Ten Trails on The Ottawa Side of the River That You Need to Explore

Fall in Ottawa is a season made for walking. As the air turns crisp and the leaves blaze with colour, hikers naturally think of Gatineau Park—but there’s an abundance of scenic trails right here in Ottawa, too. From riverside paths to wooded escapes, the city is rich with routes that showcase the best of the season. To help you plan your next outing, here are ten of the top trails to explore this fall—each offering its own unforgettable views.

Rideau River Trail

Beginning in Strathcona Park and following the historic Rideau River, the Rideau River Park Trail loop spans approximately 10.6 kilometres, making for a perfect 2-to 3-hour walk. Dogs are permitted on these trails, allowing your fuzzy friend to tag along for the adventure. With a convenient downtown location, this trail offers many enjoyable attractions, including the nearby beach at Rideau River Provincial Park and Dutchy’s Hole Park, which are located along the trail and provide perfect spots to take a break or for children to play.

Open year-round, this family-friendly trail is majority paved with some select dirt areas, making it very accessible for strollers or wheelchairs. Maintained by the city of Ottawa, this urban greenscape is well-maintained for walking enjoyment.

There are several accessible facilities, including benches and bathrooms, along the trail, allowing visitors to enjoy their walk without worry. This location is accessible by bus, with a nearby bus stop just a 3-minute walk away, and offers free on-site parking. The Rideau River Trail is ideal for active families wanting to spend an afternoon outside.

Photo: To Do Canada

Humanics Sanctuary and Sculpture Park

The Humanics Sanctuary and Sculpture Park in Cumberland spans nine acres and welcomes dogs, making it a unique woodland walk for the whole family. This tree-filled natural park features sculptures by local artists set among scenic ponds and forested areas. Visitors can explore on their own or join a guided tour, enjoying a picturesque loop trail that takes about one to two hours to complete.

Open from the May long weekend through to October 31, visitors can enjoy this park throughout the more temperate seasons. The primarily dirt and gravel trail includes some bridges and inclined areas with rock steps, making accessibility a potential challenge. However, benches or seating areas throughout offer opportunities for rest.

While biking on the trail is not permitted, transit is very accessible with on-site parking and a bus stop a 19-minute walk away. Volunteers of the not-for-profit organization keep the trail well-maintained. There is an entrance fee, but children under 10 are free, and annual memberships are available.

Photo: Capital Gems

Petrie Island

With six trails of varying lengths, Petrie Island in Orleans offers a wide range of trail options; there is something for everyone. The Bill Holland trail spans 2.4 kilometres and is approximately a 40- to 60-minute walk. The Basswood trail is a 1.5-kilometre or 45-minute walk. The Turtle trail is 500 metres long, while the Muskrat trail is 800 metres, offering a shorter 15-minute route. There is also the Riverloop trail, which has an unspecified length.

Due to nature conservation efforts at Petrie Island, biking and dogs are not permitted on the trails to protect the wildlife and their habitats; however, service dogs are exempt from this rule. Petrie Island boasts a sandy beach, a natural environment, fishing areas, bookable fire pits, and best of all, a captivating view of the Ottawa River.

Accessing Petrie Island by transit is easy, with a bus stop just a short 20-minute walk away and ample on-site parking. Despite its location within the city, the Petrie Island trails are tree-lined, offering a natural feel that allows visitors to forget they are within the city limits.

Accessible facilities, such as bathrooms and off-trail seating, are available. However, accessibility may be challenging due to the trails’ entirely natural, dirt paths and minimally maintained routes, which aim to minimise human impact on the natural surroundings.

Open year-round, Petrie Island is a great option for scenic walks in nature.

Photo: Friends of Petrie Island

Old Quarry Trail

The Old Quarry Trail in Kanata boasts a duo of loop trails. Hikers can choose from a 1.9-kilometre trail or a 2.7-kilometre trail, allowing visitors to enjoy walks ranging from half an hour to an hour long. Since Old Quarry Trail is a conservation area, dogs are not permitted on the premises. As one of the largest wooded areas in the National Capital Greenbelt, this area is home to many adorable creatures, including wetland turtles, frogs, and white-tailed deer. This trail also has a large quantity of Nepean Sandstone, which has historically been used to build heritage buildings within the Capital.

Open year-round, this trail offers both hiking and biking opportunities with free admission. The trail is NCC-owned and maintained, although it is primarily kept to its natural state with dirt paths and partially paved areas. According to the NCC website, this trail unfortunately does not meet the Universal Accessibility Standards, meaning it may pose challenges for wheelchair users and families with strollers. The location does offer facilities for visitors, including one outhouse and a picnic area. Transit to this area is straightforward, with a bus stop only 4 minutes away and a free on-site parking lot.

Photo: NCC

Mud Lake Trail

The Mud Lake Trail is a 2.9-kilometre loop located near Britannia, which takes 30 minutes to an hour to complete. No dogs are allowed in this urban greenscape area, as it is one of the most popular urban bird-watching sites in Canada. The Mud Lake wetland is crucial as a migratory corridor for birds, making it an important bird conservation area.

Biking is not permitted; however, it is open year-round for walking. While the trail is NCC-maintained, the pathway is primarily composed of gravel or natural dirt, with some wooden bridges, which may pose difficulties for wheelchair users or those using baby strollers.

Transit to this area is available with a bus stop a 12-minute walk away and on-street parking.

