000 artifacts. The museum building originally served as a town hall and jail, and was later used as a school. The museum offers tours by prior arrangement. If you plan to take a tour, you should therefore book it in advance.

Carleton Place Town Hall is also a notable architectural landmark. Built in 1897 to designs by architect George W. King, it is historically and architecturally significant and is considered an outstanding example of the Richardsonian Romanesque style. A self-guided historical walking tour follows Bridge Street past heritage buildings. This is another way to explore the town’s history through the architecture along the street.

Riverside Park has a sandy beach with lifeguards, a splash pad, swings and plenty of green space. Seasonal use may vary. The Carleton Place Farmers Market offers fresh produce, baked goods and handcrafted specialties. Check the seasonal market dates before your trip.

Discover more destinations: Perth, Smiths Falls, Almonte, Mcdonalds Corners

For the main travel overview: Lanark County.

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