Dog-Friendly Things to Do in Ottawa

For a dog-friendly outing in Ottawa, choose a designated off-leash park or a trail that permits leashed dogs in the season you visit. Bruce Pit and Conroy Pit are year-round NCC off-leash options. In Gatineau Park, winter dog walking is limited to four named walking trails.

Dog-access information checked November 4, 2026 against the NCC animal regulations, Gatineau Park dog-walking rules, Greenbelt trail directory, and City dog-designation records. Follow current closures and posted signs before setting out.

Pick a Dog-Friendly Outing

Off-Leash Dog Parks

Bruce Pit

Bruce Pit is an NCC-designated off-leash area. The Greenbelt directory identifies P12 as its starting point and lists off-leash dog use year-round. Keep your dog under control and follow the signs at the parking lot and surrounding trails; the designation does not extend to every Stony Swamp trail.

Conroy Pit

Conroy Pit is the other year-round off-leash area named in the NCC's Greenbelt trail directory. Do not assume an open off-leash area is a fenced enclosure. For a comparison of the two outings, see Bruce Pit and Conroy Pit.

Jack Purcell Park

The City record for 320 Jack Purcell Lane permits off-leash dogs inside the fenced area, with leashes required in the rest of the park. View Jack Purcell Park.

Other Off-Leash Choices

The NCC also names Hampton Park, Pine Hill, Rockcliffe–Hillsdale and Stanley Avenue Park as properties with designated off-leash areas. Use their designated portions and posted signs; this is not confirmation that each has an enclosed dog run.

For City parks, browse dog park details and compare the confirmed fenced-area shortlist. David Bartlett's fence wording separates an on-leash pathway from the rest of the park; Heron's dog area is described as grassland outside the fence. Neither record establishes a fenced off-leash enclosure.

Dog-Friendly Trails by Season

Gatineau Park: April 15–November 30

Gatineau Park allows leashed dogs on most marked official trails during this period. Pink Lake, King Mountain, Luskville Falls, the Equestrian Trail and the trail from P25 to the Home Cliff climbing zone prohibit dogs year-round. Beaches, picnic areas, shelters, campgrounds and shuttle buses also prohibit pets. The NCC provides exemptions for service dogs.

The NCC limits the leash or harness to two metres and allows a maximum of two pets per person. Official Gatineau Park dog rules.

Gatineau Park: December 1–April 14

Leashed dogs are allowed only on these four winter walking trails:

These are winter walking routes, not permission to take a dog onto ski, snowshoe or snow-bike trails. The winter Lauriault loop also differs from the shorter seasonal waterfall walk. Use the NCC's winter walking routes and conditions before choosing a route. Winter walking-trail access is free; weather and closures still affect use.

Greenbelt Trails

The NCC directory gives dog rules by trail number. Examples permitting leashed dogs April 15–November 30 include Green's Creek Trail 63, Mer Bleue Trails 50 and 51, and Stony Swamp Trails 27 and 29. The Mer Bleue Bog Trail, Sarsaparilla, Beaver and Chipmunk trails do not allow dogs year-round.

In winter, dogs are not allowed on natural Greenbelt trails. Choose a multi-use pathway where dogs are allowed on leash, or Bruce Pit or Conroy Pit for designated off-leash use. Mud Lake also prohibits dogs year-round. See the easy hiking guide for outings without a dog.

Water Access and Beaches

Do not treat an off-leash designation or a park's waterfront location as permission for a dog to swim. The NCC regulations prohibit pets on beaches and surrounding areas and within three metres of shorelines on NCC land, subject to service-dog exemptions. General on-leash access to NCC land at Remic Rapids does not establish permission for shoreline dog wading under that rule.

Petrie Island prohibits dogs anywhere on the island, as explained by the Friends of Petrie Island trail guide. Its mainland Jeanne d'Arc / Queenswood Forest Trail has a different on-leash rule. Follow the responsible land manager's current rules before planning any water access.

Dog-Friendly Patios

For food after a walk, compare our dog-friendly patios guide. Confirm the individual venue's current pet policy and whether its patio is operating on your date, especially outside summer. A patio listing is not confirmation of indoor pet access.

Dog Events and Weekend Planning

Use dated Ottawa events and this weekend's events to check for a suitable outing. Read the organizer's pet-admission policy: a family or outdoor event is not automatically dog-friendly. Do not rely on an old festival date or an earlier season's admission price.

Before You Leave

• Check the exact trail or park designation and current closures.
• Distinguish fenced off-leash areas from open off-leash parks and on-leash trails.
• Bring water and waste bags; do not rely on seasonal fountains.
• Keep dogs under control and use the leash required by the land manager.
• For NCC land, use a leash or harness no longer than two metres and bring no more than two pets.