Since moving to Ottawa, I’ve developed a love for hiking! There are so many good hikes here, but sometimes they can feel out of reach if you don’t have a car. Luckily, many hikes in Ottawa can be reached using public transit during certain seasons. Here are some of my favourite hikes in Ottawa I’ve done without a car and all the details you need to access them.
Pink Lake Loop & Trail 35 and 15 to Mackenzie King Estate
- Distance: ~ 9.5 km
- Difficulty: Easy to Moderate
Using the NCC Shuttle is a great way to enjoy Ottawa hikes without a car. The NCC typically runs a free shuttle bus during the summer months and Fall Rhapsody. The schedule and stops are subject to change, but Pink Lake and Mackenzie King Estate are typically included.
Get off at the Pink Lake stop and follow the signs for Pink Lake Trail. Once you’ve finished the loop, take the wide trail near the map (Trail 35) and follow it until you hit Trail 15. Following Trail 15, you will get to Mackenzie King Estate. You can either take the shuttle back to Ottawa or spend some time exploring the estate (I recommend adding on the Waterfall Trail if you’re up for it!).
Why You Should Go
This was the very first hike I did in Ottawa, and it was phenomenal. This hike is relatively easy and you get the beautiful views around Pink Lake without a lot of effort. I went in the fall, and the combination of the leaves and the green water was breathtaking. The trail to Mackenzie King Estate is also beautiful in the fall and is very convenient if you’re taking the free shuttle since you don’t have to come back for your car.
What To Know Before You Go
The free NCC shuttle is first come, first serve, and I would recommend getting there early! Shuttles will fill up, and you don’t want to miss your chance to get into the park. Shuttles typically leave from a location downtown and make a stop in Gatineau before heading to the park.
Mountain Coaster Hike & Skyline Trail
- Distance: estimated between 10 to 15 km
- Difficulty: Moderate
This is a route that I created out of a desire to ride the Camp Fortune Mountain Coaster. Since I don’t have a car, I had to get pretty creative to make it work.
I started by taking the free shuttle to Mackenzie King Estate (P7). From here, I followed trails 30, 1, 4, and 32 until I hit the Fortune Lake Parkway.
I recommend using the app Avenza Maps and downloading the Gatineau Park summer map. Once you’re looking at the map, I promise this route will make more sense. The app is also great because it will show your location on the map, even when service isn’t great. On the way, you will pass signs for the Skyline Trail. This can be a good addition if you want to add some beautiful views to your day.
Why You Need To Go
The Camp Fortune Mountain Coaster is an awesome experience! First, ride up the gondola and enjoy views of Camp Fortune. Then you get to race down the hill on the mountain coaster to add some excitement to your day.
The hike route serves the purpose of getting you to the Mountain Coaster but is also beautiful itself. It is mostly through the forest with some road walking, and I went in the fall to enjoy the colours. The Skyline loop is very steep, but it adds some gorgeous views to cap off the day.
What You Should Know Before You Go
If you are planning to ride the mountain coaster, you can book your tickets ahead of time or once you arrive. Since the tickets are associated with a time, I opted to buy them once I arrived. In the busier summer season, it might be a good idea to book ahead.
The trail to Camp Fortune. Photo by Torie Wotton
King Mountain
- Distance: 5 km
- Difficulty: difficult, with steep inclines
Take the free NCC shuttle bus to Mackenzie King Estate. From P7, follow Trail 30 until it intersects with Trail 8. Eventually, you will cross the Champlain Parkway. From here, you follow Trail 37 until you arrive at the base of King Mountain. Again, I recommend using Avenza Maps to clarify this route.
Why You Need To Go
King Mountain is so pretty! The uphill climb is absolutely worth it to take in the fantastic views. From the top of the hike, you are high above the valley and looking out across the tops of the trees. It feels like you can see forever.
I went in the summer, but I’m sure that the views would be even better in the fall when the leaves change colour. Also, some of the cliff areas resemble Pride Rock, so you can have your Lion King moment.
Views from the top of King Mountain. Photo by Torie Wotton
Lusk Cave
- Distance: ~ 10 km round trip
- Difficulty: Moderate
- You Need: bathing suit, closed-toed shoes, headlamp
The Transcollines 924 will pick you up in Hull and deliver you to Parent Beach. This service was offered on a temporary basis last summer, so you will need to check the NCC or Transcollines website to see if this route is in service when you want to go.
From the Parent Beach stop, you can walk along the lake to Smith Beach. From here, you walk up into the parking lot to find Trail 50. You follow 50 until you hit the intersection with 54, which will lead you to the cave. After you’ve finished exploring, you can go back the same way or take the easier trail along the lake. To locate this, head back in the direction of Trail 50 and look for the lake sign.
Why You Should Go
This is probably the coolest hike I’ve ever done in Ottawa! The cave itself is definitely the best part.
While I didn’t see anyone on the trail, there were many people in the cave area. If you do the forest route, you will arrive at the cave exit and need to walk up the stone stairs to find the cave entrance.
When you go into the cave you will get wet! The water level varies, but when I went, the water was up to my neck in some places. Inside the cave is also dark, rocky and at some points the cave is quite small and there are only a few inches between the roof of the cave and the water level. Personally, I found this added to the adrenaline of the hike!
Inside the cave is beautiful and you’ll feel like you’ve completely left Ottawa. I liked the cave so much that I went through it twice before heading back to the main beach.
You can make this hike into a whole day excursion by spending some time at the beach before or after. There are kayaks available for rental and the lake is nice to swim in.
What to Know Before You Go
The hike to the cave is pretty easy. There are two routes, one that follows the lake for most of the distance and one through the forest. The one through the forest is a little more difficult, I recommend doing it on the way to the cave and then following the lake path once you’re done exploring.
The terrain of the cave is what makes this hike so unique, but you need to be prepared. I would recommend wearing a bathing suit in the cave because you will get wet. You should also wear closed-toed shoes and have a light. Since the water is so high, I used a headlamp that clipped to my hat that I bought for super cheap at Walmart.
Finally, if the small spaces and high water levels aren’t your speed, you can still experience the cave. The cave is divided into two sections, and the first section is large and typically has much less water. There is a large opening after the first half where you can climb out, skipping the more intense parts but still getting the cave experience.
Find more outdoor experiences here, from where to rent kayaks to chasing waterfalls.
Torie is a policy analyst who loves to write and travel. Recently graduated from the University of Ottawa, Torie is excited to invest some of her new free time into both of these hobbies by writing for Little Miss Ottawa!
Torie has loved adventures and trying new things for a long time. Family trips both close to home and abroad fostered this mentality and set the stage for future adventures both big and small. Moving to Ottawa from Manitoba gave Torie the opportunity to explore a new area in depth and emphasized the fact that every day can be an adventure if you bring the right mind set.
When she’s not out on an adventure, Torie can be found at the rink practicing with her synchronized skating team or coaching skating.
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