Rideau Canal

The Rideau Canal is a 202-kilometre historic waterway connecting Ottawa with Kingston and Lake Ontario. Completed in 1832, it was originally constructed as a secure transportation route and today remains one of the best-preserved examples of a 19th-century slackwater canal system in North America. In 2007, the Rideau Canal was designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site in recognition of its remarkable historical significance.

In downtown Ottawa, the canal passes some of the city's most recognizable landmarks and neighbourhoods. Visitors can explore the pathways running alongside the water, watch boats pass through the locks, relax beside the canal, or simply enjoy the scenery. During the warmer months, boating, paddling, cycling, and sightseeing cruises are popular ways to experience the canal. In winter, weather permitting, a section of the frozen canal becomes the famous Rideau Canal Skateway.

One of the highlights of visiting the Rideau Canal is seeing the historic Ottawa Locks. This impressive series of eight locks sits below Parliament Hill and remains one of the canal's most recognizable features. Visitors can watch boats move between the Ottawa River and the canal while seeing the lock system in action.

As the canal travels through Ottawa, it passes or provides access to several notable landmarks and areas, including the Fairmont Château Laurier, National Arts Centre, Canadian Museum of Nature, Lansdowne Park, and Dow's Lake. Scenic pathways alongside the canal also provide excellent views of Ottawa's architecture and green spaces.

Whether you explore on foot, by bicycle, from the water, or on skates during winter, the canal provides a unique perspective on Canada's capital and connects many of Ottawa's most interesting neighbourhoods and attractions.