Portland Ontario

Aerial View of Big Rideau Lake
About Us
Portland Outdoors is a non-profit organization formed by local residents. We are dedicated to bringing out the best in outdoors activities in Portland, Ontario in all four seasons of the year.

If you have a local winter wisdom email it to us
Every year we make sure than most of the proceeds of the International Big Rideau Lake Speed Skating
Marathon go back into the community. We have provided more than $2,500 to the music program at the Rideau Centennial Public School in Portland. The first year we donated more than $1,500 to the
Portland Football Club (PFC) who were raising money to bring the local soccer
club kids to the Gothia Cup in Sweden ( the world’s largest and most
international youth soccer tournament in the world ). And those are just a few examples. Please contact us if you would like to get involved or even just help out at an event.

On January 26, 2006 - Marco Smits Award reveiled. Read More about it

Every years we receive many, many letters of thanks, phone calls and emails. Click here to read an excerpt.

About Portland, Ontario
Situated on the south shore of Big Rideau Lake, the picturesque community of Portland attracts a multitude of visitors each year. First settled in the early eighteen hundreds, it was one of the earliest settlements along the Rideau. The community ’s original seven houses, informally known as “The Landing became a transfer point for settlers traveling from Brockville and continuing by barge to the Perth area.

Photo by Marco Smits
  
With the completion of the Rideau Canal waterway in 1832, steamboats and barges carrying raw materials such as cordwood from the clearing of forests, maple syrup, potash, cheese, tanned hides and salt beef were a common sight. Portland became a thriving village of trade with Kingston, Montreal and Ottawa. In 1843, the village was a booming commercial centre and adopted the name Portland after the third Duke of Portland.By the 1860's, the settlement had expanded considerably to require five hotels and, by the early 1900's, cottages were springing up around the lake and the tourist trade had begun.
Advances in rail and road travel and increasing tourism offset a decline in the role of agriculture. With the uniquely beautiful scenery and the excellent fishing, tourism began to lead the economy of Portland, and still does to this day. You may also visit local antique shops, gift shops and crafters markets. In the surrounding area, the Forfar Cheese Factory, one of the last independently owned cheese factories in the area is where you can buy world famous cheeses and curd made right at the factory.

Visit the Mill Pond Conservation Area for a hike, all year round. The Cataraqui trails is also very near to the Forfar Cheese Factory and can also be enjoyed in all seasons. The Narrows Lock, a few minutes from Portland is a tranquil setting where you can watch boats be locked through. The Newboro Lock is also a short drive and you can relax in the recreation and picnic area beside the lock.Local accommodation in the form of B&B’s, campgrounds and cottage rentals can be found both within the village and surrounding area. A variety of excellent eating establishments can also be found within the village.  

Photo by Marco Smits
Visit the local villages surrounding Portland like Westport, Newboro, Elgin, Chaffey’s Lock, Delta, Athens, Seeley’s Bay and Lyndhurst, all of which have interesting histories of their own. For visits to larger centres, Portland is an easy drive to Perth, Smiths Falls and Ottawa.

While Portland is steeped in history, most of today’s visitors merely come to enjoy themselves, relax, and take in the beautiful scenery of Portland-on-the-Rideau.

Got an idea? Portland Outdoors is always looking for individuals and groups who have an idea that fits in our objectives of bringing out the best in outdoor activities in and around Portland in all four season of the year. To streamline these initiatives we have created this form. Please take a moment to read it and provide us with as much detail as you can. DOWNLOAD OUR PROJECT SUBMISSION FORM HERE...

Volunteers. Here you find a list of volunteers.

  
Come to Portland Ontario for Mountain Biking, Canoeing, Speedskating. Cross Country Skiing and other Outdoor Activities. Close to Kingston, Smiths Falls and Ottawa - Copyright Portland Outdoors All rights reserved.