I'm writing this review about the cross country ski area and cafe, which we enjoyed this past…read moreweekend. We have never visited this location except in winter (this is our second time, both times in the month of Feb). First, when it snows, and when the weather stays cold, you cannot beat the 124-mile groomed cross-country trails of Gatineau Park! Starting at the Relais, there is parking, equipment rentals, indoor bathrooms and a cafe serving surprisingly good food and beverages. Just outside there is a fire pit where you can sit and warm up. And they have plenty of indoor tables for eating. Second, regarding the trails, there is something for every level skier here. There are lots of fairly open and flat trails, some hills, some trails in the woods, some with twists and turns. My husband and I (who have skied here before) are intermediate to advanced skiers, and we have really enjoyed being able to ski for hours and experience lots of different environments. The trails are well marked and groomed for both classic and skate skiing. And they also have maps available. Third, during our most recent visit, we were with friends who had never xc skied before. We had called earlier in the week to get help with reserving equipment through the website, and the people we spoke to were very helpful, friendly and patient. Upon arrival, skis, boots and poles were waiting. The only downside was that the skis for our one friend were nearly 3 feet taller than she was. When I asked why they had given her such long skis they said that it was because of her weight. I know that longer skis help to distribute your weight, but as my friend was a total beginner, I felt that shorter skis would be more advantageous to her learning, so we asked for a swap and luckily they could accommodate us! And I was right - the shorter skis were the ticket. She easily took to the technique and skied for 3 hours with us! She also fell down a few times, and easily got back up - something I'm not sure she could have so easily managed with really long skis. Fourth, the skis you can rent here have a manual binding system, so you have to position the toe of your boot against the binding, then twist the lever to snap the binding on. I have never seen bindings like this and we found it very challenging to get our friends into (and out of) their skis. Our friends reported that the boots were very comfortable. Fifth, the Relais cafe is GREAT. On the day we visited they had two kinds of chili (one veggie and one meat), brownies, croissants, cookies, wraps, sandwiches and a variety of hot beverages. We ordered two hot cocoas, an herbal tea and a coffee, a grilled cheese with bacon, a BLT wrap, and two bowls of chili, and all of it was piping hot, tasty and great portion sizes. Last thing to note: on the busy Saturday that we visited, the entire place was being run by very young people. At the check in, there were two boys who may have been teens or very early twenties who were on their phones and seemed unable/unwilling to help us; there was one young man running between the ski equipment room and the cafe - he seemed very capable, friendly, multi lingual. In the cafe there were several young women - at every order they seemed to need to consult each other; there was a lot of giggling, but they got all the orders correct. There was no person monitoring to ensure that all the skiers had paid for day passes, nor was there anyone bussing or cleaning tables, or taking care of the restrooms (which were both a mess with paper toweling all over the floor and low toilet paper). We also did not see any ski patrol on the trails. I noticed all of this because it was totally different the last time we visited (Feb 2020), when there were numerous employees attending to folks and skiing the trails, visibly identifiable as ski patrol. In any event, for independent and capable skiers, who just want to park, strap on skis and hit the trails, ski for hours, and then warm up with a cocoa or snack, this place is absolutely fantastic! BUT please support the park system and buy your day pass!

Such a highlight for me since moving to Ottawa! I live right by the canal and have loved coming…read morehere as a way to keep active all Winter! Ice was very well maintained considering the size and the fact that it's an outdoor rink. They have skate rentals and sharpening services at several locations but would probably avoid renting elsewhere as it is quite expensive We enjoyed many a beaver tail, friendly hangout and workout here this Winter. I'm sad it's coming to an end but look forward to next year. An excellent free winter activity for all ages.

We have visited the canal for many years but this was our first time trying the ice bike…read moreexperience, and unfortunately, it will be our last. Renting from Capital Skates turned out to be an incredibly frustrating and frankly unsafe experience. The primary issue is the equipment maintenance: the tires on these "ice bikes" appear to be completely worn down and are clearly not fit for a natural ice surface. With absolutely zero traction, the rear tire just spins in place, leaving you drifting helplessly rather than actually cycling. This lack of grip makes steering nearly impossible; I spent most of the ride fighting a massive lag in responsiveness that nearly sent me veering into the canal edge multiple times. The mechanical failures didn't stop there, as the gear shifter took nearly 15 seconds to actually engage after being moved, making any kind of momentum impossible to maintain. To make matters worse, the business model feels designed to capitalize on their monopoly on the canal. You are forced into a rigid two-hour rental--no more and no less--which is a steep commitment for equipment this poorly maintained at nearly $60 per bike. We attempted to call the business to address these concerns, but the line went to a voicemail that hasn't even been set up. It's a shame that such an iconic Canadian landmark is served by a vendor that seems to have given up on basic maintenance. Save your money and your nerves--stick to traditional skates.

