Ottawa’s Best Beaches
Safe & Fun Summer Bucket List
July 16, 2020
Outdoor Trends of 2020
July 29, 2020
Ottawa's Best Beaches
The Ottawa area is surrounded by all kinds of great waterways! With these beautiful lakes and rivers comes great areas for swimming and stunning beaches for sun tanning and playing volleyball! A day at the beach is always great for the mind, body and soul. Enjoy a picnic on the sand, go for a swim in the warm water, play a game of catch with a friend, or just soak up the sun on the comfy sand. No matter how you choose to enjoy your day at the beach, you are going to love this list of Ottawa’s best beaches!
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1. Westboro Beach
Location: Westboro
Westboro Beach is centrally located just outside of Westboro along the Ottawa River. Enjoy a spot on the sand, or get up a little higher on the grassy hill to get a better view of the river! Lifeguards are on duty daily from 12-7 during the summer. Grab lunch or a drink at the Westboro Beach Cafe which offers delicious food, great views and live music!
Amenities: Public washrooms, change rooms, free parking, volleyball nets, restaurant with patio and tables, lifeguards
2. Mooney's Bay Beach
Location: Mooney’s Bay
Mooney’s Bay Beach is located on the east shore of the Rideau River. The beach sits in a man-made bay along the river that was created during the construction of the Rideau Canal. Trained lifeguards are on duty from 12-7 every day during the summer. There are also volleyball nets and stand-up paddleboards for rent onsite.
Amenities: Public washrooms, change rooms, paid parking (7am-6pm), canteen, picnic tables and barbecue pits, tennis courts and play structures, lifeguards
3. Petrie Island Beaches
Location: Orléans
Petrie Island offers 2 large public beaches on the northeast corner of the island. Go for a stroll down the 12kms of shoreline at Petrie Island and take in the wildlife. After that why not have a picnic on the beach or go for a swim! There are lifeguards on duty every day from 12-7pm during the summer.
Amenities: Public washrooms, water fountains, canteen, paid parking (9am-5pm), lifeguards
4. The Pond
Location: Rockcliffe Park
This hidden gem is a beautiful little pond located in the heart of the historic neighbourhood of Rockcliffe Park. Featuring sparkling clean water and a fantastic sandy beach, The Pond is the perfect place to enjoy the sun. The Pond is a conservation area so swimming is limited from 7am-2pm so be sure to plan your beach day for a morning/early afternoon.
Amenities: Street parking
5. Constance Bay Beach
Location: Constance Bay
Constance Bay Beach is a family-friendly beach located northwest of Ottawa in Constance Bay. The clean, sandy beach is several kilometres long and offers stunning views of the Gatineau Hills across the river. This beach is situated in a residential area and has had problems with people walking through residential yards and whatnot, so be sure to stay on the marked path to the beach.
Amenities: Free parking, public outhouses, general store nearby
6. Almonte Beach
Location: Almonte
Located off the North Lanark Agricultural Society Fair Grounds & Agricultural Hall, this small beach on the Mississippi River is the perfect place to cool off on a hot summer day! The drive out to historic Almonte is always worth the trip! Explore the historic downtown, check out the waterfalls and end your day on your towel at the sandy beach with peaceful calm water. The beach is supervised every day between 12pm-5pm.
Amenities: Outdoor washrooms, boat launch, free parking
7. Riverside Beach
Location: Carleton Place
Riverside Beach in Carleton Place is a great sized sandy beach that stretches along the Mississippi River. This beach offers lots of shade from trees and a large lawn to have a picnic on. Lifeguards are on duty 9:30-6pm daily.
Amenities: Public washrooms, 2 boat launches, free parking, picnic tables, volleyball court, splash pad and playground, lifeguards
8. Robert Simpson Park
Location: Arnprior
Robert Simpson Park in Arnprior offers a gorgeous green space and 50 metres of sandy, well maintained beach. This beach is truly located where the rivers meet as the Madawaska River feeds into the Ottawa River. There is also a scenic walking trail along the Madawaska River that you can explore! A lifeguard is on duty between 12-6pm every day.
Amenities: Public washrooms, playground, splash pad, snack bar, gazebo, picnic tables, lifeguards
9. Parc du Lac Leamy
Location: Gatineau, QC
Parc du Lac Leamy is a great spot for outdoor sports and recreational activities. The beach features two volleyball courts, great picnic areas and barbecue pits. The lake feeds into the Gatineau River, then onto the Ottawa River meaning that boats can also get to the lake. Lifeguards are on duty daily between 10:30-6:30pm.
Amenities: Public washrooms, food concession stand, volleyball courts, playgound, picnic tanbles, gazebo, paid parking, lifeguards
10. Parc du Lac-Beauchamp
Location: Gatineau, QC
The beach at Parc du Lac-Beauchamp is large and sandy. It is a great hidden gem located in the east end of Gatineau. Take a walk through the 15kms of recreational trails and then end your day on the beach where you can enjoy the sun or rent a canoe or pedal boat and get out on the water!
Amenities: Public washrooms, change rooms, picnic tables, canoe and pedal boat rentals, playground, information desk and free parking
11. Breton Beach
Location: Phillipe Lake, Gatineau Park, QC
Breton Beach is the largest of the 3 beaches along Phillipe Lake in Gatineau Park. The beach is accessable for everyone with its wheelchair access ramp as well as chair lift into the water. You can also stay at the campsite nearby and explore the Luskville Caves! Lifeguards are on duty from 10am-6 pm daily.
Amenities: Public washrooms, paid parking, lifeguards, change rooms, BBQs and picnic tables
12. La Pêche Lake Beach
Location: Gatineau Park, QC
La Pêche Lake is a pristine large lake untouched by motorized boats. The beach stretches along the lakeside offering stunning views of the water and forest surrounding. You can rent a canoe nearby and take it out on the lake and enjoy the peace and quiet, or drop your towel to the ground and get your tan on! The water is shallow quite a way off the beach, making it a great spot for young children. Lifeguards are on duty daily between 10am-6pm.
Amenities: Outhouses, change rooms, paid parking, picnic tables, lifeguards
13. Britannia Beach
Location: Britannia
Britannia Beach is normally the #1 spot for Ottawans to enjoy, however, for the 2020 summer season, it is currently closed for riverbed reconstruction. Beach goers can still enjoy the sand, picnic areas and green space, but swimming is not currently prohibited. The project is expected to be complete in Fall 2020.
Amenities: Public washrooms, change rooms, outdoor showers, free parking, a canteen, picnic tables, barbecue pits, canteen and lifeguards
Were you surprised with how many beaches we have in the Ottawa area? Most people know about the big ones like Mooney’s Bay and Britannia, but not many know about the smaller gems our city and area has to offer! If you plan on going to one of these awesome beaches, remember to please be respectful. Social distance when appropriate, throw garbage into waste bins and stay within your 10 person social circle. We can still enjoy summer, just the “new normal” way! Enjoy the beach!
Looking for some great campsites in the Ottawa area, we can help with that too!
