About Dows Lake Pavilion

Dows Lake Pavilion is the ideal location for people looking to enjoy the Rideau Canal and Dows Lake. Situated at 1001 Queen Elizabeth Drive in Ottawa, it offers an abundance of parking, options for recreational activities, appetising restaurants with scenic water views and is an easy access point for individuals that don't want to battle traffic or deal with the headache of finding a parking spot in a busy downtown core.

The Pavilion is a favourite destination for residents and tourists of Ottawa. It's a hub for outdoor enthusiasts as it's a great spot to exercise, relax and enjoy Ottawa's beautiful scenery with food and beverage options after.

In the winter months the Pavilion is the gateway to the world's longest skating rink and site of events during the Winterlude festival. In the spring, it's a focal point of formal tulip displays during the Tulip Festival and throughout the summer it plays host to many water focused recreational activities.

The Pavilion is the best place to start your canal adventure since there are more parking options at this location than downtown and the skate is less crowded.

People looking to enjoy this beautiful site can rent canoes, kayaks and paddleboats in the warmer months and rent skates and/or sleighs from the Pavilion so they can explore the National Capital Regions finest treasure. There's also a Marina offering fuel and serviced docking facilities to boaters.