Ottawa and the Rideau Canal: a 202 km UNESCO waterway that begins in the capital

The Rideau Canal runs 202 km from Ottawa to Kingston Harbour on Lake Ontario, and in Ottawa a flight of eight locks joins it to the Ottawa River. UNESCO added the canal to the World Heritage List in 2007. This profile covers the Ottawa end: how the canal came to be, the Ottawa Locks and the Bytown Museum, the pathways on both banks, the boating season and the winter Skateway.

How a military supply route became a World Heritage Site

Britain built the Rideau Canal primarily for strategic military purposes, at a time when Great Britain and the United States vied for control of the region, according to UNESCO. Parks Canada explains that the War of 1812 showed how easily the St. Lawrence River route between Montreal and Kingston could be cut, so a second route was planned along the Ottawa River, the Rideau River, a chain of small lakes and the Cataraqui River.

The canal was one of the first designed specifically for steam-powered vessels. UNESCO describes it as the best-preserved example of a slackwater canal in North America, and the only canal from the early 19th century canal-building era that still operates along its original line with most of its structures intact. Most of its lock gates and sluice valves are still worked by hand-powered winches. Parks Canada lists it as one of two World Heritage Sites in Ontario.

Colonel By, Bytown and the Ottawa Locks

Lieutenant-Colonel John By of the Royal Engineers arrived in 1826 and set up his headquarters near the mouth of the Rideau River. Parks Canada notes that this camp grew into the settlement of Bytown, later renamed Ottawa. Construction ran from 1826 to 1832, and Ottawa Tourism says more than 1,000 workers, mostly Irish immigrants, French Canadians and Algonquin people, died while building it. A Celtic cross across from the Ottawa Locks remembers them.

The Bytown Museum stands beside the locks in what Ottawa Tourism calls Ottawa’s oldest stone building, used as a treasury and storehouse during construction. Its exhibits trace the city from the canal works to its role as Canada’s capital. In summer, the flight of eight locks is still operated by hand: Parks Canada staff turn cast iron winches to open and close the gates. Ottawa Tourism points to the Plaza Bridge above as a viewpoint over the locks.

Walking and cycling the canal pathways

Multi-use pathways run along both sides of the canal. Ottawa Tourism describes the land as mostly flat, lined with gardens, parks and neighbourhoods, and the paths as popular for cycling, running and walking in summer. In May, tulips bloom along the banks during the Canadian Tulip Festival, followed by summer flowers and autumn colour. Bike rentals and guided rides are offered under the Plaza Bridge and on nearby Sparks Street, according to the same source.

Signs and outdoor exhibits of the Rideau Canal Promenade explain the waterway’s history at seven sites: the Ottawa Locks, the Rogers Centre, Pretoria Bridge, Lansdowne Park, Dows Lake, the Central Experimental Farm and Hartwells Lockstation. A walk or ride from the Ottawa Locks toward Dows Lake passes several of them in turn, and the Promenade signs give each stop its own piece of the story.

Boats, paddling and the navigation season

Parks Canada sets the navigation season from Victoria Day to Thanksgiving, roughly mid-May to mid-October. Ottawa Tourism says that from May through October an electric boat cruise with live narration runs from downtown Ottawa to Dows Lake, and the marina at Dows Lake Pavilion rents canoes, paddleboats, kayaks and stand-up paddleboards. Boaters with their own motorized boats can travel the full 202 km to Kingston.

Outside the season the picture changes. Parks Canada says the lockstations have closed for the season, and the historic site is closed to the public from Thanksgiving to Victoria Day and is not maintained during this period. Wet leaves, ice and snow may remain on stairs and walkways, and ice conditions on the water can vary. The Parks Canada traveller information page lists lock, bridge and service updates, so check it before a spring or autumn trip.

Skating the canal in winter

When the surface is frozen enough, the canal becomes the Rideau Canal Skateway. Ottawa Tourism gives the usual window as early January to early March each year, depending on the weather. The maintained ice runs 7.8 km from downtown Ottawa to Carleton University by way of Dows Lake, and skating is open 24 hours a day while the Skateway operates. Along the route are distance markers, heated huts, washrooms and food kiosks.

Ottawa Tourism pairs a Skateway visit with a BeaverTail pastry, a treat first made in Ottawa in 1978. Because opening depends on the ice, check the Skateway page of the National Capital Commission before you travel for skating, and keep a backup plan, such as the Bytown Museum or a pathway walk.

Rideau Canal visit questions

Q1Can you see the Ottawa Locks working in November?

No. Parks Canada lists the navigation season as Victoria Day to Thanksgiving, and the lockstations have closed for the season. The historic site is not maintained until spring, so watch for ice and wet leaves.

Q2How long is the Rideau Canal Skateway?

Ottawa Tourism gives 7.8 km of maintained ice, from downtown Ottawa to Carleton University via Dows Lake. It usually opens between early January and early March, when the ice allows.

Q3Where can I book a hotel near the Rideau Canal in Ottawa?

Our home page lists two Ottawa hotels with addresses, arrival hours and pet rules. Search either by name on Trip.com to compare rates and rooms for your dates.

Q4Is the Bytown Museum next to the Ottawa Locks?

Yes. Ottawa Tourism places it beside the Ottawa Locks, in a stone building used as a treasury and storehouse while the canal was built.