Immerse yourself in nature in and around Ottawa

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Eager to get outdoors and enjoy the healing benefits of nature? Follow that instinct! Whether you head to a park, a forest, a hiking trail, a lake or some other outdoor spot, it will probably do you a world of good to get outside.

Study after study shows that being outdoors in nature improves our physical and mental health, and even our cognition. And if you get some exercise while you’re out there, even better!

If you need a little inspiration, check out this list of places and ways to walk, hike, bike or just relax in nature. Whether you stay in Ottawa or take a road trip in Ontario, Quebec or New York state, the adventure will give you a breath of fresh air.

Hike across a causeway to an island near Fitzroy Harbour

Morris Island Conservation Area, on Ottawa’s western edge near Fitzroy Harbour, has six kilometres of hiking trails and a gorgeous location on the Ottawa River shore. The trails are mainly easy; in fact, one of them leads across a completely flat former railway causeway. Here’s my post on exploring Morris Island.

Sign up for a bike tour or join a cycling club

If you like to see the world on two wheels, you don’t have to do it alone! Register for a bike race, bike tour or fundraising ride, or join a cycling club, and you’ll have lots of company as you cycle along scenic routes. Options include everything from the Rotary Lilac Ride near Picton in May to the Tour de Bonnechere near Eganville in August. Almonte and surrounding communities celebrate Mississippi Mills Bicycle Month each June with lots of cycling activities. Check my complete guide to cycling for links to bike clubs, bike shops, cycling trails and more.

See the forest from above near Blue Sea or Tremblant

Ever wonder what the forest looks like from a bird’s-eye view? Two sites not far from Ottawa will give you a whole new perspective on the treetops.

About 90 minutes north of Ottawa, a somewhat steep one-kilometre hiking trail (or a longer, less challenging road) will bring you to an observation tower at Parc régional du Mont-Morissette. The 18-metre-high tower, near the village of Blue Sea, gives you sweeping views of the northern Outaouais, dotted with lakes and carpeted with trees. And admission is free! See this post for all the details.

Over in the Laurentians, about two hours northeast of Ottawa, you can take a long but accessible stroll along a forest boardwalk and up gently sloping ramps to the top of the Sentier des cimes in Mont-Blanc, just south of the Tremblant resort. Kids will love this one, as there’s a huge net trampoline stretched across the middle of the observation platform at the top. (Don’t worry; there’s also lots of solid decking where non-thrill seekers can enjoy views of the forested Laurentians.)

This outing isn’t cheap, but that doesn’t seem to deter people. When I visited on an autumn Monday, staff were directing traffic in and out of the parking lot by noon, and cars were lined up on the road. If you want to visit in the fall, I’d strongly suggest planning to arrive early in the day. Here are more travel tips for Sentier des cimes.

Hike to a stunning lookout in Morton or Calabogie

I mention these two places with some trepidation, as in recent years, they’ve been in some danger of being loved to death…precisely because they’re so beautiful. Rock Dunder near Morton is an easy hike with an amazing payoff: a wide view of the Rideau Lakes. (You can find information about it in my guide to the Rideau Lakes.)

Eagle’s Nest in Calabogie is a somewhat harder hike, but the reward is a panoramic view of the Ottawa Valley. Check out my guide to Calabogie and Eganville for details.

If hiking is your game, don’t miss my extensive guide to walking and hiking in Ottawa, Eastern Ontario and the Outaouais, which has information on these and many other trails.

Finally: If you visit Rock Dunder or Eagle’s Nest, PLEASE try to visit during quieter times and seasons, such as early in the morning on weekdays. Park only where permitted; at Eagle’s Nest, in particular, visitors parking along roadways have caused a lot of traffic woes for nearby residents in recent years. And, most of all, leave no trace. Pack out what you bring in, stay on the trails and don’t pick the flowers. OK, end of sermon. Off you go to enjoy the views.

Visit an Ottawa waterfall

Sometimes, nature is right under our noses—we just have to know where to look. Many people driving along Sussex Drive go right past Rideau Falls without realizing it’s there. It’s easy to reach on foot or by bike, and in warmer months, you can enjoy a light meal and a refreshing beverage at Tavern on the Falls. (For more tips on things to see and do near Rideau Falls, see this post about neighbouring New Edinburgh.)

