10 Best Natural Wonders in Ottawa

Everybody knows of the famed Niagara Falls, but did you know that you can see falls higher than Niagara in Ottawa? The Chutes de Plaisance is about a 45-minute drive from Ottawa and a great place for a day trip with a picnic lunch. It’s located between Montreal and Ottawa.

The Chutes de Plaisance has a 206-foot drop, compared to the 167-foot drop of Niagara. This site is also a protected historical site with lookout spots, a walking path, and a picnic area.

Nestled in the southeastern part of the Capital Greenbelt, the Mer Bleue Bog is a remarkable and unique glimpse into a boreal-like ecosystem, not usually found this far south. The bog is the largest in the capital region and is situated in an 8,600-acre conservation area.

This environment is 7,700 years old and contains a variety of rare plants, birds, and other wildlife that thrive in this ecosystem. Visitors can learn from interpretive boardwalk trails or take a hike on 1 of the trails. The mostly flat area is also a great outdoor space to visit with children.

The Capital Greenbelt is bursting with greenspace. A visit to the area wouldn’t be complete without a stop at the Pine Grove, the largest forest in the Greenbelt. Located in the south end of Ottawa, this destination contains a mixture of tree plantations and natural forests.

The Pine Grove has 11 miles of trails to explore, offering outdoor fun and activities year round. Visitors can hike, snowshoe, or go cross-country skiing on one of the many nature trails. If you are visiting in winter, the Conroy Pit Toboggan Hill is a popular place to go sledding for the young and young at heart.

At the Bonnechere Caves, visitors can see what life looked like millions of years ago. The ancient limestone caves are full of fossils, including fossilised coral and ancient sea creatures embedded in the walls surrounding the caves. Scientists believe the cave formed 400 to 500 million years ago. It’s what’s called a “solution cave,” because it formed from acidic water dissolving the rock.

The family-run operation that manages the cave site offers daily, hour-long tours of the narrow, underground passages. If you go, make sure to bring a jumper or light jacket, as the temperature in the caves is consistently a chilly 50°F.

At one point in history, the Champlain Sea covered what is today’s Ottawa. When glaciers last retreated, the area drained and wind and water carried glacial sand to create what is known today as the Pinhey Sand Dunes. The dunes are located at the edge of Pinhey Forest and have lots of easy hikes.

This unique ecosystem of fine white sand dunes was formed at the end of the last ice age. It’s part of the Capital Greenbelt, so it is a protected open space. It’s a hidden gem that doesn’t see the crowds other spots might see. Visitors can go hiking, birding, or cross-country skiing in the colder months.

If you are skipping the huge crowds at Niagara, but still want to see a waterfall, the Princess Louise Falls in the Orleans section of Ontario might be the spot for you. It feels like a hidden waterfall and creek, but it’s actually just a few steps away from the road. The spot is popular with locals and visitors alike.

Locals say the best time to visit is in spring when the snow is melting and the falls are fully flowing. The flow decreases throughout the summer months. Being at the falls might feel like you’ve hiked into a deep forest, when in reality, you’re still in the city.

For the adventurous traveller, Morrison’s Quarry should be on the list of places to visit in Ottawa. The quarry once mined a mineral called brucite. These days, visitors can go scuba diving in the turquoise waters of the former active quarry. Its deepest spot is 140 feet deep. Underwater adventurers might even visit the eerie remnants of a submerged aeroplane.

If you are looking for an adrenaline rush, then flying above the turquoise waters might be the better option for you. The Great Canadian Bungee offers bungee jumping at the quarry for adventure seekers.

If you are looking for a unique outdoor adventure in Ottawa, then Lusk Cave might be for you. The historic marble caves were formed during the last ice age, about 11,000 years ago, when glaciers melted and forced water into cracks, eroding the marble and forming the caves.

Lusk Cave is not open year round, for visitor safety. Lusk Creek flows through the cave and you will literally be walking through the creek on your visit, so prepare to get wet. The water levels are safe spring through fall.

Don’t be fooled by the name Pink Lake; the waters are in fact a deep green colour. The name Pink Lake came from the “Pink” family, who settled in the area in the 1800s. The deep green colour of the water is because Pink Lake is a meromictic lake or a lake where the upper and lower layers of water never mix. Most lakes mix their waters twice a year. But the lack of mixing leads to the growth of microscopic algae, hence the deep green-colored water.

Visitors to this natural wonder can hike a loop trail around the perimeter of the lake or visit the lookout to get great views and learn about the lake’s ecology and history.

The Ottawa River flows through Ontario and Quebec. Located about an hour’s drive from Ottawa is some of the best whitewater rafting in Canada. Whitewater rafting is seasonal and flow often depends on snow melt; the Ottawa River flows from May to September.

Once a major trade route, the river has strong rapids through the spring and summer months, providing rafters with class II to V rapids. Tour operators in the region offer a range of whitewater rafting trips, from heart-pounding adventures to gentle family floats.