Cycling.
The Capital Pathway is a 236 km multi-use paved pathway network managed by the federal National Capital Commission, with the Ottawa River shoreline, the Rideau River, the Rideau Canal, and the Greenbelt all interconnected. From downtown, the Sir John A.
Macdonald Parkway / Kichi Zībī Mīkan pathway runs west along the river; out at the city edge, Greenbelt Pathway West and Watts Creek Pathway carry into the Greenbelt loops.
The brief.
Capital Pathway segments are paved, signed, and maintained by the NCC for shared cycling, in-line skating, and pedestrian use. The Sir John A.
Macdonald Parkway pathway is the headline river-shoreline ride west of downtown. Greenbelt Pathway West (10.4 km) and Watts Creek Pathway (9.3 km — part of the Great Trail) move riders from the river into the Greenbelt, where the Greenbelt cycling page describes additional paved and unpaved loops.
The pathway is interprovincial in design — segments connect via NCC-managed bridges across the Ottawa River to the Quebec side — but the Ontario portion alone is a substantial day-ride network. Treat the pathway as urban-and-suburban day rides; multi-day cycle-tour product (Route Verte, Kettle Valley) is a different category.
4. places.
- 01
Capital Pathway
236 km NCC-rehabilitated pathway across the National Capital Region; rail-trail and road-style segments along the Ottawa River, the Rideau River, and the Rideau Canal.
- 02
Sir John A. Macdonald Parkway / Kichi Zībī Mīkan pathway
Ottawa River shoreline pathway running west from downtown.
- 03
Greenbelt Pathway West (10.4 km) and Watts Creek Pathway (9.3 km)
Multi-use NCC pathways into the Greenbelt; Watts Creek is part of the Great Trail.
- 04
Cycling in the Greenbelt
Paved and unpaved Greenbelt loops described on the NCC's Greenbelt cycling page.
Today's read.
Cool but comfortable for layered effort · light winds · clean air.