**Please see comments for updated trail conditions**
For sneak peeks of our (almost!) weekly blog posts or just to chat, follow us over on Instagram!
This trail was the perfect fit for a low key Sunday morning adventure. The Osgoode Link Pathway is an awesome multi-use trail that travels from Leitrim road, in Ottawa, to the village of Osgoode. Which you’ve probably never thought to visit, but now that you know you can bike there, why not? End to end, this trail is 20.5 kilometres long.
Getting There
There’s a parking lot with a bike rack at the starting point on Leitrim Road, and that’s where we headed to start our trip. The “address” here is Ottawa Regional Rd 14 & Osgoode Link Pathway, Ottawa, ON, or you can put these coordinates into a Maps program to get you there: 45.316232, -75.633305. There are no washroom facilities anywhere along the trail.
Beginning of the Pathway at Leitrim Road.
The pathway is also linked to the Leitrim OC Transpo station (where there’s a much BIGGER parking lot). The access to the trail is on the west side of the station. If you choose to park here, walk towards the bus stops, cross the street, head to your left, and you’ll see the access gate.
View of Leitrim station access point.
The Route
This trail runs along an abandoned rail track that has been re-purposed by the city. It’s about 3.5 metres wide, and is almost completely flat the entire way. See the elevation chart at the end of this post (although there’s not much to see!). The trail is made up of crushed gravel. We rode hybrid bikes but it is fairly packed down so you could probably use a road bike on it.
Surface texture remains consistent for the length of the trail.
There are multiple access points to the pathway, although there are only official parking lots available at Leitrim Road, Mitch Owens Road, and Osgoode Main Street.
|
Access to Pathway |
Coordinates | From Leitrim Road |
From Buckles Street |
| Earl Armstrong Road | 45.297245, -75.627789 |
2.2K |
18.3K  |
| Ficko Crescent | 45.282346, -75.626023 |
3.9K |
16.6K |
| Rideau Road | 45.277209, -75.625000 |
4.5K |
16K |
| Bowesville Road | 45.274157, -75.624582 |
4.7K |
15.8K |
| Mitch Owens Road | 45.257137, -75.622177 |
6.7K |
13.8K |
| Manotick Station Road | 45.250940, -75.621295 |
7.3K |
13.2K |
| Gough Road | 45.236003, -75.619124 |
9K |
11.5K |
| Flag Station Road | 45.193097, -75.621931 |
13.9K |
6.6K |
| Doyle Road | 45.173491, -75.617754 |
16.1K |
4.4K |
| Snake Island Road | 45.165838, -75.616065 |
16.9K |
3.6K |
| Cabin Road | 45.154021, -75.613575 |
18.3K |
2.2K |
| Osgoode Main Street | 45.143787, -75.611123 |
19.5K |
1K |
There isn’t too much along the path that’s super exciting, but this trail is really great for an easy bike ride in some nice, quiet green space. Riding from Leitrim to Osgoode was fun because things became more rural as we got further from Ottawa.
Cows cooling off beside the Pathway- told you it got more rural. 🙂
Getting Home
The pathway ends at Buckles Street in Osgoode. The end is 1K past Osgoode Main Street, where parking and other good stuff is. What sort of good stuff could possibly be in Osgoode you ask? Ice cream from the chip stand to your right, pizza from the pizza place to your left, and if you’re feeling fancy, art from the art gallery right in front of you. Osgoode Main would be a nice place to stop and rest or grab a snack whether you were at the end of your ride, or planning to head back and make it 40+K.
We were able to cover the 20.5K in just under 2 hours, moving at a very leisurely pace.
I hope this trip report has enough info to get you there too. Let me know in the comments, or share and tag a friend to start planning your next adventure!
Elevation Change and Map
This looks like a lot of elevation change but it’s not. Note that the range on this chart is just over 20 metres.
Our map of the Osgoode Link Pathway. Access at Leitrim is the green pin, end of pathway at Buckles is the orange pin.
Check Out the Other Trails We’ve Biked Near Ottawa!
- The Eastern Part of Trail 1 in Gatineau Park
- The Western Part of Trail 1 in Gatineau Park
- The Huron Trail in Gatineau Park
- The 1000 Islands Waterfront Trail– this one’s a little further, in Gananoque!
