Rising above the Queensway, Carlington Park is home to the highest natural point in Ottawa.
The fantastic views of Ottawa and Gatineau are only one reason people come to Carlington Park. There’s also the challenging slope that’s perfect for sledding and snowboarding in winter, and hiking year-round; the Carlington Woods (22 hectares of Environmentally Protected land), where you can find a quiet place to contemplate the world or check out a cool tree. The meadow was replaced with a mountain bike pump track in 2019.
But there is so much more to Carlington Park.
The Carlington Woods (owned in part by the City, part by the National Capital Commission) are a designated City of Ottawa Environmentally Protected zone. This designation means that the lands provide important environmental resources, such as storm water, flood, erosion, and urban heat island control; acts as a local carbon sink; and provides habitat and food for wildlife, including some protected species. Natural areas and urban forests are also good for our physical and mental health.
Certain activities are prohibited in these zones, due to their impact on the ecosystem and biodiversity. In the Carlington Woods, these activities include sledding, skiing, cycling, erecting structures, damaging or cutting vegetation or soil, and creating unsafe trails.
If you’re concerned about conserving the Carlington Woods for future generations, or just want to know more about how you can you help protect our parks, urban forests and other public greenspaces, there’s no better place to start than right here. Let’s take a walk!
Check out some of these resources and find out more about how you can help protect and conserve our natural areas.
Environmental Protected zone outlined in pink. 
Welcome to Carlington Park 