Beaches
The City’s beaches Mooney’s Bay, Britannia and Petrie Island will be open for supervised swimming from noon to 7 pm starting June 17 until August 27, 2023. Washrooms will be open for the season starting May 20 until Sept 4, 2023.
Note: The City will not be providing lifeguard supervision at Westboro Beach this year. Due to construction at the site the National Capital Commission is operating only reduced unsupervised access to the beach. The City recommends swimming at supervised beaches only.
Put your toes in the sand and have fun at any of the City’s public beaches.
- East Ottawa: Petrie Island Beach, 727 Tweddle Road, 613-824-5704
- West Ottawa: Britannia Beach, 2805 Carling Avenue, 613-820-1211
- South Ottawa: Mooney’s Bay Beach, 2926 Riverside Drive, 613-248-0863
There is a fee for parking at Mooney’s Bay and Petrie Island. Check octranspo.com to help plan your transit route to parks and beaches.
Keep our beaches and parks clean by not littering. Dispose of your waste in bins or bring it home to dispose of in your green bin or your recycling and garbage bins.
Water health and safety
Ottawa Public Health conducts daily water quality testing for the presence of E coli bacteria. Check Beach Water Quality Results - Ottawa Public Health for the latest water-quality results and no swimming advisories.
Have fun at the beaches and play safe by following water safety guidelines. For additional information please visit the City of Ottawa’s Safety and supervisory standards in City pools and beaches.
Beach-accessible wheelchairs
Beach-accessible wheelchairs are available at no cost at Mooney’s Bay Beach, Britannia Beach and Petrie Island Beach. Available daily from 11:30 am to 6:30 pm on a first-come-first-serve basis from June 17 to August 27, 2023.
Users are required to provide their own attendant to push the chair and assist with the transfer in and out of the chair. There is no lift on site.
To check the availability of beach-accessible wheelchairs, please contact:
- Mooney’s Bay, 613-248-0863
- Petrie Island, 613-824-5704
- Britannia Beach, 613-820-1211
- or beaches@ottawa.ca
Event and group bookings
To book an event at the beach, contact Centralized Allocations at 613-580-2595 or sports@ottawa.ca.
To bring your group to swim at the beach, contact Beach Operations at 613-580-2424 ext.16966 or beaches@ottawa.ca.
Beach amenities
Petrie Island Beach
A wonderful sandy beach with spectacular views across the Ottawa River. Great for picnics, a stroll, a swim, a game of volleyball or watching the boats go by.
- From May 20 to September 4, 2023, paid parking from 7 am to 6 pm
- seasonal passes available
- Canteen
- Picnic tables
- Play structure
- Volley-ball net rental
- Stand-up Paddleboard Rental (16+ years of age)
- Lifeguards
Britannia Beach
- Free parking
- Canteen
- Picnic tables
- BBQ pits in the park
- Play structures
- Accessible washroom
- Volley-ball net rental
- Stand-up Paddleboard Rental (16+ years of age)
- Lifeguards
Mooney’s Bay Beach
A popular summer destination for swimmers, rowers, and special events, including Dragon Boat Races and HOPE Volleyball.
- From May 20 to September 4, 2023, paid parking from 7 am to 6 pm
- Canteen
- Picnic tables
- BBQ pits in the park
- Play structures
- Volley-ball net rental
- Stand-up Paddleboard Rental (16+ years of age)
- Lifeguards
Westboro Beach
The City will not be providing lifeguard supervision at Westboro Beach this year. Due to construction at the site the NCC is operating only reduced unsupervised access to the beach. The City recommends swimming at supervised beaches only.
This beach is located on National Capital Commission property at Kitchissippi Lookout on the Ottawa River.
Outdoor pools
Reservations for swimming sessions at outdoor pools can be booked online.
To reserve a drop-in swim spot online, select one of the following facilities. Proceed by clicking on the reservation button at the top of the schedule tab.
Splash pads
Splash pads (summer only)
The City of Ottawa Splash Pads will be in operation from May 20 until September 15 (weather dependent). Splash pad sites are unsupervised.
The following splash pads are closed for repairs:
- Bert Dowler Park
- Dr. John Hopkins Park
- Lincoln Heights Park
- Millenium Park
Wading pools
Wading pools
The City of Ottawa wading pools for Summer 2023 will be opening soon!
Please see the interactive map below to view opening and closing dates for the Summer season at each of our locations!
Fees
There is no cost to swim at a City of Ottawa wading pool.
Location
This interactive map shows you the locations of Ottawa's wading pools, along with their dates and hours of operation. Wading pools marked in light blue are accessible.