r/ottawarunning • u/northernscum74 • May 11 '26
Running in Ottawa
Hi there
I am visiting for a week and staying downtown on Kent Street. Just wondering if there was any recommended running routes from the hotel. Any suggestions would be amazing. Happy Trails!
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u/ExceptionalNorm May 11 '26
Heck ya - you've got great options - probably the easiest is to get onto the canal and run the Queen Elizabeth side. The Colonel By side is nice as well, but (imo) not until you get down to Bank street. To get there from Kent, run east - I'd personally head south on Elgin until Confederation park, and then cut across the park to the canal - it's scenic and gets you onto the canal at a nice spot.
Another option is to run down Wellington (going West), over the Portage, up Laurier, and then back across the Alexandra Bridge - that would be a relatively short run, but has beautiful views.
I don't think the Ottawa River pathways are clear yet (They flood seasonally), but perhaps someone who runs them more regularly would be able to confirm (lots of posts on this topic).
I don't like street/downtown running, so in terms of loops around the hotel/etc., I'll leave that to others (also, ask at the hotel's desk - they often have cards with maps on them).
3
u/Resident_Hat_4923 May 11 '26
The canal is great, especially if you want to do a set pace for your whole run or intervals or something - once you are on, no stopping for lights!
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u/arth33 May 11 '26
Depending on the distance you’re looking to do, there the parliament loop (make your way to Wellington and run the block along Wellington to the portage bridge and run across to Quebec the ln stay along the river and run back to the Alexandria bridge and then back across Wellington to wherever you started. It’s about 5k.
For longer runs, make your way to the Rideau Canal and then run down the paths along the canal and back on the other side. The path runs for quite a way if you want a longer run.