I think somewhere near st pauls has a spot, but I’m not sure. I usually drive out to a park with a dog beach, but that sucks.

the rideau river! south of windsor park or brewer park.

Yeah, you can bring them to the lawn behind St. Paul’s on Main Street. They have to run down a slope to get in, so it’s not like you can stand on the shore – not a great spot unless your dog is a keen swimmer.

Lemieux Island also is a spot people go – I’ve never been able to figure out if it is fully legit or just tolerated. http://www.threeseven.ca/2008/04/lemieux-island-dog-park.html

There is a very popular swimming spot at Stanley Park in New Edinburg in the off-leash area of the park (which is bordered by the Rideau River), there is a small beach which is shallow for dogs that like to wade and then deeper further out for swimmers! It is always filled with dogs and Kirby loves it!

http://maps.google.com/maps?f=q&source=s_q&hl=en&geocode=&q=Stanley+Ave.+and+Queen+Victoria+St+Ottawa&sll=45.439613,-75.685802&sspn=0.008251,0.014634&ie=UTF8&ll=45.440035,-75.686338&spn=0.008251,0.014634&z=16

Off the Bowesville Road about 50 yards in on the left is a small parking area and some boulders to climb over. This is in behind the Ottawa Airport. There is a swimmin’ hole there folks call “The Toxic” (not sure why) but many of our friends take their dogs their to swim. Its a great area, well back from the roads with some light (cow-ish) fencing *and* its an off-leash area.

Sorry, I just realised my directions weren’t that good … Bowesville is off the Leitrim Road between Limebank and Albion Roads. Its just about exactly where the speed limit changes from 70 to 80 Kmh.

if you live in the south end ( Mooneys Bay area) you can go to Revelstoke… (south of Walkley off of Riverside!) follow it around till you reach a field, fenced off! and proceed through the gates, follow the path and its heaven for the dogs!! and people too!… Good luck/// all the dogs need a good place to swim

There’s a sand quarry behind the Aylmer SPCA in which it’s generally accepted you can swim with your doggy. You can take horses there to swim too. It’s very sandy (obviously) but the water has a steep drop off so strong swimmers only! Or, doggies in life jackets

In Orleans (Ottawa East End), we have about 22km of ravines with trails, bridges, hills, streams, creeks, rivers and quite a few places deep enough for swimming and doggies to intermix. Just after a rain for a day or two is the best if you have a paddler needing exercise, but quite a few places keep enough water flowing all spring, summer and fall.

Lemieux Island.

http://maps.google.ca/maps?f=q&source=s_q&hl=en&geocode=&q=Lemieux+Island,+ottawa,+on&sll=45.407459,-75.725541&sspn=0.012745,0.023389&gl=ca&ie=UTF8&ll=45.416166,-75.729275&spn=0.006371,0.011694&z=16
Cross the river at the Parkway and Bayview.
Can be a strong current, supervision and strong swimmers only.

Anyone know about any dog swimming holes in the kanata area?

I believe theres a place dogs can swim in shirleys bay off carling just before kanata. although im not entirely sure.

Dogs are not allowed to go in the water in Stanley Park. Although many people do swim their dogs there the NCC officials do come through and will issue fines.

Ridalco (an Ottawa company) makes custom built stainless steel dog grooming tubs and they are great! Not quite the same as swimming, but very useful for cooling off or to clean up Rex after a day at the lake. (www.ridalco.com)

I’m so happy I found this site, and topic. I’ve been wondering about this for years and though I had heard Shirley’s Bay, at the boat launch, allowed it (or perhaps tolerated it) Lemieux Island is much closer to me.
Great blog!
Chris

I took my dog to Lemieux Island this passed Wednesday for a dip, when we discovered an underground wasps’s nest on the right side (East side) of the main inlet into the water. The nest is totally covered and not easily noticeable. Please use caution and take care.

If you live in the Almonte area, the fair grounds and beach allow off leash dogs and swimming. I’ve taken my dogs there many times and as the water is shallow they’ve enjoyed both full out swimming or just a little dunk to cool off.

We often take our dog to the NCC path (bike path) in Aylmer (off Lucerne, a little west of Champlain Bridge). There are several spots off of the trail where she can splash around in the Ottawa River. I highly recommend it.

Shirley’s bay is no longer a public area. In fact it never was, but the owners allowed public use. It’s now a private area and as I found out taking your dog there will have bylaw or the police called (in my case) for “trespassing”.

After the policeman nicely explained it to me everything was fine, but the owners were very aggressive and the signs are very hard to see/find. Just a word of warning,

Thank you @Cameron for explaining about Shirley’s bay!

There’s actually a court battle about Shirley’s Bay because it’s unclear if it’s actually private or public land. Police aren’t sure if they should be handing out tickets to people the residents are calling trespassers. Probably best to stay away if you don’t want a confrontation… But it could eventually prove to be public space. Keep an eye on the news I guess.

http://www.emcwestcarleton.ca/20100715/news/Beach+committee+gearing+up+to+put+protocol+into+action

http://www.cbc.ca/canada/ottawa/story/2010/07/24/ottawa-constance-bay-battle.html

can you tell me where abouts in Orleans? I would love to take my dog for a swim….
Thank you

I too would be interested in where to bring my dog for a swim in Orleans/the East end …

Thanks.

hi i’m in the corner of ottawa east(orleans) and i’m trying to find somewhere for a Chesapeake/lab mix to go swimming. i need it as fast as i can to help him lose weight(i adopted him and have to make him lose min 10 pounds to 30 max)

plz help me

Hi, Also wondering about Orleans, I have heard that you can go to Petrie Island, BUT just before the beach area, and I know alot of paths, but i havent seen any area with large enough body of water for the dogs to play.
Any suggestions would be great

Shirley’s bay, I don’t understand it either, is it a boat launch, a picnic area, or just a place that the homeless call home, anyways, there are signs saying dogs on leash going into the lot, and then when your in there it says no dogs, go figure..I was there last weekend and watched boat after boat come in and out, spilling oil and gas, leaving garbage, spinning tires..and they think the dogs are the problem, if the police come, I just go for a swim with my dog, once in the water, I’m no longer on private property.

I bring my dog to the David Bartlett dog park, just off Prince of Wales. There is a spot there where dogs can swim in the water.

I am just wondering about the waters around Ottawa, most of them I wouldn’t dare swim in but are they safe for dogs? Mooney’s Bay for instance? Is E-Coli & any other bacteria in the water safer for dogs?

The entire Ottawa River is great for swimming provided there are no signs posted to indicate otherwise. The main issue is ensuring your dog is thoroughly bathed afterwards with a good non-lathering dog specific shampoo (human shampoo is not an appropriate pH and can cause skin problems) especially if there has been heavy rainfall recently, as this results in overflow of the sewage beds in the Pontiac and subsequent high coliform bacterial counts downstream. People may observe “hotspots” (skin infections), or urinary tract or eye infections if this water is not washed off properly (this includes your body as well!). I live west of Ottawa on the river and have been treating canine patients in the Ottawa Valley for 11 years, it’s a beautiful place but there are some protocols to follow to ensure you have a safe and enjoyable time in the water!

Hi there I live in the Bridlewood Area of Kanata and I wanna take my dog swimming any suggestions of places that are in walking distance perhaps?

Lemieux Island is wonderful. Off leash, swimming in river lots of trees.

Re: Revelstoke Beach, lots of people bring dogs there to swim but NCC has handed out tickets there recently. The dock closer to Hunt Club is owned by DND and the Military Police, and the trails between the beach and the dock is city land I believe. For NCC and city property, I think it’s two separate tickets: one for off-leash, one for swimming.