Ottawa River Pathway: Petawawa to Pembroke

The Ottawa River Pathway connects Petawawa and Pembroke along one of Ontario's great rivers, offering a ride that feels distinctly different from the southern Ontario trail experience. This is the Ottawa Valley: big water, sandy soil, pine forests, and a pace of life that moves slower than the river current. The path runs roughly 20 kilometres between the two towns, mixing paved sections in the urban areas with gravel and packed earth through the riverside stretches. It is not a polished multi-use trail like you would find in the GTA. It is better than that.

The Route

Starting from Petawawa, the path picks up near the town's waterfront park area along the Ottawa River. Petawawa sits where the Petawawa River meets the Ottawa, and the geography creates a flat, sandy landscape that makes for easy riding. The first several kilometres follow the river through a mix of parkland and residential areas on paved surface. You will pass beaches, picnic areas, and spots where the river widens enough to feel like a small lake.

As you leave Petawawa heading east toward Pembroke, the surface transitions to packed gravel. The trail follows the river corridor, sometimes directly along the bank, sometimes set back through stands of white pine and red oak. The Ottawa River is wide here, close to a kilometre across in places, and you can see Quebec on the far shore. On calm days the water is glassy and the reflections of the forested hills on the Quebec side are striking.

The terrain is flat. The Ottawa Valley was once the bed of a post-glacial lake, and the sandy, level ground it left behind is ideal for cycling. There are no significant hills on this route. The only challenge is the occasional sandy patch on the gravel sections, which can slow you down if your tires are narrow.

Pembroke, at the eastern end, is the larger of the two towns and serves as the commercial centre of the upper Ottawa Valley. The waterfront area has been redeveloped in recent years with a riverwalk, public art, and a marina. The trail connects to the town's local path network, so you can ride around Pembroke's waterfront before heading back or calling it a day.

The Beaches

One of the things that sets this route apart is the beaches. The Ottawa River has sandy shores in this section, and several of the beaches along the pathway are accessible directly from the trail. Petawawa Beach is the most developed, with lifeguards in summer and proper facilities. But there are quieter stretches of sand along the route where you can pull off the trail, lean your bike against a tree, and wade into the river.

The water is clean and warm enough for swimming from late June through August. If you are riding with kids, building in a beach stop makes the ride feel more like a summer outing than a training exercise. Bring a towel and a lock for your bike.

Bike Choice and Conditions

A hybrid bike is the ideal choice for this route. The paved sections are smooth, and the gravel sections are manageable on tires of 35mm or wider. Gravel bikes handle everything well. Mountain bikes work but are more than you need. Road bikes will be fine on the paved sections but may struggle on sandy gravel stretches.

The sandy soil in the Ottawa Valley means the gravel sections drain quickly after rain, which is a real advantage. While trails in clay-soil regions can be muddy for days, this pathway is often rideable within hours of a rainstorm. The flip side is that dry conditions can make the surface loose and sandy in spots, particularly in mid-summer.

The Ottawa Valley Context

Riding between Petawawa and Pembroke gives you a taste of what the Ottawa Valley has to offer as a cycling region. The valley is not well-known among Ontario cyclists, which is a shame, because the combination of flat terrain, low traffic, big scenery, and affordable small towns makes it a strong destination for a weekend or longer.

From Petawawa, you can explore west toward Algonquin Park on county roads. Highway 17 runs through the area but is not cyclist-friendly. The parallel county roads, however, are often quiet and well-surfaced. From Pembroke, the roads heading south toward Renfrew and the Bonnechere Valley offer rolling farmland rides with views back toward the river.

The valley also has a growing network of trails. The Algonquin Trail, a long-distance rail trail project, will eventually connect several communities across the region. Sections are already open and rideable, though the full route is still in development.

Petawawa and Pembroke as Cycling Towns

Petawawa is a military town, home to Canadian Forces Base Petawawa. That gives it a younger, more active population than many small Ontario towns, and the demand for outdoor recreation has driven investment in trails and parks. The town's cycling infrastructure is modest but growing, and the waterfront area is well-maintained.

Pembroke has more of a traditional small-city feel, with a walkable downtown, several restaurants, and accommodation options ranging from motels to bed-and-breakfasts. If you are making a weekend of it, Pembroke is the better base for lodging and dining, while Petawawa has the better beach access.

Practical Details

Petawawa is roughly four hours west of Ottawa on Highway 17, or about five hours north of Toronto. Pembroke is 20 minutes further east. Both towns have free parking at their respective waterfront trailheads.

Washrooms are available at the main parks in both towns. Along the trail itself, facilities are limited, so plan accordingly. Bring water, especially on hot days; there are no fountains on the gravel sections.

Bike shops are limited in this area. Pembroke has a couple of options for basic supplies and repairs. If you are travelling from out of the region, make sure your bike is in good shape before you arrive.

The trail is rideable from May through October. Summer is the prime season, with warm weather ideal for combining riding with swimming. Fall brings spectacular colour to the river valley, with the maples and oaks along the trail putting on a show from late September through mid-October.

For more information on trails in the region, the Ontario cycling resources page has provincial trail information. The best waterfront cycling guide includes the Ottawa River Pathway alongside other top lakeside and riverside rides in Ontario.