Big Rideau Lake is the largest of the lakes in the Township of Rideau Lakes’ own lake table. The Township gives it 166.1 km of shoreline and an area of 33.4 square kilometres. Upper Rideau Lake, reached through the Narrows lockstation, has 48.4 km of shoreline and 14.0 square kilometres on the same table. Ontario Parks says Big Rideau Lake is part of the Rideau Canal UNESCO World Heritage Site, and the Big Rideau Lake Association is named on the Township’s lakes page.
Facts box
| Field | Value |
|---|---|
| Township | Township of Rideau Lakes |
| Shoreline | 166,056.8 m (166.1 km), the longest of the Township’s listed lakes |
| Area | 33,425,713.7 m2 (33.4 km2), the largest of the Township’s listed lakes |
| Upper Rideau Lake | 48,387.5 m of shoreline (48.4 km); 14,021,595.4 m2 (14.0 km2) |
| Species | Lake trout, smallmouth and largemouth bass, northern pike (Ontario Parks, Murphys Point page). Depth not on the Township’s page |
| Fisheries Management Zone | Zone 18; The Bog and Long Island are closed to fishing all year |
| Lake association | Big Rideau Lake Association |
| Waterway | Rideau Canal, Parks Canada |
| Hospital | Perth and Smiths Falls District Hospital |
Public access
The Township’s boating page lists these marinas and rental locations and does not state which lake each sits on, so we list them as Township marinas near Big Rideau and the Rideau chain, not as Big Rideau access. Its separate Harbours and Boat Launches page holds launch details, which we did not read. Murphys Point Provincial Park, on Big Rideau Lake, has one boat launch and 13 docks.
| Marina | Address |
|---|---|
| Brown’s Marina | 1641 Chaffeys Lock Rd, Elgin (Chaffeys Lock) |
| Bayview Yacht Harbour | 2785 Highway 15, Portland |
| Lens Cove Marina | 1 Water Street, Portland |
| Indian Lake Marina | 292 Marina Road, Chaffeys Lock |
| Franklin’s Marina | 5 Franklin Dr, Elgin (Chaffeys Lock) |
Fishing
Murphys Point’s activities page calls Big Rideau Lake a popular fishing lake for lake trout, smallmouth and largemouth bass and northern pike, and points to Hogg Bay and Loon Lake, where motorboats are not permitted, for bass and pike. The Zone 18 summary closes two parts of Big Rideau Lake, The Bog and Long Island in Bastard and Burgess townships, to fishing all year. Read the Zone 18 page for seasons and limits by species; we do not restate them. Most anglers need an Outdoors Card and a fishing licence. Fish ON-Line maps species and rules lake by lake.
Boating Big Rideau
Power boats are allowed on Big Rideau Lake, and Ontario Parks suggests two trips from Murphys Point: through the Narrows locks into Upper Rideau Lake toward Westport, or through Beveridges Locks into the Tay River toward Perth. The manually operated locks at the Narrows lift you 0.8 m into Upper Rideau Lake. The two locks at Beveridges lift you 6.9 m into the Tay River, and Perth is a further 10 km by paddle. Drivers of power boats need proof of competency, most often the Pleasure Craft Operator Card. Federal rules set 10 km/h within 30 metres of shore in Ontario, except when towing a skier on a straight course out from shore and in canals, buoyed channels and rivers under 100 m wide. Clean, drain and dry the boat and trailer before you launch from another lake.
Beaches
The Township lists four beaches and does not name the lake for any of them: Lower Beverley Lake Park (146 Lower Beverley Park Road, Delta), Portland Community Beach (14 Water St, Portland), Sand Lake (345 Delong Road, Elgin) and Westport Lions Beach (63 Mountain Road, Westport). Murphys Point Provincial Park has Main Beach on Hogg Bay and a second beach on Noble Bay, both buoyed, with no lifeguards and no pets.
The Rideau Canal
Parks Canada runs the canal, which is 202 km from Ottawa to Kingston. See Boating the Rideau Canal.
Murphys Point paddling
A 6 km Canoe Loop, rated easy to moderate, runs from the main beach on Hogg Bay into Big Rideau Lake, around the point, into Loon Lake and back, with two short portages of 150 m. Plan the direction around high winds. Colonel By Island is 5.5 km one way from the park, Portland 9.5 km, Rideau Ferry 10 km, the Narrows lockstation 11.2 km and the Beveridges lockstation 13 km. Hogg Bay and Loon Lake do not allow motorboats.
Water quality and lake association
The Township says it relies on partnerships with the Cataraqui Conservation Authority, the Rideau Valley Conservation Authority, the Ministry of the Environment, Conservation and Parks and lake associations for water quality data. In 2022 it partnered with the Big Rideau Lake Association and local conservation authorities on a stormwater drainage pilot in Portland. It gives no Big Rideau measurements; the Province’s Lake Partner map shows Secchi depth and phosphorus for Lake Partner Program sites. The Big Rideau Lake Association’s website is bigrideaulakeassociation.com.
Before you book
Ask the host which marina or launch guests use, and whether the cottage is on Big Rideau or Upper Rideau, because the Narrows lock sits between them. Big Rideau can be treacherous in high winds, Ontario Parks warns, so plan paddling days around the forecast.