Gear We Brought
- Bikes
- Helmets
- Sunglasses
- Saddlebags
- 2 x Nalgene 32 Ounce Bottle
- Sunscreen
- Bug Lotion
- Cell phones
- Camera
- Tire repair kit
- Tire pump
- Small wrenches
- Allan key set
Gear We Forgot
- Snacks (how?!)
Just to share, at Osgoode Main St, further down the road on your left, you will find a little cafe; Red Dot Cafe, with amber patio seating area and they serve great brunch. There’s also a grocery store; Foodland, they have a hot/cold food section as well and a few picnic tables outside.
If you go all the way down to your left on Osgoode Main, past River Rd, you will find a park right beside the Rideau River with docks and boat launch. Very nice spot to chill.
Good call! I should have mentioned that ☺
Thanks for sharing this bike tour of yours. You inspire me to more adventurous.
I really enjoy your website! Now that the weather has finally improved, I’m hoping to try this trail. (I’m a wussy, fair-weather cyclist.)
Is the pathway fully open as I have heard that one of the bridges is closed? Please help!
Hi there, unfortunately I can’t comment, as I haven’t been out on it this year. You could try calling the city of Ottawa and asking them? Adam Hortop seems to be managing a project related to extending the pathway so he might know… His number is 613-580-2424, ext. 20234.
Good luck!
the bridge is definitely closed. I was there this morning, Wed, May 23rd, 2018. I would upload a pic if I knew how:)
We rode the trail from Leitrim Rd. to Mitch Owens today (June 23 2018), and the bridge is still out. However, it was not that hard to get over the barriers and then follow an improvised footpath that led down to the creek. Rocks had been placed in the creek to make crossing possible, even carrying a bike, then scramble up the slope on the other side to get back on the path.
The alternative is to ride on Bowesville Rd. to/from Mitch Owens and bypass this sector of the trail.
Thanks for the updated info!
I contacted Adam Hortop, who is overseeing the project connecting this path to Manotick via existing roads. He wasn’t aware of the missing bridge, but he looked into it and responded with the following information:
“This bridge was removed on an emergency basis over the winter and a project for its reinstatement has been created. The works are funded and approved, but the construction was delayed due to authority outside the City. Construction is anticipated to commence later this month, but the pathway will remain closed until all works are completed.”
Hopefully we’ll have a new bridge later this summer.
Rode the trail September 8th. Brand new bridge is in place, but the signs at the trail entrances at Bowesville and MItch Owens haven’t been removed yet. I have photos, but can’t upload them.
Thanks for the update!
We rode the trail today from Mitch Owens Road to Osgoode. The trail was in good condition and I used my road bike. When we reached Osgoode Main St, we turned left (east) for two blocks to reach the gas station/ convenience store (washrooms)/LCBO. Yes, there is a bridge out and the trail is closed 1.25 km north of Mitch Owens Road.
Thank you for sharing!
Funny thing. All summer, a friend was telling me how to get from my apartment on Hog’s Back road, and would tell me about this pathway, but, I could never find it. This November, I ran a 5K race on this very path. NOW, I know where it is. Bring on the new bikes no season!
Certain paths can be so hard to find! That’s part of why I write this blog- I get annoyed when I want to check something out but don’t have enough info to get there, so I figured I could help other people out 🙂
Was the race the Osgoode fun run?
O, it was a 2K, 5K or 10 K race to raise funds for Diabetes Canada. It was the first annual race called “Pathway to a Cure”. We had medals, touques and treats. 89.9 came out and Mayor Jim Watson helped start us off. It was fun, and hopefully, with more promotion it will become a larger event every year.
I rode most of the Osgoode Link Pathway today. The first 4.5km, between Leitrim Road and Rideau Road, were closed for construction/maintenance. I’m not sure what they’re doing, but it looks like it might (don’t quote me…) include an extension of the path farther north.
Thanks for the great blog, Meg. 🙂
I’ve just cycled/recumbent tricycled the entire length of the path and return, today, as I have twice yearly since the path opened. I am deeply saddened by the conditions that I observed, during today’s ride.
