Beach guide
Ottawa's four supervised beaches — Britannia, Westboro, Mooney's Bay and Petrie Island — with parking, washrooms, food and the 2026 lifeguard season, plus how water testing works now.
Ottawa's four supervised beaches open for the season on Saturday 20 June 2026, with lifeguards on duty daily from noon to 7 pm until 30 August. Two beaches sit on the Ottawa River, two on the Rideau — here's what each one is like, where to park, and how water testing works now.
Lifeguard season: 20 June to 30 August 2026
Lifeguards supervise all four beaches daily from noon to 7 pm. Outside those hours and dates you swim unsupervised. The free Lifejacket Loaner program runs at all four beaches during supervised hours — useful for kids and weaker swimmers.