Spots Near Ottawa to Hike and Swim!

There’s nothing better- in my opinion- than a swim after getting all hot and sweaty during a summer hike! As a bonus, my kids always have a ton of fun playing in the water so visiting the beach always makes for an easier day of parenting for me.

Here’s a list of all the trails I could think of in and around Ottawa where you can go for a hike and then go swimming right after. Enjoy!

The Lac Leamy Pathway

Distance from Ottawa: 14 minutes north.
Trail Length: 2.4 km
Difficulty: Easy
Swim Spot: Leamy Lake Park is an awesome spot for an urban swim. There’s a sand beach supervised by lifeguards during the summer, volleyball courts, picnic tables and BBQs, and washroom facilities on site. Check out the NCC’s website for more info about the beach!
Full Trail Report: The Lac Leamy Pathway, A 2.4 Km. Walk in Gatineau | Adventure Report

Petrie Island

Distance from Ottawa: 22 minutes east.
Trail Length: 5 km of trails available.
Difficulty: Easy
Swim Spot: Petrie Island is on the Ottawa river and has a big sand beach. This is a great spot for a number of activities, especially bird watching. Some people also windsurf and kiteboard here which is really fun to watch! There are outhouses available near the beach.
Full Trail Report: Hiking Trails at Petrie Island | Adventure Report

Carbide Willson Ruins

Distance from Ottawa: 23 minutes north.
Trail Length: 2.6 km
Difficulty: Easy
Swim Spot: The parking lot for the Carbide Willson ruins is the same parking lot as O’Brien Beach in Gatineau Park. This area fills up quickly so its best to arrive early! There’s a short walk from the parking lot down to the beach but nothing you haven’t done a hundred times over by hiking out to the ruins first! O’Brien Beach is a lovely spot with a mix of sand and grass available. The lake bottom is sandy and it remains pretty shallow a long way out, so it’s a great swimming spot for little kids.
Full Trail Report: The Carbide Willson Ruins- A 2.6 Km. Hike in Gatineau Park | Adventure Report

Trail 10 Near Shirley’s Bay

Distance from Ottawa: 25 minutes west.
Trail Length: 7 km (but it’s an out and back so you can make it shorter!)
Difficulty: Easy
Swim Spot: This trail starts right at Shirley’s Bay Park, on the Ottawa River. There’s a big, rocky beach that stretches for about 100 metres that you can use to access the water. There is also a boat launch so keep an eye out! At the park there is a huge parking lot, outhouses, and picnic tables. My older daughter really loves this rocky beach but for early walkers I’d choose one of the sandier options in the city.
Full Trail Report: Trail 10- A 7 km Walk in Shirley’s Bay | Adventure Report

Sheila McKee Park

Distance from Ottawa: 30 minutes west
Trail Length: 2.4 km
Difficulty: Generally easy, but a few steep hills.
Swim Spot: Sheila McKee Memorial Park is along the bank of the Ottawa River. If you hike towards the river, and down a set of stairs there’s a long, skinny beach right beside the river. Keep in mind there are no washrooms at the trailhead, nor along the beach. There are also no garbage cans so please make a plan to bring home any garbage you might make. I’ve only ever visited in the winter so can’t comment what the river floor is like- so if you’ve been swimming there let us know about your experience in the comment section!
Full Trail Report: The Hiking Trail at Sheila McKee Park, a 2.4 km Hike in Dunrobin, ON | Adventure Report

Wolf Trail

Distance from Ottawa: 33 minutes north.
Trail Length: 8.4 km
Difficulty: Moderate
Swim Spot: Wolf Trail is just across the road from Blanchet Beach! Blanchet Beach has a small sandy area and a larger lawn behind it. There are outhouses, change rooms, and picnic tables available.
Full Trail Report: Wolf Trail- An 8.4 km Hike in Gatineau Park | Adventure Report

Baxter Conservation Area

Distance from Ottawa: 35 minutes south.
Trail Length: 3.6 km
Difficulty: Easy
Swim Spot: Baxter Conservation Area has a sandy beach right on the shore of the Rideau River. There’s some shade, picnic tables, outhouses and changerooms nearby. The mosquitos can get really bad in the shade during the spring! The river bottom is nice and sandy making it easy to walk out and it’s fairly shallow for a while, but gets deep enough for all sizes of swimmers further out. There’s also an ice cream boat that occasionally pulls up to shore where you can buy a treat on a hot day!
Full Trail Report: The Baxter Conservation Area- A 3.6 km Hike South of Ottawa | Adventure Report

The Lusk Cave Trail

Distance from Ottawa: 42 minutes north.
Trail Length: 10 km
Difficulty: Easy (terrain, but the distance could present a challenge!)
Swim Spot: The trailhead for the Lusk Cave Trail begins right at Parent Beach in Gatineau Park. After a 10 km roundtrip to get to the cave, you can spend the rest of the day at this beautiful sandy beach! The beach is supervised by lifeguards in the summer and also has a playground for kids. Check out the NCC’s website for more info about the beach!
Full Trail Report: The Lusk Cave- A 10 (ish) km Hike in Gatineau Park | Adventure Report

Gillies Grove

Distance from Ottawa: 46 minutes west.
Trail Length: 4 km
Difficulty: Easy
Swim Spot: This swim spot is along the shores of the Ottawa River in Arnprior. The beach is a combination of sand and small rocks, perfect for keeping kids entertained! There are no facilities at the beach, so plan ahead.
Full Trail Report: Gillies Grove in Arnprior, ON | Adventure Report

Oiseau Rock Hiking Trail

Distance from Ottawa: 2 hours northwest.
Trail Length: 10 km
Difficulty: Moderate
Swim Spot: This is definitely the most unique swim spot on the list, because it’s mid-hike, and all the way at the top of Oiseau Rock- a summit lake! There’s a level, rocky spot at one end of the lake where you can walk in. Or, on your way there you might spot a rope attached to one of the trees that you can use to swing in… take your pick! There’s also one picnic table beside the lake.
Full Trail Report: The Oiseau Rock Hiking Trail, a 10 km Hike in Sheenboro, QC | Adventure Report

Katimavik Trail

Distance from Ottawa: 1.5 hours north
Trail Length: 7.8 km
Difficulty: Difficult
Swim Spot: Just near the trailhead in Poisson Blanc Regional Park is a beach on the shore of the reservoir north of Lac Poisson Blanc. The whole area is stunning and you can also camp near the beach so this would be a great little weekend getaway during the summer!
Full Trail Report: The Merisiers, Sommet, and Katimavik Trails- A 7.4 km Hike at Parc Regional du Poisson Blanc | Adventure Report

Desjardins Trail

Distance from Ottawa: 1.5 hours north
Trail Length: 11.4 km
Difficulty: Hard
Swim Spot: Just 500 metres or so from the parking lot for the Desjardins trailhead is a rocky beach on the shore of Lac Cuillèrier in Poisson Blanc Regional Park. The view down this lake is stunning, but the water levels are really low early in the year. So low that I can tell you the WHOLE floor of the lake is rocky and would be really unpleasant to walk on in order to swim. This is definitely not a spot for young kids, as there’s also not much true “beach” area. The forest edges right up to the lake and with how rocky everything is there isn’t really anywhere nice to set up for the day and enjoy yourself. This one might be best for a quick dip after your hike and not too much more!
Full Trail Report: The Desjardins Trail, a 10.35 km Hike in Parc Régional du Poisson Blanc | Adventure Report