Ottawa River pathway behind Parliament Hill reopens after four-year closure
The route, which links to 200+ km of regional trails and the new East Wharf swim dock, is now open to walkers, runners, and cyclists.
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The Ottawa River pathway behind Parliament Hill is open again after four years of restoration work.
The National Capital Commission closed the route in 2022 to stabilize the escarpment behind the Supreme Court of Canada building and remove a tunnel section, preparing the pathway to withstand climate impacts. The work is complete.
The reopened path connects directly to the East Wharf dock, which opened for swimming this summer — one of several new water-access projects the NCC has completed across the region. The pathway also links to more than 200 kilometres of other paths spanning the Ottawa-Gatineau area, Gatineau Park, and the Greenbelt.
Walkers, runners, and cyclists will also encounter a newly constructed 2SLGBTQIA+ national monument nearby, which commemorates historic discrimination experienced by 2SLGBTQI+ people in Canada, including during the LGBT Purge.
The facts
When did the Ottawa River pathway behind Parliament Hill reopen?
The Ottawa River pathway behind Parliament Hill reopened in July 2026 after a four-year closure that began in 2022.
Why was the pathway closed for four years?
The National Capital Commission closed the route to stabilize the escarpment behind the Supreme Court of Canada building, remove a tunnel section, and prepare the pathway to withstand climate impacts.
What can users do on the reopened pathway?
Walkers, runners, and cyclists can use the Ottawa River pathway, which connects to the East Wharf dock and more than 200 kilometres of regional trails across the Ottawa-Gatineau area, Gatineau Park, and the Greenbelt.
What new monument is near the pathway?
A newly constructed 2SLGBTQIA+ national monument is located nearby, commemorating historic discrimination experienced by 2SLGBTQI+ people in Canada, including during the LGBT Purge.
