Outdoor Activities in Ottawa: Rideau Canal Locks, the Winter Skateway and Parliament Hill

This guide covers outdoor activities at Parliament Hill and the Rideau Canal, a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 2007. From mid-May to mid-October, you can watch boats pass through hand-operated locks. In summer, the Ceremonial Guard performs a daily Changing of the Guard ceremony on the Hill. In winter, the canal becomes a 7.8 km skateway through central Ottawa. Each section lists seasons, locations and tour details so you can plan each activity around your hotel stay.

The Rideau Canal: 202 km of Working History

The Rideau Canal runs 202 km along the Rideau and Cataraqui rivers, from Ottawa to Kingston Harbour on Lake Ontario. It was built mainly for strategic military purposes. Lieutenant-Colonel John By oversaw construction of 47 locks, and the canal opened in the summer of 1832.

By set up his headquarters in 1826. That settlement grew into Bytown, which was later renamed Ottawa. UNESCO designated the canal a World Heritage Site in 2007. It describes the Rideau Canal as the only canal from the early-19th-century North American canal-building era that still operates along its original line with most of its structures intact.

Walking routes, path surfaces and distances along the banks are not covered here. Confirm with the hotel before planning a long outing on foot beside the canal.

Watching Boats Lock Through at the Ottawa Locks

The Ottawa Locks form the canal's northern entrance. They are eight locks in a flight with a total lift of 24.1 m. Beside them stands the 1827 Commissariat building, which is now the Bytown Museum. Museum hours and admission are not listed here, so confirm with the hotel or the museum before visiting.

During the navigation season, pleasure boaters and paddlers pass through these historic locks. Visitors can watch the locks in action from land. UNESCO notes that most of the canal's lock gates and sluice valves are still worked by hand-powered winches.

The navigation season runs from Victoria Day to Thanksgiving, which is mid-May to mid-October. The historic site is closed from Thanksgiving to Victoria Day. Plan lock watching for the warmer months, and confirm with the hotel about the easiest route from your lodging to the locks.

Skating the Rideau Canal Skateway in Winter

In winter, the NCC turns the Rideau Canal into a 7.8 km skateway through central Ottawa. The season typically runs from January to early March, depending on weather.

When the skateway is open, there is no charge to use it, and it is accessible 24/7. Some sections have a packed-snow walking lane alongside the ice. This gives travelers who do not skate a way to follow part of the route on foot.

Skate rental, warming areas and access points are not covered in these facts. Confirm with the hotel about the nearest entry to the ice and what to bring. Because the canal's historic site is closed from Thanksgiving to Victoria Day, winter visits focus on the skateway rather than lock operations. During the navigation season, boaters and paddlers use the Ottawa Locks.

Changing of the Guard and Centre Block on Parliament Hill

The Changing of the Guard ceremony on Parliament Hill began in 1959. During the summer, the Ceremonial Guard performs a daily ceremony on the Hill. Members wear scarlet tunics and bearskin caps. Start times are not listed here, so confirm with the hotel before you go.

The main Parliament Building, Centre Block, is closed for rehabilitation. Public Services and Procurement Canada says main construction on Centre Block will be complete between 2030 and 2031. The building will reopen about one year later.

You can still learn about Centre Block during your visit. Parliament: The Immersive Experience is a timed 30-minute multimedia show about Centre Block at 211 Sparks Street. It is offered at no charge. Show times are not listed here, so confirm with the hotel or the venue before you go.

Touring West Block, the Senate and East Block

Visitors can tour four Parliament sites other than Centre Block at no charge, and each building needs its own ticket. West Block, at 111 Wellington Street, houses the Room of Remembrance. Its eight Books of Remembrance list all Canadians who died in military service.

The House of Commons guided tour at West Block lasts about 40 minutes. Arrive 30 minutes early for screening. Visitors aged 16 and over need government-issued photo ID. Tours are not available while the House is sitting.

The Senate meets in its temporary home, the Senate of Canada Building at 2 Rideau Street, the former Ottawa train station. A 30-minute guided tour covers the upper chamber there, and you should arrive 25 minutes early. In summer only, a 35-minute East Block tour visits four restored heritage rooms showing 19th-century life at Parliament.

Key points

• The Rideau Canal runs 202 km from Ottawa to Kingston Harbour and became a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2007.
• The eight Ottawa Locks have a total lift of 24.1 m, and visitors can watch boats lock through from mid-May to mid-October.
• The NCC's 7.8 km Rideau Canal Skateway typically operates from January to early March, depending on weather.
• The Ceremonial Guard performs a daily Changing of the Guard ceremony on Parliament Hill during the summer.
• Centre Block is closed for rehabilitation, but four other Parliament sites offer tours, each with its own ticket.

Frequently asked questions