This is a very good place for a company get together. The buffet provided here is healthy and tasty. We rented the tables just facing the window. So the view is very nice. After lunch, I went to enjoy the tulips since it's just the best season.

The only parking lot has been removed and the overall pavilion is in serious disrepair. Oh and the kayak rental place just arbitrarily closes two hours early on bright sunny summer nights. Just a brutal experience for tourists and Ottawa deserves better.

Terrible place to rent a canoe or another equipment. We didn't feel safe as soon as we start paddling in canoe (less than 10min) so we decided to come back, and even though our real "hour" didn't start yet , they charged us for full hour, and refused to switched us to paddle boat or another boat, because of "covid" they said. We also said we can wait for another one to be available, but theysaid no... they just simply wanted to charged us the whole hour. I definitively do not recommend this place, they are greedy , not interested in provide the clients with safe and pleasant experience. Pleases consider other places when renting canoe, paddle boats or any other type boats.

Once a swamp, Dow's Lake was part of the Dow family's estate that was used in the construction of the Rideau canal (1826 - 1832). Lt Colonel By and his engineers directed work crews to dig into the swamp and created a large lake. This area serves as a water reservoir (slackwater pool) to adjust the canal's water levels so that boats could travel through the Rideau canal from the St Lawrence river/ Kingston to the Ottawa river. Dow's lake also serves as a beautiful place to play on the water with canoes/ paddle boats (rental office is at the pavillion) in the summer, as a scenic location to look at the tulips in Commissionaire's park in the spring, as a great starting place for a skate on the Rideau canal in the winter and you can dine upstairs in the pavillion's Mexican resturaunt all year round. On the second floor of the pavillion you can get a higher view of the beauty that surrounds the area. Check it out If you like my reviews, photos or videos give a splashing good thumbs up.

Paddling along Dow’s lake in the summer is a must-do when staying in Ottawa! Being on the water is lovely and the lake is small enough to be able to see the majority of it in an hour time frame - as we rented our kayak by the hour. If you’re up for it, you can make your way to downtown by paddling through the canal! I would expect needing another hour or two on the rental in order to make it there and back. In the winter, Dow’s is also an excellent area to start the 7.8 KM of the Rideau Canal Skateway. Skate rentals are also available!

Nice place. Nice staff. Very good place for kayaking. Must go to this place.

We went there during the Tulip Festival and loved the view. It's pleasant. One can do canoeing and boatride as well.

Awesome experience kayaking Dows Lake. Appreciated that the life jacket were clean and “fresh”! Recommend a nice refreshment after being on the lake too!

Absolutely beautiful! If you visit check out The Umbrella Bar.

a beautiful park where you can hike, cycle, family get-together, (pedal boat $24/hr and kayak $36/hr), but the only concern is the animal waste on the lakefront

I have rented kayaks at this spot many times. The customer service is top-notch. Great spot for beginners.

Walk, paddle or just sit and enjoy the lights on lake at night. Best place to see tulips in May. So clean.

Canoe , kayake , water bicycle etc water sports rental available. We tried canoe, 2 adult, or 2 adult and 1 child limit. Weight limit applies Parking across the street , $3.50 half hour, $14 max daily. Restaurants overlooking Dow's lake ,I didn't try this place.

Met friends for late afternoon drinks in the Umbrella Bar .. great, friendly service and tasty appetizers (nachos and calamari). Especially liked the elevator access to the upper level. Most appreciated.

Went to skate on the Rideau. Not the best skate change compared to other places on the canal.

Staff here are very helpful, boats and equipment are in great condition. Best place in Ottawa to rent kayaks and other boats - I’ve been to them all and the customer service here is by far the best. Still run by teens who sometimes are chatting with each other and standing in the way, but they’re ready to help you get in and out of the boat when you arrive and it’s very well organized.

Beautiful. I took a nice walk around Dows Lake. Lots of geese and different types of ducks. Lots of benches to stop and rest. Beautiful willow trees too! The only downside was the parking- cost me 10 dollars to park for an hour and a half walk. (Parking accepts cash, credit and visa)

Skated the canal started at Dows Lake

Overdue for a serious reno

Fun day of skating on the lake.

Super fun Ice Dragon Boat Festival

The Ice Dragon Boat Race in February is faboulous!

Super facility. First time back since I moved out of the area.

This is a very underutilized site. Hoping that when proposals for water taxis on the canal this site will realize its potential. I think it is currently the only place to rent canoes and kayaks and paddle boats and boards.

Beautiful views and fun, staff need to be educated on customer service. First gal who helped us was lovely and friendly getting us on the boat, upon our return the guy who helped us off boat rudely informed us that only small kids were to sit in back (other staff member had put my mom in back of boat), I told him we sat where their staff had told us to, his response was that we should know for future reference…for future reference buddy I’m a paying customer and not a staff member, please educate your staff and not your customers who are there to have a nice day, otherwise fun thing to do!

