Visit the Greenbelt in Ottawa, and discover the most ecologically diverse area in Eastern Ontario.
This is nature at its most accessible — a band of green encircling Ottawa from west to east. Head out and explore the Greenbelt for yourself!
The Greenbelt is 20,000 hectares of green space, including farms, forests and wetlands. It was created in the 1950s to protect the rural land bordering the Capital from urban sprawl. It has since become the largest publicly owned greenbelt in the world. Most of the Greenbelt (14,950 hectares) is owned by the NCC.
The Greenbelt protects natural areas like forests, wetlands, streams and sand dunes that sustain biodiversity. The natural areas in the Greenbelt support human and ecological health in Canada’s Capital Region.
The NCC supports sustainable agriculture in the Greenbelt. Greenbelt farms produce milk, meat, grains, fruits and vegetables that contribute to the food supply and economy of the Capital Region.
The Greenbelt attracts 3.5 million visits each year and offers all kinds of outdoor, family-friendly activities:
The Greenbelt features over 150 kilometres of recreational trails, which link to the Capital Pathway network, the Rideau Trail (Ottawa to Kingston) and the Trans Canada Trail. Once completed, the Greenbelt Pathway will be a continuous 56-kilometre recreational corridor extending from one side of the Greenbelt to the other.
Currently the Greenbelt has three recreational paths that are excellent for cycling, walking and running.
Are you interested in doing research in the Greenbelt? You may need an NCC land access permit.
Request a permitStay informed about topics that interest you. The NCC offers newsletters on a number of topics.
SubscribeThe Greenbelt is a place of discovery and environmental education. Each year, more and more students from local schools are visiting the Greenbelt to learn about the wonders of the natural environment.
Professional scientists and science enthusiasts engage in activities, including biological inventories, long-term monitoring and scientific experiments.