If you’re keen, you could cycle 12 kilometres from Rideau Falls to Hog’s Back Falls along the paved, multi-use Rideau River Eastern Pathway.

Industrial development has greatly changed the nature of Chaudière Falls on the Ottawa River, but you can still get a sense of the cataract’s thrilling power from the recently installed public walkways and interpretive panels. You can reach it by foot or by bike from paths off the Chaudière Bridge, just north of the Canadian War Museum.

In Orleans, Princess Louise Falls is particularly pretty in spring, from what I’ve heard. (I’ve seen it from St. Joseph Boulevard a few times, but I haven’t been organized enough to hike closer…yet.) Fortunately, Julia over at the Little Miss Ottawa blog has details on visiting this east-end waterfall.

See the world from a zipline

If you want your outing in nature to come with some thrills, you could check out the new Peak to Peak Zipline at Camp Fortune, which will shoot you across 1,365 metres (4,478 feet) along a series of three ziplines. The adventure ends with a 15-metre (50 foot) optional freefall for the brave. Other ziplines in and around Ottawa include Interzip Rogers, which connects downtown Ottawa and Gatineau above the Ottawa River; Aventure Laflèche in Val-des-Monts, Quebec; the ziplines above a river canyon at Chutes Coulonge in the Pontiac region of West Quebec; and Treetop Trekking 1000 Islands, between Brockville and Gananoque.

Take a trip for the birds in Ingleside or Prince Edward County

You probably know about Upper Canada Village, the living history park near Morrisburg, but did you know about the Upper Canada Migratory Bird Sanctuary? Located in nearby Ingleside, about an hour and 15 minutes southeast of Ottawa, the bird sanctuary is a peaceful enclave that is home to some 150 species of birds. You can explore eight kilometres of self-guided nature trails, and you can pitch a tent in the adjacent campground. Read more about the bird sanctuary—as well as about beaches, a winery and other things you can see and do in the area—in this post about Morrisburg.

A bit further afield, the Prince Edward Point Bird Observatory in Milford—in Prince Edward County, a little over three hours southwest of Ottawa—is worth the drive for serious birders. One of the annual highlights for visitors is the Spring Birding Festival in May, with lots of guided walks and birding talks. And the observatory’s website is packed with ideas for self-guided family activities and more.

Stop and smell the roses in a garden

Sometimes, just the scent of lilacs, apple blossoms or roses is all you need to relax. If gardens are your happy places in nature, check my big guide to gardens and gardening. It has details on gardens of every type, from the wildflower meadows of the Fletcher Wildlife Garden and the Japanese-style garden on the roof of the Canadian Museum of History to the manicured beds of Beechwood Cemetery. You’ll also find tips on visiting gardens as far afield as Rochester and eastern Quebec, and a big list of nurseries and garden centres.

Explore Gatineau Park

Right on Ottawa’s doorstep, Gatineau Park offers 361 square kilometres of wilderness, multiple beaches, camping, hiking, skiing, cycling and more. In fact, there’s so much to do in this Outaouais park—which you can reach in mere minutes from downtown Ottawa—that it can be a bit overwhelming. That’s why I wrote this first-timer’s guide to Gatineau Park. As well as that post, do check the park’s website for the latest information. Vehicle access to scenic parkways is restricted to certain times , and park trails and facilities sometimes close due to flooding, ice storms and other natural disasters.

Check out a prehistoric bog in Ottawa

How often do you say, “I went to a prehistoric bog with a sub-Arctic microclimate today”? If your answer is, “Never,” then you’re in for a treat.

On Ottawa’s southeastern edge, the Mer Bleue Bog is home to plants and landscapes typical of regions much further north, due to some quirks of geography. But don’t worry about getting your feet wet in the spongy ground; an accessible boardwalk takes you across the bog. The surrounding woodland is also webbed with 20 kilometres of forest hiking trails. And parking is free! You can find out more on the Mer Bleue website, and you can get tips on other things to see and do nearby in my guide to Navan and Carlsbad Springs.

Looking for more tips on things to see and do in and around Ottawa? Subscribe to my free weekly newsletter or order 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.