Great experience kayaking. We didn’t sign the waiver online but it did not take us long before we were ready to go. That’s because they have alot of canoes, kayaks and boats to rent. They take $20 and driver’s license as a deposit and charge you once you are done and return the kayak/boat or canoe. Girls managing the pavilion were so kind, great customer service.

What a beautiful place. Restaurants, kayak rentals & more, close to Little Italy and the lake.

Nice service for Kayak !!! Kayaking experience along the Canal River is very interesting, although the river is quite muddy 😅

Amazing location for a family picnic on the park side. Kayaking on the Dow's lake in the evening is beautiful.

A must to visit place in Ottawa. They have different options to do boating in the lake.

Is a Marina in Ottawa, Ontario, Canada. The tulips are a must see. It’s a nice place to have a get together for team building. One can also do some canoeing and boat rides with great views. There are benches to sit on. You’ll need to pay for parking though so take note.

Very scenic and peaceful. They rent kayaks during summer and skates during winter time for skating. It’s a great picnic spot with beautiful flower gardens and trees. Must visit when in Ottawa.

I attended the Dow's Lake Pavilion for a conference. The facility is suited our needs, many tables of comfortable chairs. There was a projector and screen to work very well. Just be cautious if it's a bright day, makes it harder to see the projector screen. Lago Grill provided breakfast and lunch, all of which was very delicious. Would recommend this venue for a smaller gathering, function or conference.

Emergency transient moorage given delays in home marina opening. Eddy and the folks at Dows were awesome on all levels and made the launch / stay a blast. Awesome part of town as well for folks visiting - they won’t disappoint. Thx guys!!

Always an enjoyable experience. Nice restaurants with decent food and a beautiful view, lovely boardwalk, and any day on the water in a kayak, a canoe, or a pedal boat is a good day.

One of the better scenic water places to experience in Ottawa when renting a paddle board, peddle-boat or kayak to check it out.

Such a beautiful area! I've been many times during the day, but had some drinks with friends at that Umbrella Bar last night and it was amazing! Will definitely be going back.

Amazing place

(Translated by Google) For nature near the city with a view of the lake. Access to the bike path and restaurant on site. (Original) Pour la nature près de la ville avec vue sur le lac. Acces à la piste cyclable et resto sur place.

Lake is not that clean although it has some decent view for pictures while boating

A beautiful spot on the lake with restaurants and washrooms open to the public

(Translated by Google) Very well (Original) Très bien

I started my Ice Skating route over the Canal at Dows Lake. Lots of benches and enough space for everyone!

Lots of room

It was fun! Water isn't clean, try not to touch it with sores or cuts. Just wash your hands afterwards.

Nice lake to do boating and relax near water!

We went paddle boating, the staff was super nice and helpful. We will go back for sure! It was peaceful on the water!

The ice is great on this part of the canal!

Went to kayak at Dows Lake. There was a long enough line when myself and my partner arrived. However, staff quicky and efficiently kept the line moving and into the various water craft they had available to rent. I was quite impressed with the professionalism and the system they had in place. Definitely going to be back before the summer ends. Cheers.

Great place for a family outing. You can enjoy all sorts of water activities or have a picnic or just a great walk. The place has great views for a photo op.

World longest Skating path is here Ottawa ⛸️⛸️🌲🌎

An overall fun experience. For a first-timer, it would have been helpful to know how the rental process worked. Process: lineup for signing waiver + life jackets and an approximate 1 hour rental time or more (choice)> Kayak etc. > Dock-where do I put life jackets to be sanitized for next customer?> Payment comes last depending on how long you went for. Luckily, I went with someone who had already done it before. Kayaks were in good condition and environment was lovely!

First time skate on canal perfect starting point

Terrible, the service was the worst. Extremely rude.

Good experience

Amazing place to enjoy the waterfront of Ottawa

Great place to rent a kayak or a boat on a sunny day

Great place to go canoeing!

Family time

relaxing place for a walk, biking, or kayak rentals

Been here forever, sit on a patio, eat some good food, drink some sangria or rent a boat and explore dows lake. Remember some id if you go boating

Great place to rent a boat :)

Pretty good place but huge lineups and service is also slow. But overall if you are in Ottawa your should go area is very beautiful all in middle of city and surrounded by amazing parks. Lake connects to the canal goes all the way upto Rideau canal.

You would just visit this place again and again, trust me!

Great way to experience the lake on a beautiful day. Pretty affordable but be sure to call ahead because their rental hours depend on the weather.

Great experience. Line wasn’t too long especially on a Saturday

Good staff

Love this place

Garbage in the water. Lots of disposable masks in the lake eww

Excellent experience here 🤓🤓