Outdoors
Best Camping and Provincial Parks Near Ottawa
A guide to the best campgrounds and provincial parks within two to three hours of Ottawa, covering Ontario Parks, Sepaq, and unique glamping experiences.
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25 results found
Events (1)
Places (12)
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ParkFree
Britannia Beach
2805 Carling Avenue
A sandy Ottawa River beach with supervised swimming, connected to the 60-hectare Mud Lake Conservation Area — one of Canada's premier birding sites with 248+ species recorded. Free admission and parking.
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Attraction$12-$24
Canadian Museum of Nature
Downtown
Canada's national natural history museum, housed in a landmark Victorian sandstone building. Features dinosaur fossils, a blue whale skeleton, the world's largest display of Canadian birds, and an Arctic gallery. Free Thursday evenings 5-8 PM for all.
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AttractionGrounds free. Agriculture Museum has paid admission
Central Experimental Farm
The Glebe
A 427-hectare National Historic Site in the heart of Ottawa, home to ornamental gardens, a free tropical greenhouse, the Fletcher Wildlife Garden, and the Canada Agriculture and Food Museum. Active agricultural research farm since 1886 with year-round free access to grounds.
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Park
Dominion Arboretum
The Glebe
A 26-hectare arboretum on the Central Experimental Farm, home to over 1,700 species of trees and shrubs. Free to visit, with scenic lookouts over Dow's Lake and the Rideau Canal. Connected to the canal pathway network.
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Park
Gatineau Park
Gatineau
A 361-square-kilometre conservation park just 15 minutes from downtown Ottawa. Home to over 165 km of hiking trails, beaches, lakes, and the Mackenzie King Estate. Free to enter; parking fees apply at some lots in summer.
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ParkFree
Hog's Back Falls
600 Hog's Back Road
A series of 18-metre waterfalls on the Rideau River, created during the construction of the Rideau Canal in the 1830s. Part of the UNESCO World Heritage Rideau Canal system, with locks, walking trails, and picnic areas. Spectacular frozen ice formations in winter.
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ParkFree
Mer Bleue Bog
East End
A 3,500-hectare conservation area in Ottawa's Greenbelt featuring a boreal bog ecosystem normally found much farther north. The 1.2 km boardwalk trail crosses a Ramsar Wetland of International Importance, home to carnivorous plants, orchids, and spotted turtles. Free admission and parking.
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ParkFree admission. Summer parking $0.75/30 min
Petrie Island
Orleans
A 291-hectare island with two Ottawa River beaches, over 7 km of nature trails, and Class 1 wetlands with 450+ plant species and 130+ bird species. Kayak rentals available in summer, ice fishing and cross-country skiing in winter.
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ParkFree
Rideau Falls
Rockcliffe
Twin 11-metre waterfalls where the Rideau River drops into the Ottawa River, divided by the 12-acre Green Island. The falls gave the Rideau River its name — Samuel de Champlain thought they resembled a curtain (rideau in French). Free to visit year-round with walking paths, monuments, and river views.
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ParkFree
Rockcliffe Park Lookout
Rockcliffe
A panoramic lookout over the Ottawa River and Gatineau Hills in the historic village of Rockcliffe Park, designated a National Historic Site in 2023. The adjacent Rockcliffe Rockeries bloom with daffodils and flowering trees in May. Connected to the Ottawa River Pathway.
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ParkFree
Stony Swamp
Nepean
The most ecologically diverse sector of Ottawa's NCC Greenbelt, with over 40 km of trails through wetlands, forests, beaver ponds, and an abandoned quarry. Features the popular Jack Pine Trail with boardwalks and the off-leash Bruce Pit dog area. Free admission and parking.
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ParkParking $1/30 min (max $8/day)
Vincent Massey Park
Heron Road & Riverside Drive
A 28.9-hectare riverside park along the Rideau River, popular for picnics, barbecues, and family outings. Features sheltered picnic areas with electrical hook-ups, a playground, wading pool, and direct connection to the Capital Pathway cycling network.
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Things to Do (12)
Outdoors
Best Picnic Spots in Ottawa
A guide to Ottawa's best picnic parks with details on tables, BBQ pits, shelters, washrooms, and parking. Includes the key rules on barbecues and alcohol in city and NCC parks.
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Outdoors
Best Views and Lookouts in Ottawa
A guide to Ottawa's best viewpoints and scenic lookouts, from clifftop panoramas over the Ottawa River to elevated urban vantage points of Parliament Hill. All free to visit.
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Ottawa Guide
Best Day Trips from Ottawa
A guide to the best day trips within two hours of Ottawa, from charming small towns and living history villages to wildlife safaris and waterfall lookouts.
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Outdoors
Dog-Friendly Things to Do in Ottawa
A guide to Ottawa's best off-leash dog parks, dog-friendly trails, swimming spots, and pet events. Includes leash law details for both City of Ottawa and NCC land.
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Outdoors
Best Beaches and Water Activities in Ottawa
A guide to Ottawa's best beaches and water activities, from four supervised city beaches to paddling on the Rideau Canal and whitewater rafting on the Ottawa River. Includes rental prices and season dates.
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Outdoors
Best Hiking Trails Near Ottawa
A guide to the best hiking trails in and around Ottawa, from Gatineau Park's escarpment lookouts to a boardwalk through a boreal bog. Includes distances, difficulty, and seasonal tips.
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Seasonal
Best Places to See Fall Colours in Ottawa
A guide to the best spots for fall foliage in Ottawa, from Gatineau Park's iconic lookouts to a boreal bog that turns deep red. Plus pumpkin patches, apple picking, and autumn events.
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Outdoors
Best Cycling Trails in Ottawa
A guide to the best cycling trails and pathways in Ottawa, from the Rideau Canal corridor to car-free parkways in Gatineau Park. Includes distances, difficulty, and rental info.
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Outdoors
Best Parks and Outdoor Spaces in Ottawa
A guide to the best parks and outdoor spaces in Ottawa, from a 361 km² conservation park to downtown green spaces with Parliament Hill views. All free to visit.
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Seasonal
Best Things to Do in Ottawa in Spring
A month-by-month guide to the best spring activities in Ottawa, from maple sugar season and cherry blossoms to the Canadian Tulip Festival. Covers March through May.
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Seasonal
Best Pumpkin Patches and Fall Farms Near Ottawa
A guide to the best pumpkin patches, corn mazes, and fall harvest farms near Ottawa. From free farm visits to multi-acre corn mazes and haunted attractions, with prices, directions, and what to expect at each.
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