Local Put-ins

This page has some information about local paddling resources, put-ins, etc. Many thanks to members for providing directions and comments.

I had hoped to put in online maps to the put-ins, but there are copyright issues with using maps generated by popular resources on the web.

Put-in
Directions and Commentary
Ottawa-East
1 North end of Blair Rd. Go down the big hill going towards the river. Then turn left at the stop sign. This leads to the put in and there is a nice big parking lot that's free.
2 Picnic area on Highway 174 About 2 km west before arriving at the village of Cumberland. Ample parking.
3 The Petrie Islands Take the Queensway east to Hwy 17, turn left at the Trim Road lights and drive north to the Island (yes there's a road onto the island).

More information about the Petrie Islands can be found here.

Ottawa-Central
4 Dow's Lake Close to downtown, near Preston and Carling Ave. There is a pay-parking lot across from the pavillion.
Since this is part of the Rideau Canal sytem, you can expect some larger boat traffic. Canoe rentals are also available here.

There is also free parking weekends and evenings off Rochester street at the Accellio (Jetform) building. It is right across the street from the Pavilion. It is free after 5pm and weekends except during festivals.
5 Hog's Back Locks Parking lots on north-east corner beside Colonel By. Or at the old marina on Mooney's bay, south east of the locks.
6 Westboro Beach To get here, take the Ottawa River Parkway and exit at the Kitchisiping Lookout.

There are some stairs and then a three-foot drop before you reach the water. There is parking lot off the east-bound lane of the parkway.
After which you can bring your kayak through the underpass to the water.
Ottawa-West
7 Almonte boat launch About a 45 min. drive from Ottawa - in small conservation park just on side of main highway through Almonte (#49). Location is just past the bridge in middle of town, just below falls and mill. This is clearly visible from the highway. Flowing downstream there are a few easy rapids which can be run if you're game, or walked through. One major waterfall to portage at about 8 km. on way to Pakenham.
8 Pakenham launch #1 About 45 min. from Ottawa - Take #17 to Pakenham turn-off (#20), cross over bridge in Pakenham, parking lot is below falls in waterfront park, on side of main highway (#29). This paddle downstream leads you through farm land enroute to Ottawa River, flat water as far as last explored by a member.
9 Pakenham launch #2 Located above the falls, on a side-street on outskirts of Pakenham, can't remember street name, but just try to hug the river till you find little park and sandy beach. Here, paddle upstream (leisurely current) back towards Almonte, beautiful paddle, lovely falls after about 8 km. where you can picnic on rocks).
10 Appleton In little town on Mississippi just north of Carleton Place. Launch is right off highway #11 (small parking lot and beach area), just below the falls and old mill. Only member explored downstream towards Almonte.
11 Shirley's Bay Launch
(NCC)		 Follow Carling Ave. West until you reach Rifle Rd. If you pass the CRC facility and go under a train bridge you've gone too far. Make a right onto Range Rd. and follow until the end.

Note, this is a rock based shore on the Ottawa side of Lac Deschenes. Caution should be exercised as this is also a launching area for motor boats.
12 Britannia Beach At the intersection of Pinecrest Rd. and Carling Ave.
Go north onto Greenview and follow into the parking areas for Britannia Beach.

There is a sandy beach, on the west-most side of the beach there is a small sand-bottomed launch area.

This is a popular area with the windsurfers. One thing to note is that you are about a five-minute paddle from the rapids.

There's also a concrete launch at the end of Rowatt. But, it's about a 2'-3' drop from the top of the launch to the water.

Outaouais/Gatineau
13 Lac Meech Launch Following Meech Lake Rd, go until you reach P12. Across the from the parking lot is the launch. Expect to pay $7-$10 for parking.

Like at Lac Phillipe, there's a carved channel in some granite that can serve as a kayak parking spot.
14 Lac Phillipe Follow highway 105 north until you reach highway 366.
Turn left and follow until you reach the park entrance. There is a $7-$10 entrance fee to the park. Go to Parent Beach to launch.

There's a really nice spot across from one of the beaches that's just "made" for docking kayaks and having lunch.
15 Lac La Peche Take the highway 5 until the junction to the 105. Once passed the junction to Wakefield (don't turn), you'll take the 366 (turn left), as if going to Lac Philippe. Barely passed the small community you will see Eardley Rd. on the left and continue on this road for about 5 minutes and you will see the entrance (signed) to Gatineau Park and Lac Lapeche on the right. Stay on this dirt road for about 15 minutes, pass the park's lodge and location and it will lead you directly to the put in, beach and parking.

Alternatively, you could take highway 148 to Eardley Rd. and pick up the directions as noted above.
16 A park in Cantley
(Gatineau River)		 There's a municipal park in Cantley. I don't know where, but apparently you can put-in there fairly easily. Anyone have more information?
17 Lake Leamy
Gatineau		 From Lake Leamy one can access the Gatineau and Ottawa Rivers, free parking.
18 Gatineau & Ottawa river junction Go east on 148 through Lac Leamy Park, turn right immediately after crossing the bridge onto Jacques Cartier St. About 1-2km along, after passing many restaurants you will find a parking lot on the left side. You can carry your boat over the road and launch into the Ottawa river. From here you can explore the Gatineau River, Ottawa River, Kettle island, maybe even Lac Leamy.

Afterward choose from the restaurants alongside the water.
19 Gatineau marina This is located on the north shore of the Ottawa River, facing Kettle Island. To get there one crosses the Cartier-MacDonald bridge and takes highway 50 to the Boulevard Labrosse exit; one exiting at Boulevard Labrosse, one turns right and stays on that street until it ends at the Gatineau marina. From the bridge, it takes about 15 minutes.
20 Aylmer boat launch Can someone provide a commentary and directions?
Ottawa-South
21 Rideau River Launch Near the intersection of Prince of Wales Dr. and Merivale Rd.

Can be shallow. The launch area is grassy and subject to being very muddy.
22 Jock River launch at Jock River Park- very close to Ottawa, just off 416. Exit onto Fallowfield Rd. west, take Steeplechase Drive south (between Moodie and Richmond) for about 1 km. watch for park sign and entrance (poorly signed) on left side of road. Launch is from a small dock.
23 Blacks rapids
Ottawa river		 Take highway 16 south, about 1-2 km south of Hunt club turn left to enter the parking lot by the locks. Note that you must pay a small fee to park here. You can then go either up or down river from here.