Ottawa outdoors: hiking trails, beaches, parks and winter trails
This page shows you the outdoor activities in Ottawa, from hiking in Gatineau Park and the NCC Greenbelt to swimming at the beaches from Mooney's Bay to Britannia, plus 537 parks ranked by score.
68 built lists. 6,781 list records. Data: . Method
If you want to hike, then look at Jack Pine, Pine Grove and Lime Kiln. Or you can hike over in Gatineau Park at King Mountain, Luskville Falls and Wolf Trail. If it is hot outside, then look at our beach section. In the winter, look at our winter trail section. There are trails at SJAM, Rideau, Britannia and Ottawa West. You can also skate on the Rideau Canal Skateway. If you just want green space nearby, then look at our park section. We have 537 parks ranked.
Questions
Where can I hike close to the city?
Jack Pine, Pine Grove and Lime Kiln are all NCC Greenbelt trails. They are on the Ottawa side of the river. Across the river, King Mountain, Luskville Falls and Wolf Trail are all in Gatineau Park.
What can I do outside in winter?
You can skate on the Rideau Canal Skateway. Look at our winter trail section for trails at SJAM, Rideau, Britannia and Ottawa West. Or find a hill to sled down in our sledding and ATV section.
How is the parks list ranked?
We rank all 537 parks using the fromOttawa Score: Score = (v/(v+m))*R + (m/(v+m))*C. It weighs the rating of each park against the Ottawa-area average by the number of reviews. Data was pulled on 2026-10-29. All lists are updated every 90 days.
Are there ranked lists for outdoor gear and sport?
Yes. We rank bike shops and golf courses with the same formula. There are 44 bike shops and 20 golf courses on our lists.