Mer Bleue: A northern boreal landscape
Just a 20-minute drive east from Parliament Hill in downtown Ottawa is Mer Bleue, a unique site where the ecosystem is more typical of the Arctic than of the Ottawa Valley. Visitors of all capabilities and ages can follow the 1.2-kilometre self-guided tour on the universally accessible boardwalk. In addition, you can walk through young and old forests on the easy 1-kilometre Dewberry Trail. Keep an eye out for rare plants, birds and wildlife, and tread lightly — Mer Bleue is one of the most studied bogs in the world due to its internationally-recognized importance as a wetland.
Year-round: Hiking
December-March (weather dependent): Cross-country skiing and snowshoeing
Green's Creek: Steep-sided ravines and plateaus
The unusual geology of Green’s Creek provides views of the narrow creek, its forested steep slopes, and the plateaus that are home to agricultural and urban lands. This site located just 15 minutes east of downtown Ottawa has 5 kilometres of multi-use trails for year-round use, and 4.6 kilometres of multi-use pathways that connect to the Ottawa River Pathway. The area’s most noticeable feature is the steep Green’s Creek Hill which is a popular sledding destination in the winter (lit at night!) and a training spot in the warmer months.
Year-round: Hiking
Warm months: Cycling, in-line skating
December-March (weather dependent): Cross-country skiing, snowshoeing, tobogganing
Pine Grove: Trails through the forest
The largest forest in the Greenbelt and one of the city’s most popular off-leash dog parks is only a 20-minute drive south of downtown Ottawa. Pine Grove features 18.4 kilometres of multi-use trails, including a self-guided forestry interpretation trail and a tree-identification arboretum. The vast area is home to various bird species, marsh plants as well as beavers and muskrats. Conroy Pit provides dog lovers a chance to let their pooch run free.
Year-round: Hiking
December-March (weather dependent): Cross-country skiing, snowshoeing
Southern Farm and Pinhey Forest: Cool dunes
Did you know Canada’s capital has an inland sand dune complex less than 20 minutes southwest of downtown? Southern Farm and Pinhey Forest (not to be confused with Pinhey’s Point Historic Site) is a 10,000-year-old, postglacial ecosystem that is home to special plant and animal species. The 6.4 kilometres of sand trails take you through clearings and forests. Note: Sections of the sand dunes are roped-off for restoration and conservation purposes. Please be mindful of the site’s delicate environment.
Year-round: Hiking
December-March (weather dependent): Cross-country skiing, snowshoeing
Stony Swamp: Wetlands, beaver ponds and forests
Stony Swamp is much more than a boggy wetland located less than a half hour from downtown Ottawa — it also features a maple forest, pastures and alvar clearings (rare habitats that support vegetation with little or no soil). This site offers the most trails (over 40 kilometres) in the Greenbelt and includes boardwalks, interpretive exhibits, a historic lime kiln, beaver ponds and other habitats where plants, reptiles, amphibians, mammals and birds thrive. Cycling lovers can access a section of the Greenbelt Pathway West, which joins the The Great Trail of Canada and the Rideau Trail. Stony Swamp’s Bruce Pit is a popular off-leash dog park, and a tobogganing destination in winter.
Year-round: Hiking
Warm months: Cycling
December-March (weather dependent): Cross-country skiing, snowshoeing
Shirleys Bay: Land and water paradise
Thanks to its location on the Ottawa River, Shirleys Bay is an ideal spot for round recreational options including hiking, boating, cycling and birding, as well as cross-country skiing, snowshoeing and ice fishing in the winter. Its shoreline location less than 25 minutes west of downtown is part of an important bird migration route for Canada’s arctic and boreal birds. The seven kilometres of accessible trails and two multi-use pathways (including the Shoreline Trail Watts Creek Pathway) make it one of the best birdwatching spots in the region!
Year-round: Hiking
Warm months: Cycling, boating
December-March (weather dependent): Cross-country skiing, snowshoeing, ice fishing
