The Ottawa Valley area offers many hiking trails and walking opportunities for families to enjoy some fresh air and beautiful scenery not too far away from the Ottawa city core.
Credit: National Capital Commission
These relaxed trails and green spaces are accessible for and will allow the entire family to get connected with nature and check out the most stunning vistas in the Ottawa Valley region.
1. Mer Bleu Bog Trail
This 1-mile loop trail is perfect for a peaceful nature trip with the children for hiking, walking, and bird watching. There are several places to stop and sit on the Mer Bleu Bog Tail, as well as picnic spots and a boardwalk.
Where: Mer Bleue Conservation Area, Ridge Rd, Ottawa
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2. Beaver Trail and Chipmunk Trail
This 2.6-kilometre trail is a friendly trail with a picnic area, boardwalk, and lots of birds and chipmunks that accompany you along your way. The short and easy trail is easily accessible and is perfect for a quick walk in nature with the family.
Where: Moodie Dr, Nepean
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3. Conroy Pit Loop
The Conroy Pit Loop is a 3.2-mile loop near Ottawa’s centre, featuring wildflowers and an off-leash dog park. This is a perfect hiking trail for families, being relatively flat and stroller-friendly.
Where: Conroy Rd, Ottawa
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4. Mud Lake Trail
This back trail is located along the perimeter of Mud Lake, adjacent to the Ottawa River. Here, you can walk around a significant wetland with a deciduous swamp forest and a mature forest featuring white pine, red oak, and burr oak.
Where: Lac Deschênes–Ottawa River Important Bird Area, Ottawa
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5. South March Trail
This kid-friendly 5-mile looped trail is set in a forest setting and is perfect for a summer hike between May and September. There are opportunities to do bird feeding, and hikers can walk their dogs on leashes.
Where: South March Highlands Conservation Forest, South March Highland Trails, Kanata
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6. Parliament Hill
Explore Parliament Hill with your family on an outdoor, self-guided walking tour, complete with a booklet that includes a map and descriptions of the buildings, grounds, and monuments on the hill.
Where: Parliament Hill, Wellington St, Ottawa
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7. Ottawa Locks 1-8
The Ottawa Locks are a highly significant landmark in Ottawa with much historical interest. They are part of the founding of Ottawa in the early 19th century and are surrounded by the Parliament buildings. The surrounding area is great for a leisurely stroll by the water.
Where: 3 Canal Lane, Ottawa
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8. Confederation Park
Walk through the Confederation Park Gardens, a historic 1960s park that hosts numerous celebrations and events throughout the year in Ottawa. This 2.63-hectare park will offer an urban green space for a relaxing walk in the gardens.
Where: Laurier Ave W and Elgin St, Ottawa
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9. Strathcona Park – Rideau River Eastern Pathway
The Rideau River Eastern Pathway is a 23.5-kilometre back trail in Ottawa that runs from the Ottawa River to Confederation Heights. For a comfortable urban hike, stop at Strathcona Park and enjoy a 5-6-kilometre loop using foot bridges to cross the river and walk through park-like settings.
Where: 25 Range Rd, Ottawa
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10. Dundonald Park
Dundonald Park is a beautiful outdoor space in the heart of Ottawa with plenty of walking trails lined with large shady trees and areas to sit and enjoy the shade. The park commonly hosts events and festivals in the summer months.
Where: 516 Somerset St W, Ottawa
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11. Old Quarry Trail
Divided into two loops, a medium 2-kilometre one and a long, nearly 3-kilometre one, this relaxed hiking trail offers interpretation panels along the trail so families can get curious about the geological history of the region.
Where: Eagleson Rd, Kanata
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12. Jack Pine Trail
Where: Moodie Dr, Nepean
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13. Terraces Trail
This winding trail runs through wooded areas where 100-year-old white pines stand tall. Families can pass fields with big boulders, waterfalls, and even a 300-year-old oak by the Carp River.
Where: Canon Smith Drive, Fitzroy Provincial Park
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14. Chapman Mills Trail
Chapman Mills Trail is located in a 23-acre area of conservation land by the Rideau River. The trail has many walkways and boardwalks that lead through stunning habitats and past interpretive signs for learning.
Where: Chapman Mills Conservation Area, 253 Winding Way, Nepean
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15. W.E. Burton Conservation Area Trail
Situated in the village of Russell, the W.E. Burton Conservation Area Trail is 3 kilometres of serenity. Families can enjoy a quiet picnic in the pine forest, overlooking the Russell Dam on the Castor River.
Where: 601 Church Street, Russell
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16. School House Loop – Rideau Trail
Named after its proximity to The School House, this hiking loop is a 5-kilometre trail that runs through natural green swamp spaces where wildflowers grow.
Where: Rideau Trail
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17. Richmond Section- Rideau Trail
The Richmond Section of the Rideau Trail is a remote and rural trail that crosses a creek, passes a farm gate, bridge, and fields, as well as the Jock River.
Where: Richmond, Rideau Trail
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18. Nicholsons Locks & Vicinity Tour
This hike by the Nicholson Locks and Vicinity Tour passes through both natural and historic features, including its namesake – the Nicholsons Locks – as well as a historic bridge, a ghost town, a pioneer cemetery, and an osprey nest.
Where: Andrewsville, Rideau Canal
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19. Stony Swamp Loop
Located in Stony Swamp, this loop takes visitors through some of the most ecologically diverse landscapes in the Ottawa Valley. With over 700 species of plants and plenty of animal species, this 4-mile loop is great for a family trip to check out the flora and fauna of the area.
Where: Stony Swamp
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20. Sarsaparilla Trail
This short, under-1km trail is a highly accessible trail that includes a dock overlooking a beaver pond. The Sarsaparilla Trail (Stony Swamp)is likely the shortest of all the Greenbelt Trails and passes by beautiful, down-to-earth scenery, ideal for families with small children.
Where: Old Richmond Rd, Nepean
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