The Ottawa Club section of the Rideau Trail stretches 108 km from Rosedale, near Smiths Falls, to the shore of the Ottawa River below Parliament Hill. From its rural start, the trail travels through picturesque villages along the historic Rideau Canal (Merrickville, Burritts Rapids), the trees and wetlands of Marlborough Forest, and the farmlands south of the city, before terminating in the heart of Canada’s capital and fourth largest city. The trail traverses The Greenbelt, a mix of forests, meadows, and well-maintained parklands. The final 14 km follows the shore of the Ottawa River, a waterway long associated with indigenous peoples, fur traders, and log drivers.
Group Outings
The RTA’s Ottawa Club Outings are held on the Rideau Trail or at some of the many scenic places around the Ottawa-Gatineau region, including Gatineau Park. These outings are generally held on weekends, Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and some Thursdays. Leaders can run their offerings any day of the week, so members should watch for these events on the Activities Calendar and in the Ottawa monthly E-newsletter, both of which are only available to members.
Tuesday Trails
Every Tuesday, all year, the Ottawa Tuesday Trailers meet to hike mostly in Gatineau Park. These are impromptu level 2 hikes, always on trail (perhaps rugged) with some up and down, moderate pace, 8–10 km, usually with a lunch stop. Hikers are encouraged to show up with ideas for possible routes. Winter hikes may require snowshoes or crampons. The meeting location varies depending on the hike – check the Activities Calendar.
Wednesday Walkers (Hiking and Skiing – Usually in Gatineau Park)
Every Wednesday all year, the Ottawa Wednesday Walkers meet to hike mostly (but not exclusively) in Gatineau Park. These are all-day hikes, typically 4-5 hours, so participants should pack a lunch. Hikes are generally level 2 or 3 and are offered by individual leaders at the meeting place. During the winter, hikes become snowshoe and cross-country skiing activities.
Meet at 9:30 a.m. for a 9:45 a.m. departure. The meeting place for this group is the parking lot on the east side of Bate Island in spring, summer and fall and at the NCC parking lot at the southeast end of the Champlain bridge in winter. If you’re unsure of the current meeting place, check the Activities Calendar.
Thursday Morning Hikes
Periodically on Thursday mornings there are hikes, lasting about 2 hours, either level 1 hikes mostly in the Ottawa area and level 2 hikes in the Gatineau. They are always close enough to Ottawa that the hiker will be home for lunch. For details of when and where, members should watch the Activities Calendar. Bring a snack and water.
Meeting Locations
Hike meeting points are identified in the Activities Calendar listing. In some cases you may have the option of driving directly to the trailhead or meeting in town for carpooling.
Local outings typically depart from one of the following locations. Click on a location title to view the corresponding map.
- Tunney’s Pasture: Government of Canada parking lot on the west side of Parkdale Avenue, across from Emmerson Avenue.
- Fallowfield Park & Ride: Northwest parking lot at the OC Transpo Fallowfield Park & Ride station located on the southwest corner of Fallowfield Road and Woodroffe Avenue. If you travel by car, take the first left after you enter the Park & Ride facility then turn right into the lot. The meeting place is across the lot to the far side.
- Bate Island – Spring/Summer/Fall: In spring, summer and fall, meet on the east side of Bate Island.
- NCC Parking Lot – Winter: Located at the southeast end of Champlain Bridge. Used in winter when Bate Island is closed.
- Eagleson Park & Ride: OC Transpo parking lot east of Eagleson Road, just south of the Highway 417 interchange. Enter from Eagleson Road, turn left at the T-intersection, then take the first left into the parking lot. We meet in the southeast corner of this lot.
Contact Us
If you have questions about the Ottawa RTA Club, or are interested in a trial hike and need more information, please get in touch.
Become a Member
If these outings interest you, you may wish to become a member of the Rideau Trail Association. As a member, you will receive a quarterly newsletter (containing a list of upcoming hikes, social activities, news from each club and other interesting articles), access to outdoor activities organized by experienced leaders, store discounts and group rates at some parks, and much more.