Firstly, the primary section of path, from Leitrim Road to Armstrong Road, is closed for LRT construction. Nowhere is it indicated when this section will reopen for cyclists and walkers/runners. The first 250/300 meters of the next section is covered in ankle deep debris, mostly bits of trees, and is not useable for cycling. There are no signs to explain the conditions and when they will be rectified.
Long sections of the path are overgrown by grass and small foliage, indicating a lack of maintenance. Further, long sections of the path have degraded to loose, fine material and this renders cycling akin to riding in molasses. Compaction of the wearing course is required to eliminate what are unsafe conditions. Long sections of the path have developed deep ruts, evidently caused by heavy vehicle use……which the signage clearly states is prohibited……what gives?
A couple of the gateways have been reduced in width; e.g. my trike is 32 inches wide, hub to hub, and use to fit through the gateways without having to dismount, pick it up, turn if sideways and carry it through the opening! Again, a clear lack of maintenance is evident.
Finally, many of the road crossings have extremely soft shoulders and large elevation changes have developed, through years of erosion and lack of maintenance. These are unsafe conditions, when having to accelerate from a stop to cross the roads/highways. Some of the elevation changes are large enough to cause damage to derailleur cages and chains!
Today’s ride may turn out to be the final one, for a long time to come, unless the once wonderful path is reinstituted. All in all, today’s ride was frustrating, saddening and drudgery. 🙁
I’m so sad to hear that! I moved, so we haven’t biked the trail in some time. Thank you for your input though- I’m going to put a disclaimer in this post so that my readers are aware.
My wife and I just finished riding the entire trail from Leitrim to Osgoode and although the first section is closed, it doesn’t look like there is much activity going on, so we rode it. It was a little rough in places but, it was manageable with our hybrid bikes. We found the path was quite pleasant from Armstrong Road down to Osgoode.
That’s great! Thanks so much for letting us know!
There is another place for food in Osgoode – la Catina Streatery, which serves Mexican food.
Yes, it’s yummy!
I noticed there was some big machinery along the pathway this winter. I think it was at Rideau Road. Do you know if it’s finished, whatever they were doing?
Hi, unfortunately I believe that they are using portions (if not all of) the Link Pathway to bring the LRT out further south.
I rode to the Osgoode trail at Earl Armstrong today. It was completely fenced off on the south side of the road with a do not trespass sign. That was my intended route. The north side had a fence and open gate with active construction happening farther north. The path was very wide and gravelled. About 1/3 the way to Leitrim I got turned around by an equipment driver who told me the LRT is going in there.
Aha! Confirmation!
Apparently it is closed between Leitrim and RIdeau Roads, but when the LRT opens they will have a new MUP running the entire length, that will assumingly connect with the exist portions of the pathway south of Rideau. You can find more info on slide 25 on this community presentation: https://documents.ottawa.ca/sites/documents/files/Stage%202%20O-Train%20South%20Extension%20Information%20Sessions%20-%20February%202020.pdf
There’s a few small typos in your coordinates for the various entry points. I copy/pasted the coordinates for the Manotick Station Road access point into Google Maps and ended up in Kazakhstan – then I added the minus to the longitude and found the right spot. About half of your entries are missing the necessary minus. Love love love your blog, though, and am super grateful for the information you share.
I’m actually doing a collab with Kazakhstan Tourism! 😉
Lol just kidding, total mistake! Thanks for letting me know!
Has anyone tried to ride this abandoned rail right of way all the way to Prescott. It looks very doable. Just a couple detours required from Kemptville to Oxford Station, and crossing over 416. I’m going to try it this Summer on a bike packing trip.
Sounds fun! Report back and let us know how it goes. 🙂
Where is there a new entry point to this trail , there is no longer an entry off Lietrum Road and I checked several side roads along Albion I just can’t seem to find it and biking along Albion is not very enjoyable .
The update on 29 Feb 2023 stated that the O Train South is expected to open 2nd Quarter 2024, so latest it would be the end of June. On the planning presentation earlier, it is stated that, “Closed between Leitrim and Rideau Roads. When the line opens, a new MUP will run the entire length of the extension.” I hope it all goes according to plan because I’m looking forward to getting back on that trail!