Petrie Beaches
Petrie Island has two main beaches on the Ottawa River: River Beach and East Beach. There is also a smaller beach for children near the picnic area. The beaches are operated by the City of Ottawa. Public parking for 320 vehicles is provided (parking fee is $2 for 5 hours, 7:00-18:00, 7 days a week).
Beach Info
All of the City of Ottawa’s beaches are open and supervised between the Victoria Day weekend and the third week of August.
The beaches are operated by the City of Ottawa and are supervised during the summer by lifeguards from noon to 7 pm, 7 days a week.
Public washrooms are open Monday to Thursday 10:30 am – 9 PM, Friday to Sunday 10:30 am – 7 PM, between Victoria Day weekend and Labour Day weekend.
There are no change rooms available.
Water fountains are in the pavilion. A canteen sells an assortment of food and drinks.
For further information, call the City of Ottawa’s general information line at 311.
Picnic Area Beach
In addition to the two main beaches, there is a smaller beach near the picnic areas. Shade is provided by the nearby trees. The beach is more suitable for children.
Getting Here and Parking
Petrie Island is located on Highway 174 at Trim Road, at the east end of Ottawa. Turn north from 174 to Trim Road, then zigzag left then right onto Tweddle Road. There are 400 parking spots. $2 for 5 hours, enforced from Victoria Day to Labour Day weekends, from 9 AM to 5 PM. The City of Ottawa controls the parking, and bylaw officers regularly ticket vehicles, so beware.
Stuemer Park
The beach area is named in honour of Diane King Stuemer. Diane, with husband Herbert Stuemer and sons Michael, Jonathan and Christopher, rented out their Fallingbrook home and embarked on a 4-year circumnavigation of the world in their sailboat Northern Magic, starting at Petrie Island. Diane wrote a popular weekly column about their adventures in the Ottawa Citizen, and a book Voyage of the Northern Magic. Upon their return to Petrie Island in 2000, they were met by a crowd of several thousand. Diane died of melanoma in 2003.