Hiking Trails in Ottawa Accessible by Bus

I’ve said it before, and I’ll say it a million times more- we’re incredibly lucky to have access to so much green space in and around Ottawa! That being said, I tend to drive to a lot of the places I want to spend time in nature… And is that really so accessible?  

Since I don’t work for the City of Ottawa or know anything about city planning or transit, here’s the next best thing I have to offer. A list of hiking trails near Ottawa that are accessible by bus!  

If there are any I’ve missed, please let me know- I’d love for this list to be longer! 

East End 

Princess Louise Falls

OC Transpo Stop ID: 2745 or 0748, St Joseph/Trim
Distance from Bus Stop to Trailhead: 160 m
Open in Winter: Yes- some short but steep hills so come prepared with microspikes, hiking poles, or both!
Notes: The trails to the Princess Louise Falls can be as short as you’d like, as there’s a cheater trail from the road right to the falls. It’s an absolutely beautiful spot that shouldn’t be missed.  

Petrie Island, a 3 km Hike (and a Day at the Beach)

OC Transpo Stop ID: 6354 or 6353, Inlet/Trim
Distance from Bus Stop to Trailhead: 1.3 km
Open in Winter: Yes
Notes: These trails are by no means the best in Ottawa, and on their own, probably not worth the additional 1 km walk to get to them. BUT, if you plan to spend the day at the beach as well, or enjoy bird watching, then Petrie Island can be a really fun spot to be. On windy days there are often people kite surfing so the people watching can be pretty good too! 

West End 

Every Trail in the South March Highlands Conservation Forest!

The Rockhopper Loop, a 3.6 km Hike
The Dogsled Loop, a 4.5 km Hike
The PWT Loop, a 7.7 km Hike
The Outback/Ridgetop Loop, a 10 km Hike

OC Transpo Stop ID: 1526, Old Second Line/Brady
Distance from Bus Stop to Trailhead: 30 m
Open in Winter: Yes
Notes: I really love these trails and think they’re well worth the trip, especially if you’re in the West end already. Trails are shared with mountain bikers, and fat bikers in the winter.  

Shirley’s Bay Trail and Beach

OC Transpo Stop ID: 7969, Carling/Davidson’s Side
Distance from Bus Stop to Trailhead: 550 m
Open in Winter: Yes
Notes: There is no OC Transpo stop close to the north trailhead, which is where the beach is. So you’ll have to walk a little ways to get out there (my daughter LOVES the beach at Shirley’s bay because there are so many rocks to throw into the water). But there are also spots along the way to get close to the water if you don’t want to walk the full 7 km that an out-and-back would require.

The Old Quarry Trail, a 5.7 km Hike

OC Transpo Stop ID: 4842, Eagleson/Hazeldean Mall
Distance from Bus Stop to Trailhead: 130 m
Open in Winter: Yes
Notes: Depending how far you want to walk, you can get to almost every trail in the Stoney Swamp sector from here, meaning there’s a lot to see! This trail is also a good one for feeding the birds.  

Trail 31 in Pinhey Forest, a 3.8 km Hike

OC Transpo Stop ID: 1683 or 1652, Woodroffe/Nepean Sportsplex
Distance from Bus Stop to Trailhead: 600 m (the trail starts behind the Nepean Sportsplex)
Open in Winter: Yes
Notes: I describe this type of trail as a “coffee” trail, because it’s easy enough to walk along with a coffee in your hand. The trail is actually made up of two loops, so you can make your hike shorter or a bit longer, depending on how you feel that day.  

Trail 32 in Pinhey Forest, a 3 km Hike

OC Transpo Stop ID: 1630, Slack/Vaan
Distance from Bus Stop to Trailhead: 450 m
Open in Winter: Yes
Notes: Trail 32 is the trail in Pinhey Forest where you can actually see the sand dunes! They’re neat, and these trails make for a really easy walk through the woods.

Mud Lake, a 3.5 km Hike in Brittania Village

OC Transpo Stop ID: 4950, Cassels/Bradford
Distance from Bus Stop to Trailhead: 300 m
Open in Winter: Yes
Notes: Mud Lake is a local favorite as there are tons of birds and other little critters to see. Plus, it’s awesome to be able to walk through the forest, around a lake, basically in the middle of town! 

Monaghan Forest, a Nice Walk in the Woods

OC Transpo Stop ID: 9076 or 9077, Fallowfield/Moodie
Distance from Bus Stop to Trailhead: 230 m
Open in Winter: Yes
Notes: Monaghan Forest is an unmarked trail system, good for an easy wander through the woods. If you’re interested in quarries, these trails bring you right to the edge of the Tomlinson Quarry. And the trails are usually pretty quiet, making for a peaceful day in nature.

South End 

Chapman Mills, a 3 km Hike Beside the Rideau River

OC Transpo Stop ID: 1328 or 1329, Strandherd/Prince of Wales
Distance from Bus Stop to Trailhead: 0 m- just walk down under the Vimy Memorial Bridge to begin your hike. 
Open in Winter: Yes
Notes: One of the coolest things about this hike (besides being right next to the river) is getting to go underneath the Vimy Memorial Bridge.  

The Stonebridge Trail

OC Transpo Stop ID: 0804 or 1474, Rideau Valley/Prince of Wales- to begin at Beryl Gaffney Park.
Or, 1325, Pondhollow/Riverstone to begin at the other end, in WC Levesque Park.
Distance from Bus Stop to Trailhead: 400 m beginning at Beryl Gaffney, 100 m beginning at WC Levesque. 
Open in Winter: Yes
Notes: The Stonebridge Trail is about 5 km end-to-end, so if you walk the whole thing you can spend a good long time immersed in nature. There’s a lot of variation along the trail, from field to forest, stairs to bridges, and spots to head down closer to the Rideau River.  

Hog’s Back Park

OC Transpo Stop ID: 3231, Riverside/Brookfield
Distance from Bus Stop to Trailhead: 500 m
Open in Winter: Yes
Notes: While there ARE walking trails at Hog’s Back Park (and you can actually walk quite far since they’re connected to the Rideau River Eastern Pathway), the absolute best thing about Hog’s Back Park is the waterfall. It’s stunning, and powerful, and if you get really lucky you can spot some brave kayakers running it (illegally) in the spring. 

Gatineau Park

There are busses running through Gatineau Park year round! The NCC has more info that you can find here: Taking the bus to Gatineau Park – National Capital Commission (ncc-ccn.gc.ca)