Beach guide

Ottawa's four supervised beaches — Britannia, Westboro, Mooney's Bay and Petrie Island — with parking, washrooms, food and the 2026 lifeguard season, plus how water testing works now.

Ottawa's four supervised beaches open for the season on Saturday 20 June 2026, with lifeguards on duty daily from noon to 7 pm until 30 August. Two beaches sit on the Ottawa River, two on the Rideau — here's what each one is like, where to park, and how water testing works now.

Lifeguard season: 20 June to 30 August 2026

Lifeguards supervise all four beaches daily from noon to 7 pm. Outside those hours and dates you swim unsupervised. The free Lifejacket Loaner program runs at all four beaches during supervised hours — useful for kids and weaker swimmers.

Water testing changed in 2025 — no more daily advisories

Ottawa Public Health now samples beach water weekly for E. coli, not daily, and no longer posts daily no-swim advisories. Lab results take about a day, so any posted result describes yesterday's water. Read the signs at the beach, and skip swimming for a day or two after heavy rain, when bacteria levels are typically at their worst. Details at ottawapublichealth.ca.

Britannia Beach

Ottawa's biggest sandy beach, on the Ottawa River at Britannia Bay in the west end. Long shallow entry, big park behind it, and sunsets over the water — the classic full-day beach.

Dogs: Not allowed on the beach at any time (city bylaw); bylaw officers patrol in season.
Parking: Free lot at the park off Carling Avenue (2805 Carling Avenue) — the only supervised beach without a parking fee, so it fills early on hot weekends.
Toilets: Pavilion washrooms open 16 May to 7 September 2026 during park hours.
Lifeguards: Daily noon to 7 pm, 20 June to 30 August 2026.
Food & drink: Seasonal canteen at the beach pavilion.
Map: Open in maps

Westboro Beach

A small, central Ottawa River beach below the Kichi Zibi Mikan, fully rebuilt and reopened in June 2025 after a $21-million overhaul — new pavilion, lookout and accessible paths. Easiest to reach by bike along the river pathway.

NCC property with City of Ottawa lifeguards — rules and upkeep are shared between the two.

Dogs: Not allowed on the beach at any time.
Parking: Paid lot at 745 Kichi Zibi Mikan; it's small, so transit or the river pathway is often the better bet.
Toilets: Accessible washrooms and outdoor showers in the new pavilion.
Lifeguards: Daily noon to 7 pm, 20 June to 30 August 2026.
Food & drink: A year-round restaurant (The Grand Pizzeria) plus a seasonal café and ice-cream counter in the pavilion.
Map: Open in maps

Mooney's Bay Beach

The city's busiest beach, on the Rideau River at 2926 Riverside Drive — wide sand, a huge park with one of Canada's largest playgrounds next door, and Hog's Back Falls a short walk upstream.

Dogs: Not allowed on the beach at any time (city bylaw).
Parking: Paid lot off Riverside Drive; arrives-by-noon advice applies on hot weekends.
Toilets: Pavilion washrooms open 16 May to 7 September 2026 during park hours.
Lifeguards: Daily noon to 7 pm, 20 June to 30 August 2026.
Food & drink: Seasonal canteen at the beach pavilion.
Map: Open in maps

Petrie Island Beach

Sandy Ottawa River beaches on an island of wetlands and turtle habitat at the east end (727 Tweddle Road, Orléans), with flat nature trails behind the sand — the quietest of the four on weekdays.

Dogs: Not allowed on the beach at any time (city bylaw).
Parking: Paid lot on the island in season.
Toilets: Pavilion washrooms open 16 May to 7 September 2026 during park hours.
Lifeguards: Daily noon to 7 pm, 20 June to 30 August 2026.
Food & drink: Seasonal canteen near the beach.
Map: Open in maps