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The National Capital Greenbelt has over 100 km of trails that feed into parts of the Trans Canada Trail, Rideau Trail and Capital Pathway network. Whether you have half an hour for a short hike or plan on spending the day, the Greenbelt has something for everyone.
Walking and Hiking Trails
GREEN'S CREEK CONSERVATION AREA
- TRAILS 60 TO 63:
5.5 km of trails through Green's Creek Valley cutting through clay and post-glacial fossils from the ancient Champlain Sea. Natural lookouts offer striking views of the valley. Parking (P23 and P24).
MER BLEUE CONSERVATION AREA
- MER BLEUE BOG TRAIL (BOARDWALK):
1.2 km self-guided bog interpretation trail. Come and explore the heart of the bog on this universally accessible boardwalk and discover its many interesting facets. Picnic area and toilet facilities. Parking (P22) access from Ridge Road. Parking lot closed evenings (open 8 am to 9 pm). - TRAILS 50 (6.3 km), 51 (2.8 km) AND 52 (3.5 km):
12.6 km of trails winding their way through a forest situated on a sandy escarpment in Mer Bleue Conservation Area. Picnic area and toilet facilities. Parking P20 (Anderson Rd) and P23 (Dolman Ridge). - DEWBERRY TRAIL:
1 km loop located on the Dolman Ridge that features a diversity of fern plants. Accessible year-round via parking P23 from Dolman Ridge Road. - TRAILS 53 AND 53A:
6.7 km trail that offers an extended hike from the boardwalk trail. Note that 53A is usually wet in summer and therefore not recommended for hiking. Parking (P21) from Ridge Road.
PINE GROVE FOREST
- TRAILS 43 (4 km) AND 44 (3.3 km):
7.3 km of trails through a large forested area consisting of a mix of native woods and plantations. Pine Grove Forest is an important wildlife habitat and includes a self-guided forestry interpretive trail and tree-identification arboretum. Picnic area and toilet facilities. Year-round parking (P18), access from Davidson Road. - TRAILS 45 (3.7km) AND 46 (2.3 km):
6 km of trails. Year-round parking (P19), access from Leitrim Road.
PINHEY FOREST
- TRAILS 30 AND 31:
3.5 km of universally accessible trails through this mature coniferous forest. Trail 30 includes a fitness trail managed by the City of Ottawa. Year-round parking (P14), access from behind the Nepean Sportsplex. - TRAILS 32 (2.2 km) AND 33 (1 km):
3.2 km of trails through Pinhey Forest. This forest is named after Mr. Pinhey, who donated the land in 1948 so that it could be used to demonstrate conservation practices. Picnic area and toilet facilities. Year-round parking (P15), access from Slack Road.
SHIRLEYS BAY
- SHIRLEYS BAY SHORELINE TRAIL:
located on the Ottawa River at Shirleys Bay. Picnic area, public boat launch (suitable for small, shallow draft boats only). Year-round parking (P1) off Rifle Road. - TRAIL 10:
4 km of trails that cross fallow fields and young forests, and provide a view of the Ottawa River. Year-round parking (P2), access from Carling Avenue.
STONY SWAMP CONSERVATION AREA
- TRAIL 20 (3km), 21 (2.3km) AND 22 (2.4km):
7.7 km of trails winding through a cross-section of typical Capital area woodlands with many interesting habitats. Year-round parking (P4), access from Timm Road. - OLD QUARRY TRAIL:
2.7 km long, self-guided interpretive trail, explaining the unusual geology of this area. An information brochure is available on the NCC's web catalogue. Picnic area, boardwalk and toilet facilities. Year-round parking (P5), access from Eagleson Road. - TRAILS 23 (2.3 km) 24 (3 km) AND 25 (3.5 km):
8.8 km of trails linked to the Old Quarry Trail. Year-round parking, access from Eagleson (P5) and Richmond (P6) roads. - SARSAPARILLA TRAIL:
0.8 km universally accessible trail that includes a dock overlooking a large beaver pond. Picnic area and toilet facilities. Summer parking (P7), access from Richmond Road. - BEAVER AND CHIPMUNK TRAILS:
2.6 km trail connecting with the Rideau Trail. Picnic area, boardwalk, observation blind and toilet facilities. Year-round parking (P8), access from Moodie Drive. - JACK PINE TRAIL:
3.7 km trail divided into three loops: A, B and C. Boardwalks take you across three of the beaver ponds located along the trail. Picnic area and toilet facilities. Year-round parking (P9), access from Moodie Drive. - TRAILS 26 TO 29:
11.5 km of trails. Toilet facilities located at P12. Year-round parking, access from Hunt Club (P11) and Cedarview (P12 and P13) roads. - RIDEAU TRAIL:
Ottawa to Kingston. A portion of the Rideau Trail passes through the Greenbelt. This 300 km hiking trail connects Ottawa and Kingston, passing through Stony Swamp (in some places overlapping with NCC hiking trails). The main Rideau Trail is marked with orange triangles, side trails with blue triangles.