Cycling in the National Capital Region: The Best Biking in Ottawa and Outaouais
The cycling available to riders in Canada’s National Capital Region is extraordinary. From off-road routes and rail trails to paved pathways and boulevards, greenbelts and farmland to top-tier mountain biking - there’s a little something for everyone here.
My Trek resting on a barrier in Gatineau Park with views for days.
Cycling, to me, is the ultimate way to see a destination, and that’s especially the case when the place you’re visiting has extensive infrastructure built out to accommodate your cycling ambitions.
In Ontario, I’ve spent a good amount of time cycling in York Durham Headwaters, in Windsor Essex Pelee Island, around Stratford, and a whole lot of other destinations, and those routes have given me the context I needed to understand just how good the cycling is in the National Capital Region.
When you look at the programming put in place (NCC Weekend Bikedays, for example), and the way in which cycling is thought of up in the NCR, you recognize that people around here (both government and citizens) recognize how valuable it is to have encourage people to see their city as an outdoor playground.
And that, to me, makes perfect sense. When you’ve spent time riding along the Ottawa River or the Rideau Canal, and you realize what a privilege that is, you want to protect and appreciate places like that. It was the exact same phenomenon that I saw when I lived in Oslo as it relates to the the wooded areas near the city used for hiking and cross-country skiing (and where I could fill up my water-bottle with the local streams).
Cycling in the National Capital Region, I felt like I was a part of something larger than myself - a community, if you will. I actually got a flat tire at one point, and literally within a minute two cyclists had stopped to help me take the wheel off, reinstall the tube, and throw it back onto the bike. How’s that for community?
The National Capital Region
Can you even have an article about Ottawa and Outaouais without this photo?
In case you aren’t familiar with what the National Capital Region consists of, I’ll take one moment to lay things out. When we talk about the NCR, we’re largely talking about the cities of Ottawa, Ontario and Gatineau, Quebec and the municipalities and communities that surround those two cities on either side of the Ottawa River.
If you’re looking to explore this region in more depth, the National Capital Commission has a fair bit of content on their site.
The total area is a little less than 5000 kilometres squared, and in that space you’ve got historic buildings, official residences, parks and green spaces, and many a pathway and parkway. The Canadian Encyclopedia does a nice job of summing things up when noting:
“These lands include Gatineau Park, LeBreton Flats, the National Capital Greenbelt in Ottawa, and many parks and driveways along the region’s waterways in both Ontario and Quebec. The National Capital Region’s hundreds of kilometres of trails and multi-use paths are enjoyed by people who cycle, hike, stroll, ski and snowshoe. The geographic and symbolic heart of the region is Parliament Hill in Ottawa, the location of Canada’s Parliament Building.
Many of the most important places in the National Capital Region are linked through a network of roads and picturesque parkways planned by the National Capital Commission.”
You can imagine, now, why this area would be so coveted by cyclists. I’ll walk you through which routes you may want to prioritize.
Before we get rolling, I do want to acknowledge that the area I’ll be talking about is the traditional territory of the Anishinaabe Algonquin Nation.
Cycling in Ottawa and the Surrounding Area
I’ve honestly considered moving to Ottawa down the road because of how cycle-friendly it is and, as is illustrated above, that didn’t happen by accident. It’s taken both longterm investment and planning, but now we get to reap the benefits .
Below, I’ll highlight some cycling opportunities for you in and around Ottawa.
NCC Weekend Bikedays
I adore this initiative, and the last time I was in Ottawa, there’s no doubt I took full advantage of it. Again, as someone who rides alone often, it was such a pleasure to be alongside fellow cyclists, yet have no shortage of room to ride.
Every weekend from May to October, the NCC (National Capital Commission) opens parkways in Ottawa exclusively for active use (both in the morning and afternoon). I’ll offer a summary below, but if you want to check any further information (specific open and closing times, the location of rest areas, repair kiosks) then you can head here. This is open to cyclists, but also rollerbladers, scooters and wheelchairs, or even pushing a stroller. It’s for everyone.
So where does this take place in Ottawa?
Sir John A. Macdonald Parkway: A 9 kilometre stretch in the westbound lanes on the Parkway. Those who know Ottawa will know this is just west of the downtown core, and you’ll be riding on the south side of the Ottawa River. If you’re doing this route, I’d highly recommend you make a pitstop at the Balanced Stone Structures located at Remic Rapids Park (pictured above). In the summer, the NCC Bistro is also up and running, helping to refuel all those active folks!
Sir George-Étienne Cartier Parkway: Both lanes of the Parkway are open to active individuals, and you’ll still be riding on the south side of thee Ottawa river, but this time just east of the downtown core. It’s an 8 kilometre stretch.
*A quick note here that at 4pm they will begin to redirect participants to the pathways, and will reopen the parkways to cars once the parkways are clear of cyclists.
