Two easy scenic winter drives near Ottawa

Cabin fever getting to you? Ready to hit the road? These two scenic winter drives near Ottawa will take you along some pretty country roads (as well as a few highways—sorry). They aren’t too far off the beaten path, as winter can quickly turn nasty on some isolated rural routes. Even so, make sure to bring along winter road-trip supplies, such as jumper cables, a shovel and windshield-washer fluid.

The basic version of each drive takes about 90 minutes from downtown Ottawa, but I’ve included lots of ideas for side trips and stops that could easily turn either of these into a full-day outing.

A pretty road trip to Chelsea and Wakefield

This option takes you north from Ottawa into the rolling Gatineau Hills of the Outaouais region of Quebec.

Once you cross the Ottawa River to Quebec via the Macdonald-Cartier Bridge (at the north end of King Edward Avenue), you could take Quebec’s Autoroute 5 north all the way to Wakefield in about 35 minutes. Even though it’s a big four-lane road, it’s rarely busy and surprisingly scenic.

If you’re looking for something more leisurely, detour into Old Chelsea along the way. Warm up with coffees, pastries, sandwiches or pizza from Biscotti & Cie (6, chemin Scott), or go cross-country skiing or snowshoeing on trails that start at the Gatineau Park Visitor Centre (33, chemin Scott). The centre may be closed due to pandemic restrictions, but the parking lot and trails should be open.

Once back in the car, continue north via either Autoroute 5 or twisty Highway 105 to Wakefield. This picturesque village on the Gatineau River has a famous covered bridge and a plethora of bakeries; try the stone-baked bagels and vegan chili at Pipolinka Bakery (757B, chemin Riverside). If you have a sweet tooth, La Confiserie Wakefield (817, chemin Riverside) has you covered with fudge, chocolate-covered cranberries and other treats.

To extend your trip, you could skate on outdoor trails at nearby Eco-Odyssée Nature Park (52, chemin des Sources, La Pêche) or a 25-minute drive from Wakefield at Patinage en forêt (9, mont Beausoleil, Lac-des-Loups). Alternatively, you could go downhill skiing at Ski Vorlage (65, chemin Burnside, Wakefield), Edelweiss (538, chemin Edelweiss, Wakefield) or Mont Cascades (448, chemin Mont-des-Cascades, Cantley).

Depending where you’ve ended up, take either Autoroute 5 or Highway 307 south to get back to Ottawa-Gatineau.

Looking for more ideas for things to see and do in the area? Check out Katharine Fletcher’s great guest post about Chelsea, my day tripper’s guide to Wakefield and my beginner’s guide to Gatineau Park.

A scenic drive to Pakenham and Almonte

This next suggestion will bring you to Pakenham and Almonte, two pretty villages just west of Ottawa.

For the most direct route to Pakenham, take Highway 417 west to exit 169 (Kinburn Side Road), which you’ll follow west into Pakenham. A slightly longer and more scenic option is to take exit 144 (Carp Road) north from Highway 417, then drive to Pakenham via Carp and Kinburn.

Either way, from the top of a big hill on Kinburn Side Road, you’ll get a postcard-pretty view of Pakenham and the Mississippi River below. Then you’ll drive across the historic five-span bridge (shown in the photo at the top of this post).

In the village, you could drop into Cartwright Springs Brewery (239 Deer Run Road) for some take-home craft beers, or explore eight kilometres of trails at High Lonesome Nature Reserve (867 Carbine Road).

Your next stop will be the super-cute community of Almonte, 17 kilometres south of Pakenham. There, window shopping and food choices abound. Science and history buffs could learn about the geological history of the Ottawa Valley from the interpretive plaques at the free Metcalfe Geoheritage Park (182 Bridge Street).

From Almonte, you could head straight back to Ottawa via County Road 49 (March Road) and Highway 417, or you could continue on to Ashton for dinner. Why Ashton? The Ashton Brew Pub is a lively place for a casual dinner and house-brewed beers. Remember to pick a designated driver! After all, since it’s winter, those beers should stay nice and cold in your trunk on the way home. Just don’t let ’em freeze.

For more tips on exploring this part of Eastern Ontario, see my complete guide to Almonte (which includes Pakenham tips, too).

Looking for more ideas for things to see and do in our region? Subscribe to my free 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.