There is a river that has followed us everywhere we have lived. Before we had a shop, before we had kayaks, before any of this existed, Scott and I found ourselves drawn to the water. Since 2015, every apartment, every condo, every home we have shared has looked out over the Ottawa River. It was never a coincidence. It was where we always wanted to be.

I have watched this river in every season. I have seen it glassy and golden at sunrise, churned up and grey under October skies, locked under a thick sheet of ice in February. I have paddled it on perfect summer evenings when the Quebec hills glow across the water, and on windy afternoons when I had no business being out there at all. It has been the backdrop of our relationship, the view from our living room windows, the reason we chose Arnprior when it came time to put down roots. To say the Ottawa River holds a special place in our hearts is a bit of an understatement.

This blog is our love letter to it. We want to share the history that runs as deep as the river itself, the towns that have grown along its banks, and the spots that have meant the most to us. We will take you from the dramatic hills of Mattawa all the way to the flatwater near Hawkesbury, town by town, with launch points, local highlights, and a few personal notes along the way.

A River Built on History

Long before any of the towns we are about to visit existed, the Ottawa River was one of the great highways of North America. The Algonquin people, who called it Kichi Sipi, meaning "the Great River," travelled its length for thousands of years, hunting, fishing, trading, and living along its shores. From a strategic base on Allumette Island, one group, the Kichisipirini, held such command of the river that they charged other nations tolls for passage. The river belonged to them, and they knew it intimately.

The first Europeans to travel the upper Ottawa included the coureur de bois Etienne Brule, around 1610, followed by Samuel de Champlain in 1615, who paddled west in search of the interior. For the next two centuries, the Ottawa was the primary route for the fur trade, carrying voyageurs in great birchbark canoes laden with beaver pelts from the western interior back to Montreal. Where the Mattawa River meets the Ottawa, they turned west toward Lake Nipissing and the French River, following a water highway that stitched together a continent.

By the 19th century, logs had replaced furs. The Ottawa River became the spine of a booming timber industry, with vast log booms floating downstream to the sawmills of Bytown (now Ottawa) and beyond. The towns that grew up along its banks, Mattawa, Deep River, Petawawa, Pembroke, Arnprior, were all shaped by that industry. The river made them.

Today, the dams that tamed the river's wildest sections have quieted much of what was once a churning series of rapids and falls. But the Ottawa is still a force of nature. Still wide, still powerful, still capable of commanding your full attention the moment you put a paddle in the water.

Mattawa: The Meeting of the Waters

Mattawa sits at the confluence of the Mattawa and Ottawa Rivers, and its very name tells the story: in Algonquin, it means "meeting of waterways." This is where the great canoe route to the west turned, where voyageurs trading in from the east made their pivot toward Lake Nipissing and the interior. It is one of the most historically significant river junctions in Canada, and standing at the water's edge here, you feel it.

The Mattawa River, which flows into the Ottawa here, is a designated Canadian Heritage River, and for good reason. It follows a 600 million-year-old geological fault line through the Canadian Shield, and paddlers today use the same portages that haven't changed in over 300 years. At Paresseux Falls, you can see the remnants of an old timber chute, and at Portage de Talon, glacial potholes left behind by a post-glacial spillway that once drained the Great Lakes into the Ottawa are still visible.

A 16-foot wooden statue of Big Joe Mufferaw, folk hero of the Ottawa Valley, stands tall at Explorer's Point in Mattawa, joined by a cast of other historical figures scattered around the waterfront. If you are stopping in Mattawa, this is worth a wander.

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Deep River: Big Views and White Sandy Beaches

Deep River is one of those towns that surprises you. Tucked along the Ottawa River with the Laurentian Mountains rising dramatically across the water on the Quebec side, it is one of the most breathtaking backdrops I have seen while paddling in Ontario. The bay between Lamure Beach and the marina is pure magic, dotted with sailboats and houseboats, surrounded by sandy beaches and forested trails. The sunsets here will stop you in your tracks.

Mount Martin towers in the distance, and the surrounding area is rich in wildlife, beaver ponds, and a mix of deciduous and coniferous forests. If you have a capable touring kayak and want to stretch your arms, crossing over to the Quebec shore rewards you with kilometre after kilometre of white sandy beaches that feel almost untouched.

