New winter trail opens along Rideau River

Anew winter trail along the RideauRiver opened on Saturday for residents to enjoy just before the snowy weather wraps up.

Residents can now snowshoe, cross-country ski or use their fatbikes along the one-kilometre stretch from from HurdmanBridge to Montreal Road.

The pilot project was launched in collaboration between the Rideau Sports Centre and Coun. Mathieu Fleury.

"It's a nice urban connection to stay healthy and fit, and enjoy winter here inour capital city," Fleury told CBC Radio's In Town and Out.

"It's a great connection point for those who live in Sandy Hill, for those who live in Overbrook and for those who live in Vanier."

More sections may be added

If the project is successful,Fleury said more sections will be added to the two groomed this winter.

The Rideau River already has a pathway that connects various areas of the city, such as Carleton University, Mooney's Bay and Old Ottawa South, he said.

The trail will not be groomed with classic cross-country skiing tracks for this pilot run, he said, but there are plans to include the opportunityafter the pilot.

Fleurysaid he is excited for the project because it will give people the chance to carry out their winter activitieswithin their own urban spaces.

"People will be able to use it as often as they want [and]when they wantuntil the weather permits," he said.