The Ottawa Outdoor Club offers a range of activities throughout the year:
A detailed schedule of activities is available.
It's easy to join us for an outing. Check the schedule for the meeting time and location and fees. If necessary (rarely), RSVP to the leader beforehand. Show up at the meeting time and location. Bring along liquid, snacks, and a meal, such as a bag lunch. Wear clothing appropriate to the outing and conditions. Bring money for possible non-member activity fees, rental fees, and carpooling.
Historically, for different types of outings, people would generally meet at consistent locations and at consistent times where, for many of the types of outings, we would then organize carpooling. Due to the pandemic, we no longer organize carpooling and thus we meet at the starting location for the outing. For our urban walks, since they are in Ottawa, we leave directly from the meeting location, which is generally consistent. Always check the schedule for specific outings, because occasionally meeting times and locations may vary.
Most daytime activities finish between 3:00 PM and 5:30 PM, depending on the distance to be covered, the type of activity, and the driving time to the starting point. Canoeing activities usually finish a little later, sometimes by 7:00 PM or later. Please check with the leader for the finishing time for a specific trip; it will always be an estimate. If you and a friend are in different activities, assume that they will complete at different times.
Lyme disease is present in ticks in the Ottawa and Outaouais regions. We strongly urge you to read these guidelines from Ottawa, Ontario, Quebec, and My Lyme (Canadian info). In particular, review the material regarding clothing to wear, insect repellant to use, how to detect and remove ticks, and symptoms of infection.
Coordinator: Alex Neumann, cycle(at)ottawaoutdoorclub.ca
During the spring, summer, and fall, bicycle trips are planned for many Saturdays, leaving in the morning and returning mid- to late afternoon. Several out-of-town weekend trips are usually planned. Use of a helmet is mandatory when bicycling with us. Also, we strongly encourage you to carry a spare bicycle tube and repair kit.
Coordinator: Robert Bultitude, canoe(at)ottawaoutdoorclub.ca
During the late spring and summer, we try to schedule two canoe trips per week: one weekday evening and one day on the weekend, usually Saturday. Daytime and evening trip destinations are many times in Gatineau Park or on the Gatineau River or the various Ottawa waterways. We are generally back at the Community Centre by about 7:00 PM for day trips and around 11:00 PM for our evening paddles.
Coordinator: Alex Neumann, snowshoe(at)ottawaoutdoorclub.ca
During the winter months, we meet on Sunday mornings for snowshoeing. Many outings are in Gatineau Park, with others in various locations around the Ottawa-Gatineau region. In addition, several out-of-town weekend trips are scheduled that include one or more of snowshoeing, cross-country skiing, and/or downhill skiing.
Co-coordinators: Robert Bultitude and Aida Hidic, hike(at)ottawaoutdoorclub.ca
From March or April to November or December, we plan to meet every Sunday morning. Most hikes are in Gatineau Park. During warmer weather, many times we plan a stop for a swim. We strongly recommend wearing hiking boots, hiking shoes, or running shoes.
Coordinator: Robert Bultitude, ski(at)ottawaoutdoorclub.ca
With snow on the ground, we generally meet on Saturday mornings for skiing. With the region's superb set of cross-country ski trails, most of the skiing that we do is cross-country, with some downhill skiing. Cross-country ski destinations are usually in Gatineau Park, the NCC Greenbelt, and other trails in the Ottawa area, such as the Sir John A. Macdonald (SJAM) trail along the Ottawa River.
Contact: walk(at)ottawaoutdoorclub.ca
For casual hikers, this Level 0.5 walk is a great way to stretch your legs for 1 - 1½ hours each week for evening walks and usually a little longer for daytime walks. These get-togethers provide a friendly way to meet Club members in an informal setting. Our destination may include the Arboretum or Hogs Back Falls or other Ottawa landmark—the destination varies with whimsy and the weather—but we always wind up at a pub or eatery by the end of the evening for a late dinner and some friendly conversation (COVID-19 restriction).