Have a little time to spare after your paddle? Deep River has some lovely spots worth visiting: rECo Refillery, re.Planted Farm and Florals, and Sweetened By Shelly are three of my personal favourites in town.

From Deep River, one of the most iconic paddles on the Ottawa River becomes accessible: Oiseau Rock. Towering 150 metres high above the Quebec shoreline, across from Chalk River, Oiseau Rock (Migizi Kiishkaabikaan) is a sacred Algonquin site adorned with ancient pictographs. It is approximately 13 kilometres from Lamure Beach in Deep River. Paddling beneath this cliff is a reverent, humbling experience.

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Petawawa: Hidden Gem on the Ontario Shore

Known for its sandy shoreline, quiet coves, and easy river access, Petawawa is a hidden gem for paddlers. The town sits at the confluence of the Petawawa and Ottawa Rivers, and the paddling here is diverse enough to keep you busy for a full day or more.

Petawawa has a long military history, home to Canadian Forces Base Petawawa, one of the oldest and largest military bases in Canada, established in 1905. Canada's first forestry research station was also established near Petawawa in 1918, to study the effects of logging, disease, and fire on the forests that the Ottawa River had helped strip over the previous century.

If you are up for an adventure from Petawawa Point, paddle all the way to Fort William, about 5.5 kilometres across to the Quebec side. Also known as Hotel Pontiac, this historic resort started as a Hudson's Bay Company fur trading post in 1823. It is now a local gem with a laid-back tavern and patio you can beach right at. Completely worth the paddle.

Just upstream of Petawawa, watch for Ile Morrison, which has rapids on either side. Steer well clear of the island and keep to the west side of Cotnom Island for safer passage. From there, paddling downstream into Hazley Bay, a serene, cottage-lined inlet about 7 kilometres from Waterfront Park, is one of our favourite outings in the area.

Pembroke: Heart of the Ottawa Valley

Pembroke calls itself "the heart of the Ottawa Valley," and it earns the title. Established as the county government seat in 1858, it was a bustling timber town in the early 20th century, with massive log booms floating downstream from the upper river toward the local sawmills. Today, its historic downtown is home to one of Canada's largest outdoor art galleries, with 32 full-scale murals depicting the history of the area. It is also famously known as Hockeytown Canada.

The waterfront in Pembroke was beautifully redeveloped as part of the city's Millennium Project, with a new bandstand, amphitheatre, and boardwalk offering an idyllic setting overlooking the Ottawa River. Summer evenings here, with Waterfront Live presenting free performances by local musicians, are genuinely special.

Paddling from the marina, head upstream along the many bays and coves. If you make it past the Pembroke Golf Club, you will come across a cluster of small islands scattered around a point just before MacGregor Bay, a really cool spot to paddle through, but watch your depth around the islands.

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Braeside: A Quiet Sunset Paddle

Braeside sits just upstream of Arnprior, and it is one of those spots that only the locals really know about. There is a dock and a boat launch here for easy launching, but it is a quiet place. This is a wide and open section of the Ottawa River without a ton of small bays or inlets to explore, but it is an absolutely beautiful spot for sunsets. On a calm evening, watching the sun drop below the horizon from the water here is genuinely breathtaking.

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Arnprior: Where the Rivers Meet (and My Heart Lives)

I am not going to pretend to be impartial here. Arnprior is home, and the Ottawa River as it runs through and around this town is my favourite stretch of water in the world. Situated at the confluence of the Ottawa, Madawaska, and Mississippi Rivers (with the Mississippi joining the Ottawa just a few kilometres downstream), Arnprior lives up to its motto: "Where the Rivers Meet." Every paddle I have done from here has given me something: a heron standing still as a statue, a beaver slapping its tail at dusk, a muskie rolling in the shallows, or just the particular quiet of being on the water in a place you love.

For a full guide to launching, paddling, eating, and exploring in Arnprior, I have written a dedicated blog for Ottawa Valley Tourism that covers it all in detail. Read it here: Launch and Lunch in Arnprior.

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Constance Bay: Sheltered and Serene

West of Ottawa and east of Arnprior, Constance Bay is a lovely day-trip option that often gets overlooked. This friendly riverside community features a wide, sandy beach that is perfect for swimming and launching. Once on the water, head west and stay close to the shoreline as you enter Buckham's Bay, a sheltered area dotted with waterfront homes and cottages. The water here is typically calm and easy to paddle, making it one of the more relaxed stretches of the Ottawa for paddlers of all skill levels.

