National Capital Commission: winter trails near Ottawa
National Capital Commission manages 108.1 km of cross-country ski trail, 53.8 km of snowshoe trail and 3.1 km open to snowmobiles in the Ontario Trail Network, across 44 named trails. The trails lie around Ottawa.
Trail conditions and fees: www.ncc-ccn.gc.ca
Open the full Ontario Crown land map
Cross-country skiing
Snowshoeing
Snowmobiling
Trails
| Trail | Length | Winter use | Also open to |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Greenbelt Pathway East The Greenbelt Pathway East has a stone dust surface and crosses through hilly terrain. Located in the Green’s Creek sector of the Greenbelt it connects to the Ottawa River Pathway and winds its way south |
9.5 km | Cross-country skiing | Hiking or Walking, Cycling |
|
Mer Bleue Trails 51 For a great hike that’s less crowded, try trails 50 and 51. The wooden footbridge in the southern section of Trail 50 is an excellent spot for observing turtles, as well as several species of frog, including the bullfrog. |
8.3 km | Cross-country skiing | Hiking or Walking |
|
NCC Recreational Paths and Trails 24 Canada’s Capital Greenbelt features over 150 kilometres of natural trails. Be kind and respectful of others. Share the path in winter too. Access and parking is free year-round. |
7.8 km | Cross-country skiingSnowshoeing | Hiking or Walking, Cycling |
|
Mer Bleue Trails 53 The Mer Bleue conservation area provides a unique opportunity to see a northern boreal landscape. Here, you will find interpretive boardwalks, sand ridges, natural hiking trails and forests. |
6.8 km | Cross-country skiing | Hiking or Walking |
|
NCC Recreational Paths and Trails Canada’s Capital Greenbelt features over 150 kilometres of natural trails. Be kind and respectful of others. Share the path in winter too. Access and parking is free year-round. |
6.1 km | Cross-country skiingSnowshoeing | Hiking or Walking, Cycling |
|
Pine Grove Trails 45 This trail is very popular in the winter for cross-country skiing. However, in the fall, it is one of our least-frequented trails. It has good potential to see beavers and other wildlife and is a good alternative for enjoying the woods, away from peo |
5.8 km | Cross-country skiingSnowshoeing | Hiking or Walking |
|
NCC Recreational Paths and Trails 27 Canada’s Capital Greenbelt features over 150 kilometres of natural trails. Be kind and respectful of others. Share the path in winter too. Access and parking is free year-round. |
5.7 km | Cross-country skiing | Hiking or Walking |
|
NCC Recreational Paths and Trails 26 Canada’s Capital Greenbelt features over 150 kilometres of natural trails. Be kind and respectful of others. Share the path in winter too. Access and parking is free year-round. |
4.5 km | Cross-country skiingSnowshoeing | Hiking or Walking |
|
NCC Recreational Paths and Trails 21 Trail 21 is a lesser-known trail, where you can see nice fall colours. You’ll find maple and oak trees, as well as cedar pockets where deer usually hide during the day. |
4.2 km | Cross-country skiing | Hiking or Walking |
|
Pine Grove Trails. Pine Grove is a mixture of tree plantations and natural forests, with many trails for hiking, cross-country skiing and horseback riding. |
4.1 km | Cross-country skiingSnowshoeing | Hiking or Walking, Cycling, Equestrian |
|
Ottawa-Carleton Trailway The Capital Pathway is for everyone: pedestrians, joggers, skiers, snowshoers, snow bikers and for on-leash dog walking. Share the path. |
3.5 km | Cross-country skiing | Hiking or Walking, Cycling |
|
Pinhey Forest Trails 31 Trail 31 meanders through a mixed forest with white pine, maples and oaks interspersed throughout the canopy. |
3.5 km | Cross-country skiing | Hiking or Walking |
|
Mer Bleue Trails 50 For a great hike that’s less crowded, try trails 50 and 51. The wooden footbridge in the southern section of Trail 50 is an excellent spot for observing turtles, as well as several species of frog, including the bullfrog. |
3.4 km | Cross-country skiing | Hiking or Walking |
|
Jack Pine Trail 26 The Jack Pine Trail is located in the Stony Swamp sector, the largest wooded area in Canada’s Capital Greenbelt. It is a central point for many trails in Stony Swamp, making each visit a new adventure. |
