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25+ fun Ottawa winter activities

by Laura Byrne Paquet
Published: Updated: 5.8K views

Looking for Ottawa winter activities, but you don’t want to go far? You may even be able to walk or take transit from your home to some of these outdoor fun spots, as they’re all within the Ottawa city limits. So grab your skates, your skis, your snowshoes, or even just your boots and mittens, and get out for some crisp fresh air.

Note that these are just a few suggestions for things to do in Ottawa in winter. If I haven’t mentioned your favourite, let me know in the comments!

I’ve marked the ones that are relatively accessible via OC Transpo with an asterisk.

Updated January 9, 2024.

Places to skate outdoors in Ottawa

Photo of the Rideau Canal from the Flora Footbridge by Laura Byrne Paquet, Ottawa Road Trips.

Sure, the Rideau Canal gets lots of attention, and rightly so; the 7.8-kilometre stretch from the National Arts Centre to Carleton University is the world’s largest skating rink, and it’s pretty special. But here are some other places where you can skate outside in Ottawa in winter. Some, such as the Rideau Canal, are completely weather dependent. Others, such as the Lansdowne Park skating court and the Rink of Dreams at Ottawa City Hall, get a bit of help from artificial refrigeration.

Looking for more skate trails? See my list of skate trails throughout Ontario and Quebec.

Ottawa winter trails

skiers on the snowy kichi sibi winter trail beside the ottawa river with leafless trees, bright sun and blue sky
Photo of the Kíchí Síbí Winter Trail by Andrea Tomkins.

In the last few years, urban winter trails have emerged all over the city, usually dreamed up and maintained by a tireless team of volunteers. Many are open for multiple uses, such as cross-country skiing, snowshoeing and fat biking, but please check each trail’s website for detailed rules. And, even if multiple uses are allowed, I beg you not to walk, bike or snowshoe across the track-set ski trails. A lot of work goes into making them nice for skiers.

Conservation areas open in Ottawa in winter

gravel causeway stretching across blue water
The causeway at Morris Island Conservation Area…in warmer weather.

Many people forget about conservation areas once the autumn leaves have fallen, because some do close over the winter. But many others are open, and they’re much quieter than they are at the height of summer. Here are a few four-season conservation areas in Ottawa to check out.

Ottawa winter festivals

Winter festivals in Ottawa are always a bit weather dependent. If it’s too cold, no one wants to stick their noses outside. If it’s too warm, the toboggan hills turn to slush. However, most winter festival organizers bear this in mind and program some indoor or weather-neutral outdoor activities to keep the crowds entertained.

Winterlude* is the granddaddy of Ottawa winter festivals. For three weekends (February 2 to 19, 2024), this popular event offers parades, races, tubing hills, ice sculptures and lots more. However, it’s far from the only Ottawa winter festival on the calendar! Check out these other winter carnivals in Ottawa and Gatineau:

For similar events further afield, check out my big list of winter carnivals in Eastern Ontario and beyond.

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, from which this post is adapted.

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.

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2 comments

Michele Otterman January 11, 2024 - 1:28 pm

I just want to thank you for the research you do and the subsequent information that you share. I receive your Ottawa Road Trips emails and, while I don’t go on many road trips due to somewhat poor health and not really any overnight trips due to finances, I still really enjoy reading about all the activities going on and the wonderful places to visit. I also love that you always find a contest to include, such a fun addition. I decided to email now because your list of outdoor skating venues is particularly relevant this week. We have family from Australia coming for a visit next week and I’m trying to come up with a short-list of things for them to do. Skating is on my list and you’ve given me far more ideas than I had on my own. Thank you. I wish they were staying until the 25th so they could go to the Greely Winter Carnival you mentioned. I live in Metcalfe so that would have been a perfect activity. I look forward to next week’s newsletter where I’m sure there will be more ideas of things for my visitors to do and places for them to go.
Many thanks,
Michele Otterman

Reply
Laura Byrne Paquet January 15, 2024 - 2:08 pm

Thank you SO much for your kind message, Michele! It really made me smile.

I’m glad you find the newsletter inspirational. Have a wonderful visit with your family this week! The weather looks like it will be great for skating.

Cheers,
Laura

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