Join us for...

bicycling ♦ canoeing ♦ cross-country skiing ♦ hiking ♦ skating ♦ snowshoeing ♦ walking ♦ day outings ♦ evening outings ♦ weekend trips ♦ social events

Become a member!

We invite you to become a member and support the OOC. A membership bought now will be valid until the end of 2020.

What's happening...week of August 2

We have been carefully offering outings for the past few weeks, keeping the COVID-19 guidelines recommended by the public health officials uppermost in our planning. As circumstances continue to evolve, we may open up other activities.

On Wednesday evening, we'll have a short hike at the Britannia Conservation Area in Ottawa, meeting at the trailhead (accessible by OC Transpo) on Cassels Street.

On Thursday evening, we're beginning our Thursday-evening urban walks. This week's walk starts in Ballantyne Park (accessible by OC Transpo) near Pretoria Bridge.

On Sunday, we'll be hiking along the Meech Valley in Gatineau Park, starting from P16.

The pandemic presents us with restrictions that we normally don't have. Non-members may participate in our outings; check for details in the FAQ on our schedule page. There is no carpooling, so you will have to provide your own transportation to the starting location. Due to health considerations, you must pre-register for outings.

Details of of each outing, along with our complete list of COVID-19 guidelines and requirements, are available on our schedule page.

The Ottawa Outdoor Club organizes daytime, evening, and multi-day, environmentally-sound, outdoor recreational activities year-round at minimal cost for residents of and visitors to the Ottawa and Gatineau communities. Daytime outings are planned for nearly every weekend and, many weeks, a weekday evening, throughout the year. Weekend trips are typically to destinations in Ontario and Quebec and the mountain ranges in New York and New England. (COVID-19 restriction)

Most outdoor activities are open to everyone. If you're not a member, we still look forward to seeing you; we'll ask you for the non-member activity fee, which you can apply fully to your membership fee when you join within a week. (Some caveats: the evening urban casual walks and Friday evening skates are free to all; some special outings, such as occasional subsidized bus trips, are available to members only.) If you don't have a car, we carpool. (COVID-19 restriction) Join us at the meeting location for the event, and we'll go from there.

Come alone or with friends. It's easy to join in:

  • consult the events page to see what interests you
  • check the requirements for the trip. A reasonable degree of—but not extreme—fitness is expected for most of our outings, as well as appropriate clothing, footwear, food, and liquid. If you have any questions about a trip, contact the trip leader in advance at the phone number, e-mail address, or Twitter handle provided
  • meet at the indicated starting location at the time listed for instructions and arranging carpooling (COVID-19 restriction)

Members of the Club enjoy added benefits, such as Club discounts of up to 12% at local outdoor equipment shops; free general instruction of various activities; occasional subsidized courses in leadership training and wilderness first aid; and notification of social events throughout the year, including parties, movie outings, and other events.

We are a volunteer-run club and, as a result, prices are at cost.

Become a member!

We invite you to become a member and support the OOC. A membership bought now will be valid until the end of 2020.

Who we are

Club members and visitors range from post-high-school to retirement age and, like Ottawa itself, are of many nationalities. We welcome children who are with their parent(s) or guardian(s).

Follow our Facebook group Follow our Facebook group

Member or non-member, follow our Facebook group to join our conversation and view photos of past activities.

Join us for...

bicycling ♦ canoeing ♦ cross-country skiing ♦ hiking ♦ skating ♦ snowshoeing ♦ walking ♦ day outings ♦ evening outings ♦ weekend trips ♦ social events

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