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The Capital Pathway, also known informally as the Bike Path, is a multi-use trail interlinking many parks, waterways and sites in Ottawa, Ontario and Gatineau, Quebec. Most of the pathway is paved, and allows an almost continuous route through the National Capital Region.
The pathway was mostly the work of the National Capital Commission (NCC), a crown corporation created in 1959. The trail, which includes the Rideau Canal Pathway, the Ottawa River Pathway, and the Rideau River Eastern Pathway extends in all directions and extends northward into Gatineau Park's lakes.
The first section built was the Ottawa River Pathway in the early 1970s.
The majority of the pathway continues to be maintained by the NCC.
The section of the Ottawa River Pathway between Acres Road and Moodie Drive was paved in 2009.
Close to Major's Hill Park, and by crossing the Rideau Canal where it meets the Ottawa River at the Ottawa locks, it continues adjacent to the river on the back side of Parliament Hill and then near the War Museum in LeBreton Flats.
It continues first Westboro Beach, then Brittania Beach. Nearby, it crosses Carling Avenue becoming the Watts Creek Pathway which eventually crosses the Greenbelt Pathway. Here, going west will go to Kanata, north will go to Shirley's Bay, and south will go to the Trans Canada Trail rail trail to Stittsville and Carleton place.
There are connections to Gatineau via multi-use pathways via either the Chief William Commanda Bridge or the Alexandra Bridge.
The Rideau Canal Pathway's most northerly point is where the canal empties into the Ottawa River. Immediately beside the locks is the Bytown Museum. There actually are two separate paths, on each side of the canal. One encircles Dow's Lake and path users frequently cross to the other side near Carleton University, just south of the lake.
The trail extends to Hog's Back Falls which also provides a crossing. This is the point where the canal meets the Rideau River. A multi-use trail continues on its east side past Mooney's Bay Park to Walkley Road.
The Capital Pathway also include several routes in Quebec. Aylmer is home to an effective and generally well-maintained network of bicycle paths that encircle the central portion of the area and run past many scenic locations, such as the Aylmer Marina and the Deschênes Rapids.
The bike trail becomes very steep going northwards into Gatineau Park. Pink Lake is directly on the path. Other lakes such Kingsmere Lake are accessible. The Champlain Lookout provides a good view of lands to the west of the city of Ottawa from a high elevation.
The Pathway patrol is a volunteer organization based in Ottawa. Trained volunteer patrollers bicycle, in-line skate, or walk along Ottawa's recreational pathways to promote active living, improve safety and security, and to encourage courtesy among all users. Areas patrolled span the NCC pathways in the west from Andrew Haydon Park through Britannia Park, east along the Ottawa River Pathway to Petrie Island, the Rideau Canal (downtown to Mooney's Bay), the Rideau River (Sussex Drive to Mooney's Bay) and within City of Ottawa parks in the Greenboro area. In 2010, Kanata was added to the patrol region.
In 2003, Ardeth Wood disappeared from a pathway near Rockcliffe Parkway starting a large search effort, and resulting in a homicide conviction. There have also been more than one criminal incident on pathways in Gatineau.
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