Favourite Paths

We have compiled a list of some of Ottawa's favourite bike paths. If you’re driving to the parkways to cycle, good starting points (with lots of available parking) are the Aviation Museum to access the Rockcliffe Parkway, Lincoln Fields Shopping Centre or Kitchissippi Lookout off the Ottawa River Parkway to access the Ottawa River Parkway, and along Glebe side streets to access Colonel By Drive.

For maps of the bike paths and more information about the Sunday Bikeday program, drop in at Canada's Capital Information Centre, 90 Wellington Street, Ottawa, or call (613) 239-5000 or 1 (800) 465-1867 (Canada and US).

> Choose from these Bike Path Listings:

This route follows the Rideau Canal, from the Rideau Centre (by the Congress Centre), past Dow's Lake, past Carleton University, to Hog's Back Falls. (Mooney's Bay Public Beach is just across the street). Distance of approximately 10 kilometres each way.

This is where fitness enthusiasts tend to conglomerate. Forty kilometres of road in hilly Gatineau Park and miles and miles of off-road paths. The Parkway is closed to motor traffic each Sunday from 6:00 a.m. until noon, the rest of the time, expect to share the road, unless you head into the trails in the bush.

Starting on the western side of downtown, this bikepath runs along the south side of the Ottawa River. You’ll pass scenic lookouts and two public beaches. It’s possible to follow the route to Kanata. Approximately 20 km.

Starting on the east side of downtown, this route brings you through scenic (and wealthy) Rockcliffe Park. It finishes at St. Joseph Boulevard for a distance of approximately nine kilometres.

Every Sunday morning through the summer, you'll see people of all ages turn out on the Capital parkways to walk, run, cycle or skate from 9:00 a.m. to l:00 p.m and from 6 am to noon for the Gatineau parkways. Sixty-five kilometres of parkways are reserved for this purpose, free from motor traffic.