Queen Elizabeth Driveway: Both lanes of the QED (located on the west side of the Rideau Canal) are open for active use between Fifth Avenue and Somerset Street. The stretch is a little under 2.5 kilometres.
Gatineau Park: Of course, this is not in Ottawa, but rather on the Outaouais side of things. I’ll be writing about the absolutely fantastic Gatineau Park in more depth below, but for now I will note that the parkways in Gatineau Park are reserved for active day use everyday while NCC Weekend Bikedays are rolling.
Ride Along the Rideau Canal
I make a point of riding along the Rideau Canal every time I visit Ottawa (assuming it’s not the heart of winter, which we all know can get a little nippy).
I always find it’s easiest to head down the stairs just northeast of the National War Memorial in Downtown Ottawa, which will bring you more or less to the start of the Rideau Canal pathway. Then, you’ll simply ride along the Rideau Canal to the Dows Lake Pavilion, which is about a 6.5 kilometre ride.
If you’re interested in stopping along the way, you may want to pause at:
The Corktown Footbridge which has “love locks” across it.
Landsowne Park and TD Place (home of the Ottawa Redblacks). Definitely pop by the Ottawa Farmers’ Market if it’s running (Sundays 9am-3pm, year-round)
Dow’s Lake and Commissioners Park. This whole area is rather pleasant, and you can also explore the nearby Fletcher Wildlife Garden or Dominion Arboretum if you’re a particularly big lover of plants and gardening. Speaking of flowers, if it’s mid-May, you absolutely do not want to miss the Canadian Tulip Festival, which takes place in Commissioners Park.
After you’re done exploring, you can simply head back along the Rideau Canal all the way to central Ottawa. If it’s a weekend during warm weather, you could also ride part of that back along Queen Elizabeth Drive which will be void of any cars until 4pm.
Along the Rideau Canal, there’s a western and eastern pathway, so you can conceivably combine the 15 or so some odd kilometres of routes to ensure you’re not doubling back on the same path if that’s something that matters to you.
The Experimental Farm Pathway
I loved this ride as it’s a little under 10 kilometres of lovely riding through both wooded and open areas. It’ll lead you right past the Canadian Agriculture and Food Museum, which isn’t all that far south of the downtown core. You’ll cross the Ornamental Gardens.
Around Ottawa
Outside of the immediate core, there are 9 self-guided routes that you can choose from, all of which you can download a PDF for right here. They are as follows:
Carp & Country Debunker (45.9 km): Check out Carp, and pop into the Diefenbunker.
Park to Park River Ramble (45 km): Check out the area along the Ottawa River that’s located northwest of the city.
Kanata & North Country Cruise (38 km): Visit Dunrobin and Kanata. Maybe even catch a Sens game!
The Osgoode Ride (59km): Through the towns of Osgoode, Metcalfe and Greely.
Cumber Tour de Land (69 km): Largely about exploring the village of Cumberland.
Rail Trail & Winery Ride (23.5 km): Riding on the Ottawa Prescott Russell Rail Trail (and you’ll roll past Vignoble Clos du Vully Vineyard & Domaine Perrault Vineyard & Winery).
Munster Meander (50 km): Explore the town of Munster.
Manotick South & West (56 km): Checking out the village of Manotick.
The Greely Loop (10.7 km): Bike the quiet and quaint streets of Greely.
As you may have gathered, road and gravel cycling are what I focus on, but if mountain biking is your thing, I’d recommend checking out the South Marsh Highlands, or Kanata Lakes.
Cycling in Outaouais
There’s some tremendous cycling to be had in Outaouais, the region many will already know is located on the north side of the Ottawa River, right opposite Ottawa. It consists of places like Gatineau, Chelsea, Val-des-Monts, and the Papineau Region.
The sheer fact that Gatineau Park calls this area home is enough for me to anoint it as a cyclist’s paradise. Let’s talk about cycling routes that may interest you here.
Gatineau Park
When I visited, I was very fortunate to be connected with Vincent Bergeron, one of the owners of Nomades du Parc which is a company that deals with bike rentals (and paddle board rentals in warmer weather), but is also so much more than that.
At the heart of it, they’re clearly focused on building an active lifestyle and community, and having had Vincent as my guide for two days while staying in Chelsea, I would wholeheartedly recommend their services. They’re doing the right things, the right way, and it’s a pleasure for me to give them a shout-out on my channels.
On morning one, we put in some work while the cars weren’t yet allowed into the park, and ripped uphill to get to the Champlain Lookout (Belvedere Champlain). We were also fortunate to be joined Annie from Outaouais Tourism, who offered context into the beautiful views we were setting eyes on (after catching our breath, of course). We took trails all the way back down, and that’s when I realized the wonder and enormity of Gatineau Park.
In all, the parkways of Gatineau Park offer riders over 30 kilometres of roads to rip around. I would say that you wouldn’t necessarily want to be a beginner cyclist though, as it takes some grit to get up to the top, and you’ll have some speed on the way back down.