Nearest town services
Perth and Smiths Falls District Hospital has sites in Perth and Smiths Falls. Its page we read does not say whether the emergency department runs 24 hours, so confirm that with the hospital. See Rideau and Thousand Islands hospitals and essentials and Frontenac, Charleston Lake and Murphys Point parks.
FAQ
How long is Big Rideau Lake’s shoreline?
166.1 km, per the Township of Rideau Lakes. Checked November 3 2026.
Which fishing zone is Big Rideau Lake in?
Zone 18, which lists fish sanctuaries on parts of the lake. Checked November 3 2026.
Is there a lake association?
Yes. The Township names the Big Rideau Lake Association. Checked November 3 2026.
Can I paddle from Murphys Point?
Yes. A 6 km Canoe Loop runs from the Hogg Bay beach through Big Rideau Lake and Loon Lake. Checked November 3 2026.
Cottages on this lake
Browse cottages on Big Rideau Lake or the Rideau and Thousand Islands region.
Township Rules Check
Thinking of renting out a cottage here? Run the Township Rules Check for the Township of Rideau Lakes. Our dataset has no confirmed short-term rental rule for this municipality yet, so confirm with its clerk before you list.
Claims table
| # | Claim | Source URL | Checked |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Our Lakes page: Big Rideau shoreline 166,056.8 m; area 33,425,713.7 m2 (largest shoreline and area of 37 listed); Upper Rideau 48,387.5 m, 14,021,595.4 m2; no depth or species; Big Rideau Lake Association; water quality partners (Cataraqui CA, RVCA, MECP, lake associations); 2022 Portland drainage pilot | https://www.rideaulakes.ca/living-here/our-lakes | 2026-11-03 |
| 2 | Rideau Lakes beaches: Lower Beverley Lake Park, Portland Community Beach, Sand Lake, Westport Lions Beach (addresses as listed; lake not named) | https://www.rideaulakes.ca/experience-rideau-lakes/beaches | 2026-11-03 |
| 3 | Murphys Point activities: Main Beach on Hogg Bay and Noble Bay beach, buoyed, no lifeguards, no pets; 6 km Canoe Loop easy to moderate, two 150 m portages, high winds; distances; Hogg Bay and Loon Lake no motorboats; power boats allowed on Big Rideau; Narrows lift 0.8 m into Upper Rideau; Beveridges two locks 6.9 m into Tay River, 10 km to Perth; species lake trout, small/largemouth bass, northern pike; Big Rideau part of Rideau Canal UNESCO site | https://www.ontarioparks.ca/park/murphyspoint/activities | 2026-11-03 |
| 4 | Murphys Point 13 docks, 1 launch | https://www.ontarioparks.ca/park/murphyspoint | 2026-11-03 |
| 5 | Rideau Lakes marinas and rentals: Brown’s Marina 1641 Chaffeys Lock Rd; Bayview Yacht Harbour 2785 Hwy 15 Portland; Lens Cove Marina 1 Water St Portland; Indian Lake Marina 292 Marina Rd; Franklin’s Marina 5 Franklin Dr; lake not listed for each; launch details on a separate Harbours & Boat Launches page | https://www.rideaulakes.ca/experience-rideau-lakes/boating | 2026-11-03 |
| 6 | Zone 18 includes Ottawa, Cornwall, Perth, Kingston, Belleville; Big Rideau Lake, Bastard and Burgess Townships, The Bog and Long Island: no fishing, closed all year | https://www.ontario.ca/document/ontario-fishing-regulations-summary/fisheries-management-zone-18 | 2026-11-03 |
| 7 | Most anglers need an Outdoors Card and a fishing licence. | https://www.ontario.ca/page/fishing-licences | 2026-11-03 |
| 8 | Power boat drivers need proof of competency, most often the Pleasure Craft Operator Card. | https://tc.canada.ca/en/marine-transportation/marine-safety/pleasure-craft-operator-card | 2026-11-03 |
| 9 | Power boats may not exceed 10 km/h within 30 metres of shore, with exceptions such as towing a skier straight out from shore and canals and buoyed channels. | https://laws-lois.justice.gc.ca/eng/regulations/SOR-2008-120/FullText.html | 2026-11-03 |
| 10 | Clean, drain, dry: boat, motor and trailer | https://www.ontario.ca/page/invasive-species-ontario | 2026-11-03 |
| 11 | Lake Partner map: Secchi depth and total phosphorus from Lake Partner Program sampling sites | https://www.ontario.ca/page/map-lake-partner | 2026-11-03 |
| 12 | Fish ON-Line is the Government of Ontario’s lake-by-lake fish information tool. | https://www.ontario.ca/page/how-use-fish-line | 2026-11-03 |
| 13 | Perth and Smiths Falls District Hospital: Perth site 33 Drummond St W (613-267-1500); Smiths Falls site 60 Cornelia St W (613-283-2330); ED hours not stated on page | https://www.psfdh.on.ca/ | 2026-11-03 |
Photo: Leif Olson, on Unsplash (Unsplash License).