Ottawa Rideau Trail Club
613-860-2225
Group Outings
The RTA’s Ottawa Club Outings are held on the Rideau Trail or at some of the many scenic places around the Ottawa-Gatineau region, including Gatineau Park. These outings are generally held on Saturdays or Sundays, Tuesdays, and Wednesdays. On some weekends, multiple activities take place. Leaders can run their offerings any day of the week, so members should watch for these events on the Activities Calendar and in the Ottawa weekly E-Notices. Please note that you need to be a paying member to access the Activities Calendar or receive our weekly E-Notices.
Tuesday Trails
Every Tuesday, all year, the Ottawa Tuesday Trailers meet to hike mostly in Gatineau Park. Regular impromptu level 2 hikes, always on trail (sometimes rugged) with some up and down, moderate pace, 8 – 10 kms, usually with a lunch stop. As these are impromptu, hikers are encouraged to show up with ideas for possible routes. Winter hikes may require snowshoes or crampons. Meet at 9:50 a.m. for 10 a.m. departure. The meeting place for this group is the parking lot on the east side of Bate Island in Spring, Summer and Fall and at the NCC parking lot at the South East end of the Champlain bridge in the Winter. If you’re unsure of the current meeting place then check your E-Notice or email us at info@rideautrail.org.
Wednesday Walkers (Hiking & skiing in Gatineau Park)
Every Wednesday all year, the Ottawa Wednesday Walkers meet to hike mostly in Gatineau Park. These are all day hikes (generally 4-5 hours) so participants should pack a lunch. Hikes are generally level 2 or 3 and are offered by individual leaders at the meeting place.
During the winter, hikes become snowshoe and back-country skiing or cross-country skiing activities. Meet at 9:15 a.m. for a 9:30 a.m. departure. The meeting place for this group is the parking lot on the east side of Bate Island in Spring, Summer and Fall and at the NCC parking lot at the South East end of the Champlain bridge in the Winter. If you’re unsure of the current meeting place, check your E-Notice or email us at info@rideautrail.org.
Wednesday Walkers (Hiking & skiing in Gatineau Park)
Every Wednesday all year, the Ottawa Wednesday Walkers meet to hike mostly in Gatineau Park. These are all day hikes (generally 4-5 hours) so participants should pack a lunch. Hikes are are generally level 2 or 3 and are organized on at the meeting place where leaders each have a chance to propose hikes.
During the winter, hikes become snowshoe and back-country skiing or cross-country skiing activities. Meet at 9:15 am for a 9:30 am departure. The meeting place for this group is the parking lot on the east side of Bate Island in Spring, Summer and Fall and at the NCC parking lot at the South East end of the Champlain bridge in the Winter. If you’re unsure of the current meeting place then check your E-Letter or email us at info@rideautrail.org.
Thursday-Morning Hikes (Gatineau Park)
In the spring and fall there are Thursday morning hikes. These hikes last about 2 hours. They alternate between level 1 hikes mostly in the Ottawa area and level 2 hikes in the Gatineau. They are always close enough to Ottawa that the hiker will be home for lunch. For details of when and where, members should watch the weekly E-Notice. Bring a snack and water. You will be home for lunch.
Saturday Skiers
As soon as skiing starts, the Saturday Skiers get together each week to enjoy the cross-country trails in Gatineau Park (Level 2 or 3). If there’s snow, we go. Bring lunch and meet for a prompt 9:30 a.m. departure from Tunney’s Pasture
Seasonal Outings
Seasonal outings are described in the quarterly newsletter and the Activities Calendar. Further details are available by telephoning the Ottawa Club’s 24-hour Infoline at (613) 860-2225 or by emailing us at info@rideautrail.org. RTA members should consult the newsletter and contact the hike leader directly.
Meeting Locations
Unless otherwise specified, outings depart from one of the three following locations. Please consult each listing for more detail.
Tunney’s Pasture
Government of Canada parking lot on the west side of Parkdale Avenue, across from Emmerson Street.
Fallowfield Park & Ride
Northwest parking lot at the OC Transpo Fallowfield Park & Ride station located on the south west corner of Fallowfield at Woodroffe. If you travel by car, take the first left after you enter the Park & Ride facility then turn right into the lot. The meeting place is across the parking lot to the far side.
Bate Island
In Spring, Summer and Fall, meet on the east side of Bate Island. In the winter, meet in the NCC parking lot at the south east end of Champlain bridge.
NCC Parking Lot
Located at the south east end of Champlain Bridge. Used primarily by the Wednesday Walkers in the winter when Bate Island is closed.
Outing Preparation
It’s important to arrive properly prepared for the outing, so please contact the leader if you have any questions. Descriptions of the levels of difficulty are available on our Trail Behaviour page.
Become a member
If these Group Outings interest you, you may wish to become a member of the Rideau Trail Association. As a member, you will receive a quarterly newsletter, access to the Activities Calendar and a weekly E-Notices containing a list of all the hikes and planned social activities, access to outdoor activities organized by experiences leaders, store discounts and group rates at some parks, and more more.