Experience nature and outdoor activities in Ottawa

Find your favourite Ottawa park

Ottawa honours its national heritage and breathes life into its lush surroundings in these historic parks:

• Confederation Park was established in 1967 when Canada celebrated its 100th birthday. It’s a quiet sanctuary within the city which also hosts  major cultural events such as the Ottawa International Jazz Festival
• Major’s Hill Park is downtown near museums, galleries and the bustling ByWard Market. Explore its 5.06 acres of parkland by foot or bike and see scores of diverse species of trees, many dating back to ancient forests. You’ll also enjoy unmatched views of historic Ottawa architecture.
• Rideau Falls Park sits where the dramatic twin Rideau Falls waterfalls connect the Rideau and Ottawa Rivers. It’s just steps away from the Prime Minister of Canada’s official residence. Bask in the park’s natural splendour and learn about Canada’s history from its monuments and memorials.

View a multitude of tulips

When springtime comes to Ottawa, tulips are everywhere you look. May brings brilliant bursts of red, yellow, orange, purple and white blanket the city’s parks and green spaces. Why so many tulips?

During World War II, Canada sheltered the Royal Family of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, which was in exile. When the royal family returned to the Netherlands, the Dutch government gratefully acknowledged Canada’s kindness by sending 100,000 tulip bulbs to Ottawa—establishing a tradition that lasts to this day. In fact, the tulip is designated Ottawa’s official flower.

The city’s annual CanadianTulip Festival grew from this gift to become the largest tulip festival anywhere in the world. This free 11-day event has occurred every May since 1953 and officially announces springtime in Ottawa. Bring your selfie stick and biggest smile as you find yourself among more than one million tulips in full bloom in a city-wide spectacle of colour. The festival includes fields of tulips, fresh-cut flowers, arts and crafts for sale and the Tulip Town activity area for children.

Journey on the Rideau Canal: skate, paddle or boat

The historic Rideau Canal is a wonder of human imagination. The hand-built canal attracts visitors from around the world throughout the year and is designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site as one of the greatest engineering feats of the 19th century. Here are some of the best ways to enjoy the Canal:

• Skate the Rideau Canal Skateway in what might be the ultimate Canadian experience on the world’s largest ice-skating rink, extending 7.8 kilometres. Rent skates at Capital Skates and skim the entire distance from downtown Ottawa to Dow’s Lake
• Experience the canal by boat in warmer months. Rent a paddle boat or board your choice of Rideau Canal Cruises, which let you combine your cruise with biking or double-decker bus sightseeing options
• Stretch a day on the canal into a week or more with Le Boat, a Rideau Canal cruise experience like no other. Navigate the entire 202 kilometres from Ottawa to Kingston, Ontario on a private luxury houseboat. Pass islands and lakes and travel the canal’s network of lift locks into enchanting small towns. Stop to explore enchanting towns along the way

Explore Ottawa on foot or on two wheels

Canada’s capital was made for strolling—or, if you’re feeling more ambitious, hiking or cycling— on 800 kilometres of scenic pathways.

• Try the Capital Pathway which runs more than 200 kilometres and connects Ottawa’s endless parks, gardens, museums and more. Wind your  way through downtown, the suburbs and out into the countryside alongside many urban explorers
• Book a tour! Ottawa Walking Tours explore the rich history of the city’s many significant landmarks. Maximize your travel budget by joining popular Ottawa Free Tours led by local volunteers who know and love the city they call home
• Cover more ground by cycling. Find RentABike and Escape Bicycle Tours and Rentals near most downtown hotels. Rent two-wheelers, tandem and electric bikes, and even trailers
• Try the leisurely Sightseeing Cycling Route, which gently winds through Ottawa’s most picturesque sites
• Cycle west along the Ottawa River pathway past the Ottawa Locks, Parliament Hill and the Canadian War Museum until you reach the inviting sandy beaches and parks
• Cycle south on the Rideau Canal pathway through the vibrant Glebe neighbourhood, the lush botanical gardens near Dow’s Lake and Little Italy
• End with a blast, at Hog’s Back Falls. If you’re looking  for an adrenaline rush there are many off-road mountain biking opportunities available

Engage in thrilling adventures nearby: rafting and ziplines

With so much unspoilt land so close by, the call of the wild is irresistible. Rocky terrain, thrilling rapids and endless blue sky are the backdrop  for a genuine true north adventure. Embrace your inner Canadian!

River rafting

Drive 90 minutes from Parliament Hill to Foresters Falls for  wet and wild white water rafting on the rapids of the Ottawa River. This is the same challenging route the coureur des bois (early French-Canadian traders) travelled by canoe as they trapped and traded beaver pelts as far back as the 1680s.

Travel in their wake—but safely out of danger in a high-tech 21st-century inflatable raft navigated by an experienced, professional guide. Both Wilderness Tours and its neighbour ten minutes down the road, OWL Rafting, offer 4–6 hour day trips and overnighters ranging from family-friendly to the extreme edge of exhilarating.

Perhaps you prefer ‘urban’ white water rafting? OttawaCity Rafting takes you along the Ottawa River and through the city, with a thrilling, one-of-a-kind view of the Parliament Buildings and downtown core. While pedestrians stroll the city sidewalks nearby, you can be cliff jumping and body surfing—it’s all part of the experience!

Ziplining

What’s next? Why not the sky? Picture yourself soaring at 40 kilometres per hour, more than 35 metres above the majestic Ottawa River. Interzip zipline connects the provinces of Ontario and Quebec and provides a unique panoramic perspective of the city usually reserved for the once-endangered peregrine falcons sometimes seen circling the skies.

Find endless biodiversity and beauty beyond Ottawa

Hop in the car (or, if you’d like to reduce your carbon footprint, a bicycle) and trek to the countless parks and conservation areas outside of Ottawa.

Gatineau Park

Gatineau Park is a national park just across the river in the province of Quebec. It’s Canada’s second-most visited park and the largest conservation park in the National Capital Region. The 361 square kilometre park has more than 50 lakes, and is a richly biodiverse green space perfect for horseback riding, rock climbing, fishing and canoeing. If one day isn’t enough, overnight camping is available. With the winter snow, eager skiers, snow bikers and outdoors enthusiasts arrive, including competitors in the Gatineau Loppet, Canada’s largest international cross-country skiing event.

National Capital Greenbelt

Ottawa’s National Capital Greenbelt is the most ecologically diverse area in all of Eastern Ontario. This publicly owned, 20,000-hectare area was created in the 1950s to prevent urban sprawl from threatening the delicate natural ecosystems. The result is an unspoiled, horseshoe-shaped region where time has stood still for generations. Today, the greenbelt protects farms, forests, beaver dams, wetlands and sand dunes—and their inhabitants, such as snowy owls, black-backed woodpeckers and Canada’s iconic beavers—from modern progress.

Nature-loving and ecology-minded visitors are more than welcome, with several hiking trails suitable for beginners and the more adventurous. Bring hiking boots or snowshoes!

Ottawa is waiting for you! Discover everything that the city and surrounding greenbelt have to offer nature lovers looking to experience Canada at its best. Visit Ottawa Tourism to begin planning your vacation of a lifetime today.