Photo: NCC

Hogs Back Park

Hogsback Park is in the Moony’s Bay/Baseline area and hugs the Rideau River, providing visitors with a scenic 1.4-kilometre loop trail walk that takes 30 minutes to an hour. Dogs are permitted on leash, allowing owners to take their canine companions with them on their adventures. With several beautiful urban yet nature-filled sights, including the Hogs Back Falls, the Rideau River, and the Hogs Back Heritage Pavilion, this Ottawa hiking trail has a lot to offer.

This beautiful location is open from early May to December 1. Biking is allowed on the paved and gravel trails maintained by the NCC, which provide better accessibility, making this a great family-friendly Ottawa trail for strollers and wheelchair users alike. Hogs Back Park also offers many facilities for visitors, including bathrooms that are open from May to mid-October, Picnic Areas, and a concession stand with a wide selection of food and drinks. The park can be accessed by transit, with a bus stop that is an 18-minute walk away and limited parking spaces available from 7 am to dusk during the park’s open season.

Photo: NCC

NCC Trail 51

A mini getaway located in the Mer Bleue Conservation Area, NCC Trail 51 is a 7.5-kilometre loop trail, making it the perfect route for a hike of two hours or more. On-leash dogs are permitted between April 15 and November 30; however, the park remains open to human visitors year-round. Since this trail is located in a conservation area, the foliage and animal life of this scene are abundant. Bird feeders are placed among the forested surroundings to attract even more wildlife for visitors to observe.

Despite having accessible washrooms and picnic tables, this route is not friendly to strollers, wheelchair users, or those with mobility issues due to steep inclinations and bridges along the soil trails. The NCC maintains the trails; however, due to their location in the conservation area, they are kept relatively natural with minimal disruption. Biking is also permitted on this route. Transit by car is not a problem with on-site parking; however, the nearest bus stop is a half hour away.

Photo: All Trails

Chapman Mills Conservation Area

Beginning on Winding Way in the Barrhaven area, the Chapman Mills Conservation Area features a straight trail that, when completed, is 3.2 kilometres, making for a 1-hour-long walk. This trail is an excellent pick for dog walkers, as it allows on-leash dogs. The scenic path along the Rideau River offers views of the wooded area and wildlife surrounding the water. This route also features a dock and fishing area, making this a great area for family activities. Kids can also discover the hidden fairy houses along the side of the trail, making it a great family-friendly trail with lots of unique exploration opportunities for young hikers.

Open year-round from dawn to dusk, this gravel trail has many available amenities like bathrooms, benches, and a picnic shelter. Snowshoeing is permitted to allow hikers to take in the gorgeous surroundings during the winter season. Biking is also authorized, although it is noted that due to some rough terrain, riders may need to walk their bike through certain areas of the trail. This same uneven ground could pose issues for wheelchairs and strollers, making this trail less accessible. Despite the uneven terrain, the path is maintained by the Rideau Valley Conservation Authority and is upheld in a well-kept but natural state. Transit is easily accessible, with a bus stop just a 15-minute walk away, and on-site parking is also available.

Photo: Ontario’s Conservation Areas

Legacy Trail

Located at Mādahòkì Farm in Nepean, the Legacy Trail is a 1-kilometre walk through the forest that takes approximately an hour. This trail can be walked in a loop in some sections and straight trails in other areas, making for a broad range of possible routes. Neither bikes nor dogs are permitted on the premises; however, luckily for animal lovers, there are plenty of animals to see on the farm. Legacy Trail is not only a beautiful woodland trail but also a learning experience, with interpretive signs along the way guiding visitors through the Seven Grandfather Teachings.

These trails, open year-round for snowshoeing in the winter, feature facilities at the Mādahòkì Farm, including bathrooms and a marketplace that showcases products, art, and foods from Indigenous artisans. The trail terrain is primarily a natural dirt path that is well-maintained by the farm. Due to the dirt terrain, it may be difficult for wheelchairs and strollers.

The site is currently not served by OC Transpo, but free on-site parking is available.

Photo: OLM Staff

Jack Pine Trail

Situated in Nepean, Jack Pine Trail has three loop trail routes: a 0.7-kilometre, a 1.7-kilometre, and a 2.3-kilometre option. Due to natural land conservation reasons, dogs are not permitted. There are plenty of engaging activities, such as the interpretation panels, beaver ponds, and amazing natural features. This trail is home to over 560 native plant species and serves as a nesting ground for the majestic great egret bird. With its natural and forested terrain, this trail is ideal for bird watching and is also home to many frog and duck species.

With wood bridge areas and dirt ground, this trail has limited accessibility for those with wheelchairs or baby strollers, as the transitions between the wood and dirt may be uneven and difficult to navigate. The trail is open year-round and is maintained by the NCC. There are washrooms and picnic tables available at the entrance of the trail, allowing for access to these amenities at the beginning and end of the trail walk. This trail is accessible by OC Transpo; however, it is a 30-minute walk from a stop. Parking is available on-site.

Photo: NCC

Tips for Your Day on the Trail

As always, it is important to keep certain things in mind while venturing on these scenic nature routes:

Poison Ivy, Poison Oak, Wild Parsnip, and other dangerous plants are often found alongside trails. It is important to know how to identify these plants, specifically those most commonly found in your area. Regardless of how often the trails and pathways are maintained, it is always safer to keep a close eye out for potentially dangerous plants and avoid touching anything you do not recognize. If you are unsure of what plant it may be, a handy tool is Google Image Search. Simply snap a picture of the plant through the Google app, and it will identify it with relative accuracy.

Hikers should also respect the natural surroundings. This can mean staying on the pre-defined trail to ensure the natural area is not disturbed, including the plant life, which should never be picked. Make sure to take home everything you bring, including garbage, to minimise environmental impact.

Have a safe and happy hike!