Visitor Information

Photo of tulips in bloom, with pond and Rideau Canal in background
Tulips blooming along a Rideau Canal pathway
Maps and Publications

The 300 hectares of parkland and green spaces in urban Ottawa and Gatineau contribute to a healthy, vital, sustainable and green Capital. Explore these green spaces by visiting the Capital Parks and travelling the paths and parkways.

Visitor Centre

Capital Information Kiosk

World Exchange Plaza
111 Albert Street
Ottawa, Ontario

Hours of Service

Capital Information Kiosk

  • Open daily, 10 am to 5 pm

Parks

  • The Parks and their facilities open in early May and close at the first snowfall.
  • Washrooms and parking lots are closed nightly (hours vary by park).
  • Concession stands are generally open from 11 am to 6 pm.

Updates on Conditions

Beaches

Facilities and Services

Parking

Free and paid parking is available at or near most parks and there are 10 park and cycle parking locations. Parking lots are marked on the Cycling Capital map.

Universal Accessibility

Most of the pathways are universally accessible. If you will be using a wheelchair to travel the pathways, check the Cycling Capital map to see which paths are have steep hills.

Guides

When exploring the parks, paths and parkways in downtown Ottawa and Gatineau, why not take a self-guided tour? The following guides will tell you more about the monuments, public art and attractions in the heart of the Capital.

Maps

The Capital Pathway network is marked on the following maps.

Please Do Not Feed the Birds

Feeding wildlife can create problems for animals as well as for the environment. Many urban parks in Canada’s Capital Region are now inundated with gulls, ducks, geese and pigeons.

Please don’t feed the birds because it can:

  • be harmful to their heath, leading to dietary and nutritional problems.
  • make them less wary of people and increase their risk of being harmed.
  • contribute to population problems in a small area, creating safety hazards, habitat problems, damage to grassy areas and poorer water quality due to excrement.

Find out more by reading the Please Do Not Feed the Birds pamphlet.

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