Ottawa River Pathway

Les promenades le long de la rivières des Outaouais offrent de magnifiques panorama. C’est beau, c’est calme. C’est très pratique.
L’endroit idéal pour les sportifs, les amoureux de la nature et ce qui veulent se déconnecter. On suit le fleuve sur des pistes cyclables.
Profitez en bien l’été, en juillet et en août quand chaque dimanche matin la ville est dédiée au cyclistes et autres riders.
Ottawa est une capitale très nature, elle est très bien aménagé pour en profiter.

Excellent path network gets you to a lot of places on a bicycle along the water. Take a map because you might need it with sometimes lack of signage if you go for long stretches. Watch out for bumpy pavement around older buildings. I love recreational bike paths!

When it comes to world capitals, Ottawa gets the cold shoulder from the world and/​or is mocked by Torontonians. Perhaps it is because Ottawa is known as a complaining fat-​cat public servant city, that also suffers from an inferiority complex.
I have spent nearly all of my life here, and Ottawa is a great city that I have come to appreciate more with each passing year. There’s also a lot more to do now, but I digress.
Ottawa has always been known for it’s green space, and this is best seen via the Ottawa River Parkway. It’s a great scenic escape from the city. If you are a visitor: DO NOT LEAVE WITHOUT TAKING THE SCENIC ROUTE AT LEAST ONCE!
The Parkway wanders along the Ottawa River, west of downtown. It is an elegant and quiet drive. From the west, it grants striking views of the Parliament Buildings, as well as the Ottawa River. It is well worth the time, getting in or out of town via the Ottawa River Parkway. It’s one of the highlights of the Ottawa Marathon’s visitor runners, who run on one side of the parkway, double back and run the entire length of the parkway.
The best way to experience the Parkway is walking or cycling on the NCC trails. O-​town is exceptionally green and a great bike city — the Parkway clearly demonstrates these traits:
— paths/​trails to walk or bike
— beaches
— artwork
— small waterfalls
— gentle & fierce rapids
— über greenery
— exceptional spots to relax and picnic.
The Parkway features many scenic look-​outs and gallivants along the shores of the Ottawa River. The Parkway is one of the best things about Ottawa, and best of all — it’s free for all.

I was never one to get psyched about Ottawa’s bike paths (hey, I don’t own a bike– don’t hate!), but ever since we moved close to this pathway I’ve changed my tune.
I generally use this trail for walking my dog, but while we’re on our excursions we see a ton of joggers, cyclists and mamas taking their babies for a walk.
I was kind of stunned the first time I started down this path (started right near the Lincoln Fields Transit Stations). I mean, I knew we lived near the river, but I had no idea that after walking 10 minutes out of our highrise that I could be right at the water’s edge, watching a beautiful sunset and getting some peace of mind. I had decided to just take a short walk, but the further I got the lovelier the scenery, and after an hour I realize I needed to turn around — or risk ending up downtown with a dog who can’t take the bus!
Before you set out on this trail take a look at a map and pick a destination or at least a direction. The trail is so huge that you could go all the way or downtown, or all the way to Barrhaven!
Tip: if you’re out past twilight be sure to either bring a partner (animal or human) and keep your ears and eyes open. We all know Ottawa is a pretty safe city but you can’t be too careful, especially along the isolate stretches.

This is a great little escape for the government workers in Tunney’s pasture, to break away from their computers for a few minutes of fresh air and R&R while they come outside for lunch or a walk or bike ride along the river.
Be careful of the goose droppings on the grass, though. The cyclists using this path would rather the pedestrians walked on the grass, and the walkers would prefer if the cyclists used the grass! All of us are avoiding the droppings left by the Canada Geese that frequent this area.
Also, look for the man who builds Inukshuk (if I’ve spelled that right?) For many years now, a man has been building amazing statues out of the rocks at the shoreline — they rocks balance on each other at seemingly impossible angles, threatening to drop at any moment, but seem to keep their balance! There was an article about him several years ago in the Canadian Geographic. It’s been a pleasure to watch him work, and he’s become something of a tourist attraction. It’s May now, and I haven’t seen him there yet this year, but maybe the water’s too cold yet. Maybe he begins this work after the Victoria Day weekend.

If you’re a runner and if you haven’t tried this trail you’ll love it.
It is hands down my favourite trail in the spring and summer for training. The view is awesome, there are several kilometres of paved with grass as an option if you want to run on it instead and there are mild elevation differences.
Behind Parliament is probably the best part although you’ll want to watch where you walk, run or cycle as there are a fair number of geese … droppings. From there to Westboro Beach you’ll go up and then down and up again while the trail hugs the shore of the Ottawa River.
One challenge on this trail is the fall or spring when the wind is stronger — it is a fairly open area and can be quite cool. That’s why this path is better in the summer though because you’ll cool down with the breeze and water right next to you.
I’d recommend this walk, cycle or run over the Rideau Canal pathway (which itself is quite nice too!).

The pathway by the Ottawa River is one of those places where you can take a calm and scenic stroll, aside from some of the goose poop. You can walk, run, or bike — it’s popular for doing all of those things, though cyclists seem to love it a lot more.
The pathway is quite long, but those of you that either can’t or simply don’t want to walk very far, there are a bunch of benches on the way, so don’t be intimated. It’s right by the water and there are many plants and trees, including especially vibrant flowers in the spring. Because of it’s location, though, it can also get pretty chilly at night and the mosquitoes may or may not eat you alive.
Even if it’s patrolled, like any other pathway, so be careful at night and any time you’re by yourself when it’s dark and late.

One of my favorite things about Ottawa is all the green space that we have. Furthermore, we have so many choices of trails and pathways to bike, run, walk and even ski on!
We have 30 KM of the Trans Canada Trail going along the river here in Ottawa, starting right at St Patrick and the Vanier Parkway. Since the St Patrick and Vanier intersection is just blocks away from me, I often walk on the path, or use it to get to Vanier when I am visiting friends.
It is so nice to walk along the river and the path isn’t usually very busy. I especially enjoy walking along here during then day when the sun is out and I have the path to myself when everyone is at work. I mostly walk, but the path would be handy for those commuting along the river.
Be careful to go with a friend or avoid the pathway at night as there have been some incidents.