3.2 km | Snowshoeing | Hiking or Walking |
| NCC Snowmobile Trail | 3.1 km | Snowmobiling | |
|
Pine Grove Trails 44 Trails 43 and 44 form a 4.4-kilometre loop that features interpretive panels about forest management and how to identify various tree species. The red pine plantation from the 1950s attracts red-breasted nuthatches, pine warblers and pine siskins. |
3 km | Cross-country skiing | Hiking or Walking |
|
Old Quarry Trail 23 The Old Quarry Trail is located in the Stony Swamp sector, the largest wooded area in Canada’s Capital Greenbelt. This area is a central point for many trails in Stony Swamp. So vast is this connected network that each visit is a new adventure. |
2.9 km | Cross-country skiing | Hiking or Walking |
|
Stony Swamp 25 Stony Swamp is a network of beaver ponds, wetlands and forests with boardwalks and interpretive exhibits on its geology and natural history. There are over 40 kilometres of trails for hiking, cross-country skiing and snowshoeing. |
2.9 km | Snowshoeing | Hiking or Walking |
| Merivale Woodroffe Connector | 2.7 km | Cross-country skiing | Hiking or Walking, Cycling |
|
Pinhey Forest Trails 32 This conservation area in the Greenbelt contains a unique natural feature: Ottawa’s only inland sand dune complex. Trail 32 features both sand dunes and forest. |
2.7 km | Cross-country skiing | Hiking or Walking |
|
NCC Recreational Paths and Trails 23 Canada’s Capital Greenbelt features over 150 kilometres of natural trails. Be kind and respectful of others. Share the path in winter too. Access and parking is free year-round. |
2.6 km | Cross-country skiing | Hiking or Walking |
|
Beaver / Chipmunk Trail 28 Stony Swamp is a network of beaver ponds, wetlands and forests with boardwalks and interpretive exhibits on its geology and natural history. There are over 40 kilometres of trails for hiking, cross-country skiing and snowshoeing. |
2.1 km | Snowshoeing | Hiking or Walking |
|
Lime Kiln Trail 25 The Lime Kiln Trail is located in the west end of Canada’s Capital Greenbelt, in the Stony Swamp sector. This hiking trail features one of the few remaining examples in Canada of a 19th century industrial lime kiln. |
2 km | Cross-country skiingSnowshoeing | Hiking or Walking, Cycling |
|
NCC Recreational Paths and Trails 20 Canada’s Capital Greenbelt features over 150 kilometres of natural trails. Be kind and respectful of others. Share the path in winter too. Access and parking is free year-round. |
1.9 km | Cross-country skiing | Hiking or Walking |
|
Stony Swamp With more than 40 kilometres of trails, Stony Swamp is a great spot for a hike. Its trails pass through woodlands, an old quarry with unusual geology, beaver ponds and dams, and an old lime kiln. Kids and adults alike will love the many animals they |
1.8 km | Cross-country skiingSnowshoeing | Hiking or Walking |
|
Greenbelt Pathway East 42 The Greenbelt Pathway East has a stone dust surface and crosses through hilly terrain. Located in the Green’s Creek sector of the Greenbelt it connects to the Ottawa River Pathway and winds its way south |
1.5 km | Cross-country skiingSnowshoeing | Hiking or Walking, Cycling |
|
Merivale to Black Rapids Lockstation The Capital Pathway is for everyone: pedestrians, joggers, skiers, snowshoers, snow bikers and for on-leash dog walking. Share the path. |
1.5 km | Cross-country skiing | Hiking or Walking, Cycling |
|
Pinhey Forest Trails This Ottawa conservation area was created in 1948 when land was donated to the NCC to demonstrate forest conservation practices. The NCC maintains the woodlands and the rare post-glacial sand dunes they grow on. |
1.5 km | Cross-country skiingSnowshoeing | Hiking or Walking, Cycling |
| NCC Recreational Paths and Trails - Pinhey Forest | 1.4 km | Cross-country skiingSnowshoeing | Hiking or Walking, Cycling, Equestrian |
|
Greenbelt Pathway East 62 The Greenbelt Pathway East has a stone dust surface and crosses through hilly terrain. Located in the Green’s Creek sector of the Greenbelt it connects to the Ottawa River Pathway and winds its way south |
1.3 km | Cross-country skiingSnowshoeing | Hiking or Walking, Cycling |
|
NCC Recreational Paths and Trails 42 Canada’s Capital Greenbelt features over 150 kilometres of natural trails. Be kind and respectful of others. Share the path in winter too.Winter trail. Access and parking is free during the winter only. |
