One-Hour Walk: Old Ottawa South

When it comes to urban walks, Old Ottawa South has so much to offer: Rideau River parks, Rideau Canal views, coffee shops and more. If you’re looking to shake up your daily stroll, check out this 55-minute loop around one of Ottawa’s most charming central districts.

When I say “walking around Old Ottawa South,” I mean it quite literally: This route takes you roughly around the perimeter of this downtown neighbourhood tucked between the Rideau Canal and the Rideau River. The map above is a basic option, but you can tweak it as you like (I tried tweaking it on Google Maps, but the embedded version shows Google’s default route).

A few route notes

If doing the route counterclockwise, I’d turn north off Aylmer Avenue via Rosedale rather than Leonard, to enjoy an extra block of gorgeous homes overlooking the Rideau Canal.

Normally, I’d take Canal Woods Terrace south from Colonel By Drive (rather than Seneca Street, as shown on the map), then cross Sunnyside Avenue and continue along Sloane Avenue to cut through Brewer Park. That makes the route a bit longer, for more of a workout.

Finally, I’d choose to take Wendover Avenue south from Cameron Avenue to Linda Thom Park, rather than busier Bank Street. However, the advantage of taking Bank Street is that you can do a little window or actual shopping along the way.

Why do this walk?

• You can say hi to the many, many ducks that converge on the Rideau River near Billings Bridge.
• You can enjoy a nice view of Lansdowne Park from a high point above Colonel By Drive at the corner of Avenue Road and Echo Drive.
• You can fuel up with a hot drink and a treat from all sorts of cafés (including Black Squirrel, Happy Goat, Life of Pie, Oat Couture, Bridgehead and Dessert First) by taking a quick detour onto Bank Street.
• If you bring your skates and the Rideau Canal Skateway is open, you can hit the ice from the stairs just west of the Bank Street Bridge. For universal access to the canal, keep heading west; there’s a ramp just past the Bronson Bridge.
• And you can extend your walk by wandering into Brewer Park from the corner of Seneca and Cameron.

Getting to Old Ottawa South

If you’re driving to the neighbourhood, you can park on most side streets for three hours, but DO check the signs to be sure; some streets have a one-hour parking limit. There’s also a small parking lot for Windsor Park at the end of Windsor Avenue, and a bigger parking lot at Brewer Park.

If you’re coming by bus, OC Transpo routes 5, 6 and 7 go right through Old Ottawa South, or you can take a Transitway bus to Billings Bridge Plaza and walk about 10 minutes north.

For more details on what to see and do in the neighbourhood, check out my in-depth guide to Old Ottawa South.

Looking for more ideas for things to see and do in and around Ottawa? Subscribe to my weekly newsletter or pick up a copy of my book, Ottawa Road Trips: Your 100-km Getaway Guide.

As the owner of Ottawa Road Trips, I acknowledge that I live on, work in and travel through the unceded, unsurrendered territory of the Algonquin Anishinaabeg Nation. I am grateful to have the opportunity to be present on this land. Ottawa Road Trips supports Water First, a non-profit organization that helps address water challenges in Indigenous communities in Canada through education, training and meaningful collaboration.