Greater Madawaska: Trails, Panoramas and Motorsports

Greater Madawaska offers something for a wide range of vacation days: in Calabogie, hiking and snowshoeing trails meet motorsports, guided tours, and paddling activities. There is also a long scenic drive and traces of the K&P Railway. When choosing your vacation rental, consider which of these experiences you want to focus on during your trip.

Hiking and Panoramas Around Calabogie

The Manitou Trail is a 9 km hiking and snowshoeing trail of moderate difficulty. It connects Calabogie Peaks with Eagle’s Nest and passes through picturesque pine forests. Along the way, mountain panoramas open up over Eagle’s Nest, Manitou Mountain, and Red Arrow Rock. Its length, difficulty level, and the two activities it accommodates give you concrete points to consider when deciding whether to include this trail in your plans. If you are specifically planning a hike or snowshoe outing, this offers a different kind of excursion from a motorized tour or a day at the racetrack.

The K&P Trail also offers a distinctive view of the region: it runs from Calabogie to Renfrew, is well used, and is suitable for a ride. The route connects the two places named; no length or specific mode of transport is specified.

Scenic Drive and the History of the K&P Railway

A 140 km scenic drive begins on Highway 17 between Arnprior and Renfrew. It follows Calabogie Road through Burnstown, Calabogie, Griffith, Dacre, and Mount St. Patrick, then returns to Highway 17. The named places and route make this an option for travelers who want to include several stops in one drive.

The K&P Railway, also known as the “Kick & Push,” reached Calabogie in the 1880s. A dam built for the K&P Railway across Grassey Bay remains a lasting landmark in the Calabogie area. These two details tell different parts of the railway’s story: the railway’s arrival in Calabogie and a structure in the area that still stands today.

Tours, Water, and Motorsports

Tom Irwin Adventure Tours offers guided ATV and snowmobile tours lasting either half a day or a full day. Snowmobile packages include clothing, equipment, and a guide. ATV tours are offered in Calabogie and the Madawaska Highlands; the company is located at 636 Mill St in Calabogie, Ontario. This lets you distinguish between a guided ATV tour and a snowmobile package with the listed inclusions.

For on-the-water activities, Mad River Paddle Co. in Calabogie, at 1022 Madawaaska Street, offers paddleboard and kayak rentals as well as lessons. Rentals and lessons are two different ways to incorporate paddling into your trip. At Calabogie Motorsports Park, by contrast, the focus is on cars and motorcycles: the park hosts numerous club events for both types of vehicle. The racetrack is described as Canada’s longest; it has 20 turns and a 2,000-foot straight. The park also offers driving experiences with track-ready rental vehicles, as well as high-performance driving programs with certified coaches.

When choosing a vacation rental in Greater Madawaska, you can use these differences as a guide: would you like to focus your trip on hiking and snowshoeing, a scenic drive, a guided ATV or snowmobile tour, paddling, or motorsports?

Other places at this destination level: Foresters Falls, Golden Lake, Petawawa, Killaloe, Barry’s Bay, Pembroke, Arnprior, Renfrew.

For the broader travel overview: Renfrew County.