1.3 km | Cross-country skiingSnowshoeing | Hiking or Walking, Cycling |
|
Mer Bleue Trails The Mer Bleue conservation area provides a unique opportunity to see a northern boreal landscape. Here, you will find interpretive boardwalks, sand ridges, natural hiking trails and forests. |
1.1 km | Cross-country skiingSnowshoeing | Hiking or Walking, Cycling |
|
Dewberry Trail 50 The Dewberry Trail at Mer Bleue is only one kilometre long, making it perfect for hikers of all ages and abilities. You can extend your walk by taking one of the many other trails that link to it. This trail also passes through a young forest and an |
1 km | Snowshoeing | Hiking or Walking |
|
LeBreton Pathway The Capital Pathway is for everyone: pedestrians, joggers, skiers, snowshoers, snow bikers and for on-leash dog walking. Share the path. |
1 km | Cross-country skiingSnowshoeing | Hiking or Walking, Cycling |
|
NCC Recreational Paths and Trails 12 Canada’s Capital Greenbelt features over 150 kilometres of natural trails. Be kind and respectful of others. Share the path in winter too. Access and parking is free year-round. |
1 km | Cross-country skiing | |
|
NCC Recreational Paths and Trails 29 Canada’s Capital Greenbelt features over 150 kilometres of natural trails. Be kind and respectful of others. Share the path in winter too. Access and parking is free year-round |
1 km | Cross-country skiing | Hiking or Walking |
|
Sarsaparilla 22 Trail 22 is perfect for a short loop, and it includes a nice viewing area of a wetland where you’ll see a variety or bird species, turtles and small animals. At only 900 metres, it’s a perfect choice for introducing young children to nature hikes. |
0.9 km | Snowshoeing | Hiking or Walking |
|
Green's Creek Trail 63 This picturesque trail, located in the Green’s Creek sectors offers tree-lined paths, a few open areas and some hilly terrain. When walking or snowshoeing, please stay well to the side of the ski tracks to avoid damaging them. |
0.8 km | Cross-country skiingSnowshoeing | Hiking or Walking |
|
Greenbelt Pathway East 44 The Greenbelt Pathway East has a stone dust surface and crosses through hilly terrain. Located in the Green’s Creek sector of the Greenbelt it connects to the Ottawa River Pathway and winds its way south |
0.8 km | Cross-country skiingSnowshoeing | Hiking or Walking, Cycling |
|
Pine Grove Forestry Trail Pine Grove is a mixture of tree plantations and natural forests, with many trails for hiking, cross-country skiing and horseback riding. |
0.5 km | Snowshoeing | Hiking or Walking, Cycling |
|
link to Jack Pine Trail 26 Canada’s Capital Greenbelt features over 150 kilometres of natural trails. Be kind and respectful of others. Share the path in winter too. Access and parking is free year-round. |
0.4 km | Cross-country skiingSnowshoeing | Hiking or Walking |
|
Promenade Mer Bleue 53 The Mer Bleue conservation area provides a unique opportunity to see a northern boreal landscape. Here, you will find interpretive boardwalks, sand ridges, natural hiking trails and forests. |
0.4 km | Cross-country skiing | Hiking or Walking |
| Greenbelt Pathway East Link 42 | 0.2 km | Cross-country skiing | |
|
Greenbelt Pathway East 60 The Greenbelt Pathway East has a stone dust surface and crosses through hilly terrain. Located in the Green’s Creek sector of the Greenbelt it connects to the Ottawa River Pathway and winds its way south |
0.1 km | Cross-country skiing | Hiking or Walking, Cycling |
"Winter use" is what National Capital Commission permits on the trail, not a grooming report: check the organization before you go. Lengths are from the Ontario Trail Network.
Surveyed lakes within 25 km
Campgrounds within 40 km
Most private campgrounds close for winter; call ahead. Winter camping on Crown land is covered in our winter camping guide.
- Ottawa’s Poplar Grove Campground/RV Park — Greely (Ottawa), 15 km
- Sleepy Cedars Family Camping — Greely, 16 km
Other trail networks within 60 km
Source: Ontario Trail Network trail segments, Land Information Ontario (Open Government Licence – Ontario), updated December 2023. Trail names, uses and descriptions are as supplied by National Capital Commission to the network.