Exploring the trails is easier than you think!
Amber Van Wort
Ottawa is blessed with beautiful parks, hiking trails, waterfalls, and forests for you to explore. But getting to these magical locations without a car can be tough sometimes. Luckily, many hiking trails near Ottawa are actually accessible by OC Transpo. So grab your bus pass or PRESTO card and tap your way to a new adventure ASAP!
Beaver Pond Trail
Price: Transit fare
Address: Walden Dr., Kanata
Why You Need To Go: From downtown Ottawa, head over to Albert Street at Bank Street to catch the 268 Kanata Lakes bus and ride that until the Weslock and Walden stop. From there, it’s only a 10-minute walk to the beautiful Beaver Pond. The pond is surrounded by hiking trails, beautiful fall foliage, and plenty of wildlife. Be sure to check alternative routes in case there is a better option for you.
Pinhey Forest
Price: Transit fare
Address: Ottawa Greenbelt
Why You Need To Go: If you’re in the Algonquin College area than these hidden Ottawa sand dunes are just a short 20-minute trip away. From the college, it’s about a 10-minute walk to Woodroofe Avenue at David Drive. From there, you will catch the 95 Barrhaven Centre bus and stay on until you reach the Nepean Sportsplex. Then you’re just a seven-minute walk from your destination. The forest has plenty of beautiful trees and hiking paths as well as the sand dunes located in the middle of the woods. Check alternative routes to see if there is a better one for you.
Stony Swamp
Price: Transit fare
Address: Old Richmond Road
Why You Need To Go: Located in Ottawa’s breathtaking Greenbelt, there are over 40 kilometres worth of trails for you to explore and plenty of wildlife to discover. If you’re lucky, the birds might even eat out of your hands. Getting here might take longer in the morning but in the afternoon, it’s about a 40-minute trip from Algonquin College. Simply take the 88 Terry Fox to Old Richmond and Moodie where you can catch the 256 Bridlewood. Get off the bus at Old Richmond and West Hunt Club, then walk nine minutes to your destination. Check the alternative routes to see how long it might take.
Monk Environmental Park
Price: Transit fare
Address: Goulbourn Forced Road, Kanata
Why You Need To Go: If you make your way to Baseline 2B at Algonquin College you can catch the 91 Orleans bus. Stay on the bus until Lincoln Fields station and then make your way to stop 1A. Here you will jump on the 63 Briarbrook bus and ride it to Innovation A. Then it’s a simple nine-minute walk to the park. Monk Environmental Park offers stunning hiking trails, water, picnic areas, and more. This route takes just under one hour, but you can check alternative routes to see what works best for you.
Conroy Pit
Price: Transit fare
Address: Conroy Road
Why You Need To Go: In just under an hour you (and maybe your pup) can arrive at the beautiful Conroy Pit. The trail here loops around making it a simple but beautiful hike. From Algonquin College, you can take the 88 Hurdman bus all the way to Heron Station. Make your way to the Heron 1A stop to catch the 98 Hawthorne bus. Stay on the 98 until you reach Lorry Greenberg and Bramblegrove, then it’s just a quick 12-minute walk to the pit. Be sure to check out alternative routes as well.
Hog’s Back Park
Price: Transit fare
Address: 600 Hogs Back Road
Why You Need To Go: You can get to this beautiful waterfall and park in less than 30 minutes on the bus from Algonquin College. Simply jump on the 88 Hurdman and ride that until you reach Heron at Riverside. From this stop, you’ll only need to walk about 10 minutes to the park. At Hogs Back, you can explore the infamous waterfall, dam, and stunning trails.
Beryl Gaffney Park
Price: Transit fare
Address: Prince of Wales Drive at Rideau Valley Drive
Why You Need To Go: If you start at Algonquin College, this magical trail is roughly 50 minutes away. Simply walk over to Woodroofe Avenue at David Drive to catch the 95 Barrhaven Centre. Stay on the bus until you reach the Barrhaven Centre. At stop 2A, you can hop on the 175 Golflinks bus. You’ll ride that to Golflinks and Longfields. From here it’s a quick 14-minute walk to your destination. Here you’ll find a trail that leads all the way from Barrhaven to Manotick. Along the way, you can enjoy beautiful views of the Rideau River. Be sure to check alternative routes near you.
