Enjoy an afternoon lazing in the sun, enjoying good food and beautiful views in Ottawa. There’s no shortage of great spots for a picnic in the capital. Here are the best places to go for a scenic picnic in Ottawa:
Downtown Ottawa/Rideau Canal
Rideau Canal For A Scenic Picnic Wherever You Stop
Enjoy a picnic in Ottawa along the scenic Rideau Canal. There are so many photo worthy spots and big trees to shade you from the sun. One of my favourite spots is near the Somerset Foot Bridge. You may even see someone leaving a lock lock while you’re there 😉 Pair it with a picnic from Pot & Pantry on Elgin Street. They have classic picnic baskets and plenty of goodies to go inside it.
Patterson Creek For A More Hidden Picnic Spot
Patterson Creek is a nice quiet spot just off the canal to enjoy your picnic in Ottawa. – Beautiful sweeping trees and the canal towards the glebe. Here you’ll find beautiful willow trees you can enjoy your picnic under. Pair it with Pot & Pantry (details above).
Dow’s Lake For A Picnic in Ottawa By The Water
Rent a kayak, canoe or paddle board and then enjoy your picnic.. Get some takeout from Little Italy and then enjoy it at Dow’s Lake. Pure Kitchen and EVOO Greek Kitchen are great choices for takeout options for your picnic in Ottawa. Enjoy a view of the water and if you’re there in Spring, a view of the tulips too.
Confederation Park For A Picnic In Ottawa By A Fountain
Enjoy a scenic picnic in Ottawa at this downtown oasis. Grab a seat near the fountain or lay down a picnic under the trees. Pair it with a poke bowl from Burrito Sensei on Downtown Bank.
Dominion Arboretum For A Picnic That Will Remind You of NYC’s Central Park
In my opinion, this is Ottawa’s Central Park. It connects so many different areas and there are stunning views and paths throughout. You’ll find plenty of people enjoying the sunshine with a picnic but there’s so much room you’ll never feel cramped. If you’re close to Little Italy I recommend grabbing takeout. If not, I recommend bringing your own picnic. In the spring you can have your picnic under blossoms.
Lansdowne Park For A Farmers Market Picnic
Enjoy a scenic picnic in Ottawa at Lansdowne Park. Enjoy Aberdeen Pavilion as your backdrop. Pair your picnic with food from the Ottawa’s Farmers Market on weekends or takeout from The Glebe like Kettlemans.
Rideau River
Stanley Park For A Waterfall At Your Picnic
Enjoy a scenic picnic in Ottawa near the Rideau Falls in Stanley Park. Grab a gourmet hot dog to go and some snacks from Tavern on the Falls.
Carleton University For A Riverside Picnic
Going along the canal, it will take you to Hartwell Locks and Carleton University. Walkthrough campus to the river for a beautiful spot for your picnic. There are also picnic tables. I recommend bringing your own picnic to this spot.
Hogs Back Park For A Picnic With The Falls
Have a scenic picnic in Ottawa at Hog’s Back Park. It’s a stunning spot and you’ll have the sound of rushing water as the soundtrack for your picnic. There are also picnic tables here. I recommend bringing your own picnic to this spot.
Looking for something to do after your picnic? Rent a paddle board and hit the water on the Rideau River.
Near the Byward Market:
Nepean Point For A Picnic At A Lookout
You’ll find Nepean Point behind the National Art Gallery. Last I checked it was closed off but behind the gallery is still a stunning spot for a picnic. There’s some artwork you can admire as well as a view of the Ottawa River. Pair your picnic with a combo from Burgers n Fries Forever.
For A Great View All Around Picnic At Major’s Hill Park
From every angle you’ll get an incredible view in this park. Enjoy a picnic in Ottawa with Parliament, the National Art Gallery and the Ottawa River as your backdrop. There’s plenty of space to set up your picnic. You’ll often catch people playing frisbee here too. Pair it with some takeout from Tingz Restaurant in the Byward Market.
Ottawa Locks For A Picnic With The Best Sunset
This is a spot you need to head at sunset for your picnic in Ottawa. You’ll see incredible colours dance across the water as the sun goes down. Find these Parks Canada red chairs for the best view in town. The flowing water is so peaceful and the view is breathtaking. Stop by La Bottega ahead of time and grab some sandwiches and small snacks and antipasto for your picnic.
Picnic Idea: Make It A Luxury Picnic
Runaway Picnic will transport you somewhere exciting with their luxury picnics. They can bring a next-level picnic setup to any of these locations and make the picnic of your dreams come true. They will curate the perfect picnic for you whether that’s sushi by the beach or a forest getaway somewhere here in Ottawa. This would also be a great option for a special celebration, proposal or date night. Choose a theme, location, package + add-ons and you’re ready to go!
Along the Sir John A Parkway:
Bate Island For A Beautiful Skyline of Ottawa
Bike here on the Sir John A Parkway or drive (there’s parking). You’ll have a wide open view of the Ottawa River and see Parliament off in the distance. Picnic tables are available as well. Pair your picnic with takeout from Pure Kitchen in Westboro.
Remic Rapids For A Unique Picnic in Ottawa
The Remic Rapids provides a great view of the river, Parliament off in the distance, and of course these balanced rock structures by John Felice Ceprano. He’s been creating them on the river’s edge since 1986. Pair your picnic in Ottawa with Hintonburg favourites like a pizza from Tennessy Willams or pastries from La Moulin Lafayette.
Rockcliffe
Rockcliffe Park
You’ll be surrounded by stunning evergreens at this park. There’s also a pavilion here that’s a popular spot for weddings. There’s lots of space and this park seems to be quieter than others. You can drive or bike here. From the Pavillion, make sure to head down to the lookout for a stunning view of the Ottawa River and Gatineau side.
Aviation Parkway
Head along Aviation Parkway for some beautiful picnic views. There’s plenty of parking areas along the way and its a beautiful and easy route for a bike ride. Head down towards the water and you’ll meet a gravel path. Bike along it and you’ll find some nice spots along the water. They aren’t marked and its not a spot I would recommend having a full blown picnic, but great spot for a bite by the water 🙂
Picnic in Gatineau
For the following two spots, normally I would recommend getting takeout from Promenade du Portage. If you come from Alexandria Bridge, Byward Market will be your best option for food. If you come from Portage Bridge, Downtown Bank will be your best food option.
Jacques Cartier Park For A Spacious Picnic Spot
This park is huge and you’ll have a view of the Ottawa River and Rideau Falls for your picnic. You’ll find it just across the Alexandria Bridge.
Enjoy A Quiet Picnic At The Canadian History Museum
Grab a spot along the Voyagers Bike Path at the Canadian History Museum. Enjoy a stunning view of Parliament, Alexandra Bridge and Ottawa River.
Have A Picnic on A Day-trip in Wakefield
Enjoy a picnic by the water with a beautiful view of the red bridge. There are plenty of spots in town to grab a bite. Make a day trip of it with my Wakefield guide.
Pair Your Picnic With A Hike At Gatineau Park
There are so many scenic spots in Gatineau Park for a picnic. Go for a hike and then re-fuel with your picnic. There aren’t spots to get food in the park so I recommend bringing your own picnic. A few scenic spots for your picnic include King Mountain Trail, Mackenzie King Estate and Luskville Falls.
Looking for more things to do this summer? Enjoy a day trip in Almonte.
Julia started Little Miss Ottawa as a way to explore her hometown as a traveller would. She’s always planning her next adventure, whether it’s local or abroad. You’ll find her exploring with her camera in hand. She hopes Little Miss Ottawa helps bring you on new and fun adventures. Happy exploring :)
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