I went here with a big group and it was truly fun. Staff was helpful. Beer was cheap but cash only…read more There was snacks. The equipment was in good condition and the Ice was well maintained. One thing was that it was hard to find shoe covers of the same size but I guess I lot of people likely bring their own shoes

Hospitality was great! Food in the smokehouse was delicious. They kept bringing out appetizers and…read moredesserts that were not on the menu for us to try. No additional cost!! Have been there several times from just a couple of people to a group of 40. Fantastic every time!

We had two parties with our hockey teams. They always make us very affordable prices and we are…read morealways very well received. Also our packages included dinner which is pizza and it was good Kids had a lot of fun. The arcades could be changed, I think they have done their time. Buy the laser tag and the Mini-putt are win-win situation for the kids. Very nice place

Kiddo had lots of fun doing the clip and climb part of the gym. Lots of different options and each…read morewall had three levels of difficulty to make things more challenging (I.e. only the red holds)

I signed my teen son up for a week of advanced rock climbing camp. He was put with an 8 year old…read moreand told to climb walls for young children. Meanwhile my son is an advanced climber (climbs Fridays with Coyote Rock. He hated camp! We called to see if some thing could be done -THERE WERE NO RETURN PHONE CALLS. The camp was $300 and could care less about their students and families. We signed up for a teen advanced (magma camp). They did not honor their online advertisement! Terrible!!!!!!!!! GO ANYWHERE ELSE!!!!!!!!

Carleton Heights Curling was where I learned to curl 30 years ago. The ice was always good and - I…read morespared there over a year a year go twice. I wanted to join but soon found that this was no easy task . The management did not seem very interested in helping me. My emails were either answered slowly or the reply was call back in September or without even willing to advise what the basic fees were. Please contact us later. My last attempt 1st of April this year (2015) was met was we have five full time times on the waiting list for one night in the fall. Another email came almost 2 weeks later saying something might be available on another night they would see. Overall my impression was they were not really interested in getting a new member. This is small a four sheet club and I guess they don't need more curlers. We have lost many curling clubs in Ottawa over the years and perhaps those folks all joined Carleton Heights. It seems that wanting to join and handing over your money should be somewhat less difficult than pulling teeth and the management would be more welcoming.

Not the most modern looking curling rink in Ottawa but still decently maintained. A great place to…read moreget a cheap beer and watch amateur curling! Bar staff are very friendly.

I've only been to the Rideau Curling Club twice, and both times were for indoor roller skating…read moreevent. Parking is convenient, and facilities are clean and accessible. I would really like to return and check out the curling, as I've only ever been on the paved rink in the summer and I'm sure it's a different experience.

I'm glad Darren actually wrote about the curling part of this joint, since that was the one part of…read morethis ice palace that I didn't get to explore! I came here for my significant other's staff Christmas party and I wasn't expecting much when I heard it was at a curling club. I mean, what do you think of when you think "curling club"? For me, it's cigarette smoke filled coat rooms, freezing cold feet and seniors telling me how much I look like my Dad. Not this place! This two level building is awesome for a staff party. We walked into the main room (which is really spacious and would be awesome if you were actually taking in a curling game) which was decorated for Christmas (but not overly so), and has a nice fireplace that's surrounded by black leather chairs (it felt like a mini living room in the middle of the space - love!). There was room for about 10 tables, and it wasn't crowded at all. We had dinner upstairs, which was really lovely (read: it had another bar. AWESOME.) and the staff were absolute dolls. I don't know how they managed so many inebriated IT guys, but they were cheery and charming the whole time. I actually really enjoyed the food. They had a prime rib buffet, and for us non-meat eaters, a veggie lasagna that was basically all cheese and cream (so...delicious but super rich), steamed veggies, 2 kinds of salad and roasted potatoes. They also served dessert (strawberry shortcake) and coffee. All in all, it tasted like a home-cooked meal which was nice. I'm a curling amateur, but I'd love to come to this spot for a game. You can watch from upstairs or downstairs (in the warmth!), and as mentioned, the staff are super. I might have to suggest this for the annual Banks Family Bonspiel! Tip: We had a really hard time finding this spot since Bronson is closed at Somerset right now. It's on Cooper, which is all residential, so keep your eyes peeled for this unassuming brick building.

I did not have fun because my ride was slow. The lady in front of me was going so slow, it was like…read moreshe was walking in the park. When we got to the bottom, I told the crew that I did not enjoy myself because the lady in front was so slow. The lady said, "I need to enjoy the view for the $20 I paid." Lady, if you want to enjoy the view, go for a walk in the park. Don't take the mountain coaster.

I went here skiing on a perfect Friday afternoon. Pro's :…read morenice friendly site, nice variety of runs, great vegetarian food selection. Con's: too expensive, the runs are pretty short. I think next time I will go for another site, however this is not a bad option only too expensive than what I expect to pau for a ski pass.