Beautiful historical place, you can see a lot of boats and how gates open and closed, very cool.

It was a great experience to see the canal lock system. Nice little walk. Beautiful sunny day. You can try cycling too. One of the best tourist attractions in Ottawa. End of the journey to River. I went during early spring. Pretty sure more happening after May. Surrounded by Parliament Hill and old structural buildings.

What an amazing canal going through the heart of Ottawa with awesome views of the city the whole way. Super romantic trail system (especially at sunset) along the canal edge for a nice walk or ride, with breathtaking sites of parliament and all the historic buildings and architecture of Ottawa. There are boat tours you can go on and skating in the winter months. Definitely check this out if your in Ottawa you can't miss it and definitely a historic site to see.

We had a great time skating. Loved that we could rent a big sleigh in case one of the kids (or mom) got tired! It was super easy to push as well. Some nice spot to stop on the ice for a bite to eat. Can't miss the beaver tails! Also some great restaurants at Dow's lake for a warm up and great meal! Loved the little fireplaces we could stop at to warm up. Parking was difficult to find! This was the only challenge!

Perfect place to view the beginning of the Rideau Canal, how boats goes in and out from or to the Ottawa river. Nice trailbehind the parliament and a gift shop with nice souvenirs. In 2019, a groundhog was very friendly and we could feed it.

World's longest skating rink in the heart of Canada's capital. The conditions are now better maintained with snow removal and sweeping equipment which ensures skaters can see the any and all cracks as they come upon them. Great place for the family to social distance because the skating surface is wide and long. From start to finish one can skate 7.8 km all the while taking in the sights and sounds the environment can offer.

The canal is beautiful any time of the year!

Ottawa is a fantastic city to walk through – as Canada’s capital, the downtown area is steeped in history and there are plenty of interesting things to see. The pathway that runs alongside the city’s central waterway, the Rideau Canal, takes pedestrians through seven sites, including the Ottawa Locks, Pretoria Bridge, Dows Lake and Central Experimental Farm. The path starts at the locks, which are at the base of Parliament Hill, right by the luxurious Château Laurier Hotel. After exploring the area around the locks, visitors can head south along the promenade towards the Glebe and Carleton University, finishing off at the Hartwells Lockstation. Interpretive signage and outdoor exhibits have been installed at each of the seven sites on the promenade. In all, the pathway is about 4.8 miles (7.8km) one way and should take an average walker about three hours round trip, not including the stops at each of the attractions.

Very nice to walk in the canal. Its a largest natural ice rink in Canada & its really fun to walk. Some places we saw the small holes were we can see the water from the canal popping out. Its it's completely safe to ski.. must visit in winter without fail..

Amazingly scenic! A fantastic spot to enjoy the beauty of nature.

The city works really hard to keep this clear of snow and regularly floods it at night for a beautiful FREE skating experience. Even though the weather was windy and cold (-11), there are little spots to stop and rest, have a hot chocolate, poutine or a beaver tail, get in out of the cold or just sit by the fire and warm up. Conditions of the ice can be checked on line before going and parking maps are available on the same website. Weekends are busy but weekdays are gloriously empty.

Love running along the canal, like so many others. You can also grab a SUP or canoe and paddle around the canal on a hot summer day. Or hope for a cold enough winter to skate on the canal!

One of my favourite parts of downtown Ottawa! I love riding my bike and the Canal is perfect for that. Two lanes in either direction and lots of room to pass other recreation users. The scenery is nice in the summer (a littly yucky in the Spring when the water is low and there's garbage) and in the Winter it turns into the class skating rink. If it is the longest is debated by Winnipeg but it's very long! A wonderful location to visit and enjoy both in the Summer and Winter.

It was a great experience watching the locks of the river. Though it was not big enough but you can walk around and spend some time !! Its a historical site in Ottawa and it is just close to senate building.

Absolutely loved skating on the canal! Nothing like feeling the wind on your unprotected Canadian face as you twirl effortlessly down the frozen surface...and then feel the hardness of the ice as you trip over a crack and fall. But seriously, only downside is that it's really hard to see at night if the ice is bad. Really small thing, everything else is awesome, especially the beaver tails!

5 of my best friends and I drove 7 1/2 hours to come and skate on the canal. It was an incredibly fun experience, some would say one of a lifetime. I am so impressed with how well the canal rink is maintained and for the general atmosphere created by skaters.

The Rideau Canal National Historic Site is a breathtaking in the heart of Canada's capital, Ottawa. I visited in September the canal is surrounded by lush greenery, creating a picturesque setting for leisurely walks and boat rides. The blend of natural beauty and historical significance makes the Rideau Canal a must-visit destination, showcasing the best of Canada's landscapes and heritage.I had lovely experience.

Visited the Rideau Canal in January during the winter time. Such a beautiful winter wonderland! Bring your own ice skates to skate for free. If not there are skate rentals nearby. Make sure to grab a hot chocolate and a Beavertail before you leave!

I was able to enjoy Ottawa's Rideau Canal while cycling from The Ottawa Hospital General Campus to my home in Gatineau, QC. It is very well maintained, deserving as a UNESCO heritage site. Thank you for the hospitality.

Beautiful spot to go for a walk, especially during the Tulip Festival in May.

This is a wonderful place to visit any time of the year. You can walk, jog, skate, ride a bike, etc.

Love the Rideau Canal. People around Ottawa are nice and more than willing to help you find entrances to the skateway. The Beaver Tails were open and had quick service. Ice was smooth and well maintained. Will be back next year!

Beautiful day on the worlds longest skating rink. Beaver tails and hot toddies! Was busy but alot of places to get on and off.

Such a beautiful site and to watch the locks being opened and closed for boats to go through during summer months is all done by hand. Very strong men and women at work. Much respect and the beauty of the grounds are a must see.

Scenic, historic, quiet fun for one and all in downtown Ottawa.

Great place to skate ⛸️ 7.8km!

Nice place in Ottawa, The place is nice and clean, I find in it wonderful engineering in construction and organization, a beautiful and necessary edifice

If you're going by bike, please slow down. It's being maintained as best they can but it's a sharp hill and there is more loose stones and gravel than usual (Aug 21). Otherwise, absolutely worth the walk under parliament to the Supreme Court.

Loved it a must visit site

A really nice spot, has some sort of magical / Romantic element to it.