Some of my favorite hikes have BECOME my favorites because of the stunning views that they offer! In most cases, hiking to a great view requires some serious elevation gain, and Ottawa doesn’t have a ton of that… BUT there are still a bunch of cool hikes within a few hours of Ottawa that offer some unreal views.
And here they are!
The view from the top at Rock Dunder (with both my babies!).
The Skyline Trail
Length of Trail: 5.6 km
Difficulty: Moderate
Distance from Ottawa: 21 minutes North
Dog Friendly: Yes
Full Trail Report: The Skyline Trail- A 5.6 Km. Hike in Gatineau Park | Adventure Report
Wolf Trail
Length of Trail: 8.4 km
Difficulty: Difficult
Distance from Ottawa: 30 minutes North
Dog Friendly: Yes
Full Trail Report: Wolf Trail- An 8.4 km Hike in Gatineau Park | Adventure Report
The Luskville Falls Trail
Length of Trail: 4.6 km
Difficulty: Moderate
Distance from Ottawa: 35 minutes North
Dog Friendly: No
Full Trail Report: The Luskville Falls Trail- A 4.6 km Hike in Gatineau Park | Adventure Report
@aki_ngo119 captured this stunning view from the Luskville Falls Trail.
Chutes de Denholm
Length of Trail: 5 km
Difficulty: Moderate
Distance from Ottawa: 50 Minutes North
Dog Friendly: Yes
Full Trail Report: The Parc des Chutes de Denholm- A 5 Km. Hike in Outaouais | Adventure Report
The Champlain Trail
Length of Trail: 1.1 km
Difficulty: Easy
Distance from Ottawa: 52 Minutes North
Dog Friendly: Yes
Full Trail Report: The Champlain Trail- A 1.1 km Hike in Gatineau Park | Adventure Report
Looking out from the viewing platform along the Champlain Trail.
King Mountain
Length of Trail: 2 km
Difficulty: Moderate
Distance from Ottawa: 55 minutes North
Dog Friendly: No
Full Trail Report: The King Mountain Trail- A 1.9 Km. Hike in Gatineau Park | Adventure Report
Montagnes Noires de Ripon
Length of Trail: 3.4 km
Difficulty: Moderate
Distance from Ottawa: 1 Hour East
Dog Friendly: Yes
Full Trail Report: Trail #7 at Black Mountains Park- A 3.4 Km. Hike in Ripon, QC | Adventure Report
Parc Régional de la Forêt Bowman
Length of Trail: 4 km
Difficulty: Moderate
Distance from Ottawa: 1 hour North
Dog Friendly: Yes
Full Trail Report: Parc Régional de la Forêt Bowman, a 4 km Hike | Adventure Report
Eagles Nest Lookout
Length of Trail: 2 km
Difficulty: Moderate
Distance from Ottawa: 1 Hour and 10 Minutes West
Dog Friendly: Yes
Full Trail Report: Manitou Mountain- A 9 Km. Hike in Calabogie | Adventure Report
The lookout at Eagles Nest in Calabogie.
Lost Valley Loop
Length of Trail: 4.7 km
Difficulty: Moderate
Distance from Ottawa: 1 Hour and 10 Minutes West
Dog Friendly: Yes
Full Trail Report: The Lost Valley Loop, a 5 km Hike in Calabogie | Adventure Report
Foley Mountain Conservation Area
Length of Trail: 5 km (but you could make it longer)
Difficulty: Moderate
Distance from Ottawa: 1 Hour and 15 Minutes Southwest
Dog Friendly: Yes
Full Trail Report: The Foley Mountain Conservation Area- A 5 km Hike (That Could be Longer!) | Adventure Report
Wabun Lake
Length of Trail: 4 or 17 km, depending on your route.
Difficulty: Moderate to difficult, again depending on your route!
Distance from Ottawa: 1 hour and 20 minutes West
Dog Friendly: Yes
Full Trail Report: Wabun Lake- A 4 (or 17!) km Hike in Calabogie | Adventure Report
This view on the Wabun Lake Loop!
Blueberry Mountain
Length of Trail: 5 km
Difficulty: Easy
Distance from Ottawa: 1 hour and 20 minutes West
Dog Friendly: Yes (but keep them on leash especially in the parking lot as there are chickens roaming free)
Full Trail Report: The Blueberry Mountain Trail- A 5 km Hike in Lanark County, ON | Adventure Report
Dacre Heights
Length of Trail: 4.7 km
Difficulty: Moderate
Distance from Ottawa: 1 Hour and 20 Minutes West
Dog Friendly: Yes
Full Trail Report: Dacre Heights- A 4.7 km Hike West of Ottawa | Adventure Report
Taking in the view from the top of the hill at Dacre Heights.
Mont Morisette
Length of Trail: 7.6 km (with shorter options available)
Difficulty: Moderate
Distance from Ottawa: 1.5 hours North
Dog Friendly: Yes
Full Trail Report: Mont Morissette- A 7.6 km Hike in Outaouais | Adventure Report
The Katimavik Trail
Length of Trail: 7.4 km
Difficulty: Difficult
Distance from Ottawa: 1.5 Hours North
Dog Friendly: Yes
Full Trail Report: The Merisiers, Sommet, and Katimavik Trails- A 7.4 km Hike at Parc Regional du Poisson Blanc | Adventure Report
The Desjardins Trail
Length of Trail: 10.4 km
Difficulty: Difficult
Distance from Ottawa: 1.5 Hours North
Dog Friendly: Yes
Full Trail Report: The Desjardins Trail, a 10.35 km Hike in Parc Régional du Poisson Blanc | Adventure Report
The 31-Milles Lookout on the Desjardins Trail.
Blue Mountain
Length of Trail: 10 km
Difficulty: Moderate
Distance from Ottawa: 1.5 Hours Southwest
Dog Friendly: Yes
Full Trail Report: Blue Mountain- A 10 km Hike near Charleston Lake Provincial Park | Adventure Report
Griffith Uplands Trail
Length of Trail: 9 km
Difficulty: Moderate
Distance from Ottawa: 1.5 Hours West
Dog Friendly: Yes
Full Trail Report: The Griffith Uplands Trail- A 9 km Hike in Griffith, ON | Adventure Report
The view along the Griffith Uplands Trail.
Rock Dunder
Length of Trail: 4 to 6 km
Difficulty: Moderate
Distance from Ottawa: 1.5 Hours West
Dog Friendly: Yes
Full Trail Report: The Hiking Trails at Rock Dunder- A 4 to 6 km Hike in Lyndhurst | Adventure Report
Oiseau Rock
Length of Trail: 10 km
Difficulty: Moderate
Distance from Ottawa: 2.5 Hours Northwest
Dog Friendly: Yes
Full Trail Report: The Oiseau Rock Hiking Trail, a 10 km Hike in Sheenboro, QC | Adventure Report
The view from Oiseau Rock.
Great Article!
Amazing list! Could definitely use a few words of highlights (or a brief summary) for each thing in the list, though.
Awesome blossom with extra awesome.
Thanks for sharing.
Excellent list, thank you!
Note that the parking for some of the Gatineau Park trails can’t be accessed during the fall once the Gatineau Parkway is closed, so you have to hike or bike in.