Victor, Annie and I at the Champlain Lookout in Gatineau Park
On morning two, we went mountain biking on some e-bikes, and it was epic. Believe it or not, there are over 90 kilometres of trails open to hikers and mountain bikers in Gatineau Park. You can check out the Summer Trails Map to get a picture of what you might like to tackle while there, but I really would recommend you reach out to the fellas at Nomades du Parc.
Even if you don’t hire them for a ride, they’re the type of people who would share knowledge to help you along on your ride, and would be happy to let you fill your water bottle up before taking off.
5 Routes to Discover Outaouais’ 5 Territories
I’ll go in-depth on each route, but first, here’s a very handy map of all 5 routes, and I also want to share this delightful little overview from my friends over at Outaouais:
“In the Outaouais, happiness comes on two wheels. Try our five cycling routes to discover our five territories. In Petite Nation, ride along the Ottawa River shoreline and sample local products. In the Collines-de-l'Outaouais, burn off some energy in Gatineau Park. For an urban interlude, play tourist and discover the bustle of Gatineau-Ottawa. In the Vallée-de-la-Gatineau, take the Véloroute des Draveurs ("log drivers' bike route") for breathtaking scenery. Finally, in the western part of the Outaouais, pedal along a former railway line in the Pontiac. There's a route for every cyclist!”
Sur la Route de Papineau (On the Road to Papineau): This route is 129 kilometres in total, and is basically three separate loops that are focused on showcasing the rich historical heritage of the communities situated along the Ottawa River.
Le Pontiac: Tour à L’ouest (Head West to the Pontiac): This route comes in at a beastly 164 kilometres, and it’s one extended loop that will get you out of traffic, and onto trails and fields. That being said, there’s still a lot of culture, history, and delicious food along the way.
Cuisses en Feu (Thighs of Steel): This 80 kilometre route is the one that I completed alongside Vincent and Annie on one of my days visiting the region. It’s definitely for more experienced cyclists, but my goodness was it ever remarkable. We first sweat it out getting up to the Champlain Lookout in Gatineau Park, then headed back down through Chelsea to an old rail trail that took us to the quaint town of Wakefield, where we had some lunch. If you’re looking for a rewarding challenge, I can definitely say that this route holds a special place in my heart.
Sur les Rives de la Capitale (On the Shores of the Capital): This is the perfect route for beginners, as it’s 3 loops, but the standard route here is only about 12 kilometres. The main purpose here is to play tourist via bike, and then grab a bite in the Hull neighbourhood.
Les Draveurs du Nord (The Northern Log Drivers): This is a 158 kilometre route that offers some breathtaking scenery, especially when you can set eyes on Blue Sea Lake. It’s also worth knowing that that you’ll be peddling through the Vallée-de-la-Gatineau on a dedicated bike route, so you can primarily focus on taking in the sights and sounds.
On the way to Wakefield on the Thighs of Steel route!
The Voyageurs Pathway
This is a 30 kilometre path, largely along the north shore of the Ottawa River. It aims to follow the path that many, many people have taken before us (First National peoples, explorers, jesuits). You’ll have great views of some of the most famous buildings on both sides of the river, and it’s a nice way to explore the area, while also getting some exercise.
The easiest way to see this route in action is with this interactive map. Simply click on “The Voyageurs Pathway,” and you’ll see the outline of the route appear there for you.
The Capital Pathway
The Capital Pathway is the name given to the over 225 kilometres of off-road, multi-use pathways that extend from Gatineau Park, through the cities of Gatineau and Ottawa, and onwards into the greenbelt. This is one of the most extensive pathway networks on the continent of North America.
Many of the routes I listed above do cover parts of the Capital Pathway, but I still wanted to take a moment to appreciate this network. For one, every spring, the pathways are cleaned and repaired, and every summer “pathway patrollers” provide directions, offer first aid, and even help repair bikes.
These services aren’t something to be taken for granted. I believe projects like the Capital Pathway are emblematic of what can occur when government projects genuinely consider how to improve the quality of life of those who call a place home.
This cycling network is one to be revered and applauded. As I said before, it’s enough to make me consider moving there, because I can see how the positive impact it would have on my life.
Your Outaouais and Ottawa Cycling Adventures Await
I’m passionate about cycling because I know how it’s changed my life for the better. Certainly, during the depths of the pandemic, being on the seat of my Trek was a big part of what kept me going, and in the end, I do feel that as human beings, we all need some outlet - and cycling is that for me.
As you can see, there’s a myriad of ways that, in and around Ottawa and Outaouais, you can find those outlets, create new memories, and look to your left or right in awe, as the nature, history, and culture unfolds before you.
I want to humbly thank Tourisme Outaouais & Ottawa Tourism for hosting me as media. All opinions are completely my own.
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