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Ottawa: Paddling the Capital

Paddling through downtown Ottawa is one of those experiences that is hard to describe to someone who hasn't done it. You are on the water, looking up at the Parliament Buildings, gliding past the Rideau Canal Locks and the historic Earnscliffe Estate, watching osprey circle above the same river that explorers, voyageurs, and lumber barons once depended on entirely. The Ottawa River here is wide, historic, and surprisingly accessible.

Launching from the Ottawa side

The base of the Rideau Canal Locks (Locks 1 to 8) is one of the most iconic launch spots in the city. Tour boats depart from the long stretch of docking here, and paddlers can launch from this same area. Be prepared to carry your kayak or paddleboard down a lot of stairs.

Prefer to skip the stairs? Head across to Port de plaisance Jacques-Cartier (Marina de Hull) on the Gatineau side, which offers a gentle, accessible boat launch and free parking. From there you can easily explore both shorelines.

Heading east: a historic shoreline paddle

Paddling east from the locks, you will pass under the Alexandra Bridge and glide by the Ottawa Rowing Club, Earnscliffe National Historic Site, Rideau Falls, and the Prime Minister's Official Residence at 24 Sussex Drive. This is both historic and genuinely serene, a remarkable way to see the capital.

Two side routes worth exploring in this area are Decharge du Lac Leamy, a quiet canal that winds past some intriguing ruins and leads to Lac Leamy itself, and Ruisseau de la Brasserie, a narrow creek connecting the Ottawa River to the far side of Lac Leamy through Parc Desjardins and under five separate bridges. Both are a wonderful change of pace from the main river.

Petrie Island: the east end gem

Located in Ottawa's east end, Petrie Island is ideal for beginner paddlers and one of our favourite spots near the city. A wide sandy beach with multiple launch options, calm inlets and winding canals to the west, abundant wildlife, and sunsets that are genuinely unforgettable. Parking is currently free while the town installs pay machines, so enjoy it while it lasts. From the main Ottawa River here, you can paddle east for as far as your stamina allows, all the way to Hawkesbury if you are ambitious.

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Clarence-Rockland and Hawkesbury: The Eastern Stretch

Honest truth: the eastern section of the Ottawa River between Ottawa and Hawkesbury is on my list to explore more thoroughly. I know the western valley well, but I have spent far less time on the water east of the capital. What I can tell you is that this stretch of river is wider, calmer, and flanked by farmland and mixed hardwood forest as the Ottawa winds toward the St. Lawrence.

In Clarence-Rockland, Parc du Reveil is reported to be a lovely accessible launch point on the Ottawa River with ample parking and beautiful views. Du Moulin Park nearby offers roughly 3 kilometres of scenic riverside walking trails as well. Hamilton Island near Hawkesbury is a favourite of local paddlers, with a straightforward tour around the island and good access from the Hawkesbury waterfront.

These towns are on my paddle bucket list, and I look forward to sharing more once I have done the river justice from the water. Watch this space.

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What to Paddle and What to Bring

The Ottawa River is not one paddle. It is dozens of paddles, each one different depending on where you are on the river, what the wind is doing, and what kind of boat you are in. For the calm, protected sections near Constance Bay, Braeside, and around the Ottawa city shoreline, most kayaks and paddleboards will serve you well. For the wider, more exposed sections near Deep River and Petawawa, a longer, more capable touring kayak is strongly recommended.

At OVAP, we carry a full range of hardshell sea kayaks and touring kayaks purpose-built for paddling big water like the Ottawa. Here are some of our favourites for this river specifically.

Not ready for a hardshell, or need something you can pack into your car without a roof rack? We also carry folding and nesting kayaks that are genuinely capable on big water like the Ottawa.

With love from the Valley,
Lana

Ottawa Valley Air Paddle is located at 67 Madawaska Street, Arnprior, Ontario. We are your Ottawa Valley home for kayaks, paddleboards, and winter gear. Visit us in-store or at ovap.ca. Demo centre open Thursday through Sunday at McLean Park on the Ottawa River in Arnprior, try before you buy.