Islands of Ottawa

Chaudière Island and Victoria Island are two of the more well-known islands on the Ottawa River. They are undergoing heavy construction in 2020 so they don’t make the best picnic destinations. Fortunately, locations such as Bate Island, Lemieux Island, and Petrie Island are all great green locations.

Located on a thoroughfare between Gatineau and Ottawa, Bate Island is the easiest to access.You can drive around the island on its small figure-eight loop but pay attention to the 2.5m height restriction when crossing under the bridge. The Remic Rapids around the island is the only unmolested natural rapid in the Ottawa River and an important natural conservation site.

Lemieux Island is home to a water purification plant and a dog park. The stone bridge leading to the island is very narrow so pay attention especially when water plant trucks are passing through. Dogs on the island love to run up and down its little hill and wade in the water when it isn’t frozen. Its only connection to the Quebec side of the river is via a decommissioned railway bridge, do not use it.

While the rocky and shallow nature of the Ottawa River deters commercial traffic through its waters, being completely frozen over in winter won’t help marine traffic either. Stuemer Park on Petrie Island is a beach on two sides with what looks to be waves frozen in time on the shores.

The effect is cause by the rapid freezing of successive waves crashing onto the ice leading to the ripple effect of rows of denser ice. It’s so solid that you can walk right out to the middle of the river and fish in it if you wanted to, and people do just that.