Log Driver’s Waltz

Starting in the Lanark Highlands with its historic log buildings and split-rail fences, the route winds its way over hill and dale on gravel roads, bush roads, rail trails, and forest tracks towards the town of Renfrew.

Dropping into the relatively flat Ottawa Valley, the route crosses from Ontario into Quebec over the dam at Portage du Fort. Gravel country roads climb away from the Ottawa River until the town of Shawville, at which point the route follows the historic PPJ railbed northeast past Campbell’s Bay.

Turning inland once more, riders will encounter steep climbs almost immediately. Relief will come on a couple of flat sections on the Veloroute des Draveurs rail trail just before Gracefield. Here, the route crosses the Gatineau River and heads south, climbing and descending many steep pitches before reaching Lac Ste. Marie.

One of the rare paved segments of the route leads up the steep road to Mont Ste Marie Ski hill, where the climbing really starts on the Chemin Solitude. Expect rough surfaces and some hike-a-bike. Following the descent into Denholm, the route zigzags back and forth across the Gatineau River Valley on the way to Wakefield. Leaving there, riders will experience one of the highlights of the route, 80 km of double and single-track trails through the Gatineau Park. For some, this section seems interminable, but mountain bikers will be in their element. Here, the tough climbs are rewarded with viewpoints over the Ottawa Valley.

In contrast to the remote, rugged, and out-of-cell-service sections, the route soon passes through Ottawa, Canada’s national capital. Following a short section of the Rideau Canal, a UNESCO World Heritage site, it offers a stunning vista of Parliament Hill. The Trans Canada Trail, with its gentle rail grades between Ottawa and Carleton Place, offers tired legs some respite and rest for the final push into Almonte.

With many steep grades, expect this route to be harder than it looks. Riders who underestimate the difficulty of this route may end up suffering. 

In addition to the full Log Drivers Waltz route, there are also the 380 km Half/Demi and the 1600 km Rewind alternative distances to choose from.

• Paved: 27%
• Smooth Gravel: 20%
• Rough Gravel: 33%
• 4×4 Road: 15%
• Singletrack: 5%

Please see the official website for more details: https://www.logdriverswaltz.ca/

Parking:

See POI’s on the map. Riders may start the route at any point that is most convenient for them.

Riding Season:

The route can be ridden outside the recommended months of Mid-May to Mid-November, but Gatineau Park section is closed to bikes Mid-November to Mid-May to protect the trails. See the Ride with GPS file for a POI for a detour at Wakefield.

Water:

Having a means to treat water is suggested for this route.

• There are extensive resources available on the official Log Driver’s Waltz website: https://www.logdriverswaltz.ca
• Please see Stories from the Saddle on the Log Driver’s Waltz website: https://www.logdriverswaltz.ca/stories-from-the-saddle.html
• Riders are encouraged to make use of the extensive resources available below:
  • Instagram – https://www.instagram.com/thelogdriverswaltz/
  • Facebook (Page) – https://www.facebook.com/thelogdriverswaltz
  • Facebook (Group) – https://www.facebook.com/groups/631261405014463

    Join the group to share information with other riders >1000 members

  • RWGPS Routes https://ridewithgps.com/organizations/7445-log-driver-s-waltz
  • YouTube – Presentations on riding the LDW, panel discussions with alumni, interviews with riders https://www.youtube.com/@thelogdriverswaltz
  • LinkTr.ee – https://linktr.ee/Logdriverswaltz
    • Follow for updated links to coming events over the off season, links to podcasts, and letters of intent for the Grand Depart or Spring Rallie

Jen Adams (she/her) and Eric Betteridge (he/him) created and steward The Log Driver’s Waltz.

Here is a little bit about Jen & Eric in their own words:

​In 2022, Jen and Eric bikepacked almost 8800 km, including the Grand Depart on the Tour Divide (33 d) and the Log Driver’s Waltz (3.5 d), and a “pairs” time trial on the North of Seven 770 (5 d).

In 2019, they were amongst the first few riders to complete the BT 700 in Southern Ontario, which they did on a whim in lieu of their annual wilderness canoe trip. That trip was their first time following a curated bikepacking route, and the experience of being taken to bits of road, trail, and track that generally only locals know about piqued their interest in the sport.

On the drive home to Ottawa, they realized that Lanark Highlands of Ontario and the Outaouais Region of Quebec, areas they know well from cycling, canoeing, skiing, and family ties, were bikepacking destinations waiting to be discovered.

They set about creating the Log Driver’s Waltz with the goals of showcasing the region, contributing to the growing bikepacking community in Ontario, injecting tourist dollars, creating connections between locals and riders all the while providing a challenging and scenic route that Ontario, Quebec and New England riders could access without extensive airline travel. In the process, they learned how to plan using Ride with GPS, ground-truthed many segments of the route over successive weekends, and discovered that the Lanark Highlands and Gatineau Valley had even more to offer than they had realized. As the Log Driver’s Waltz gained popularity, beginning and intermediate bikepackers began to ask for some more introductory routes. In response, they have mapped out and curated more than a dozen routes of 2-5 days duration, which, along with the Log Driver’s Waltz, can be found on their website.

Jen and Eric believe that there are hidden gems to be discovered in all localities, and it is by sharing well-curated routes that bikepacking route developers can share this knowledge with riders from near and far. They continue to collaborate with other route developers in Ontario, across Canada, the US, and Europe to discuss common challenges and successes and contribute to the greater bikepacking community. They hope that others will agree that bikepacking routes should be free and freely shared. Their goal is to get people out exploring.

Jen Adams and Eric Betteridge have offered to be available to answer questions if you are planning a trip on this route.

Jen and Eric want to let riders know:

This is a 365 d/y passion project. We are continuously communicating with riders and community members as well as monitoring county and park websites for updates that may affect the route. We post changes on our home page and also send updates to anyone who has previously downloaded the route.

Please also get in touch with any updates on route conditions that may be relevant to other riders.

Please submit your questions and comments on the route via the contact form below.

This route is located on the unceded and unsurrendered Territory of the Anishinaabe Algonquin Nation.