Renfrew County's geography makes it one of the best outdoor recreation regions in Ontario. The county spans the transition from the Ottawa River lowlands to the Canadian Shield and the Algonquin Highlands, creating a diverse landscape with opportunities for everything from gentle riverside walks to multi-day backcountry canoe trips. The relatively low population density means that you can often enjoy these activities without the crowds that characterize outdoor recreation closer to Toronto and Ottawa.
Paddling
The county's rivers are its greatest outdoor asset. The Petawawa, Madawaska, Bonnechere, and Ottawa rivers all offer paddling, ranging from calm flatwater to challenging whitewater. The Petawawa River, flowing from Algonquin Park through the Petawawa area, is one of Ontario's premier whitewater rivers. The Madawaska, accessible from Barry's Bay and Arnprior, offers a mix of rapids and calm stretches through some of the most scenic terrain in the county.
For calmer paddling, the county's lakes and the slower stretches of the Ottawa River provide excellent canoeing and kayaking. Deep River's waterfront is a particularly good launch point for Ottawa River paddling, with wide, scenic water and manageable conditions for most skill levels.
The county's rivers range from gentle flatwater to challenging whitewater.
Hiking and Trails
Algonquin Provincial Park's trail systems are the most well-known hiking in the area, but Renfrew County has numerous trails outside the park as well. Provincial parks including Bonnechere, Carson Lake, and the Shaw Woods offer maintained trail systems. Municipal trails in Pembroke, Petawawa, and other communities provide easy walking and cycling close to town.
The Algonquin Highlands south of Highway 60 have informal trail networks on Crown land that offer excellent hiking for those willing to do some map-reading. The Barron Canyon trail, accessible from the east side of Algonquin Park, is one of the most dramatic short hikes in Ontario, with views down a 100-metre cliff to the Barron River below.
Fishing
Renfrew County offers excellent fishing across a range of species and water types. The Ottawa River is known for walleye and muskellunge. The smaller rivers hold brook trout, smallmouth bass, and in some cases lake trout. The county's Shield lakes, accessible from Crown land and provincial parks, are good for walleye, lake trout, and pike.
The Petawawa River is one of the better river fisheries in Eastern Ontario, with smallmouth bass in its lower reaches and brook trout in its upper stretches. The Madawaska and Bonnechere rivers offer similar opportunities. For local information on fishing access and conditions in the Petawawa area, this local community guide provides useful starting points.
Winter Activities
The county receives reliable snowfall, and winter outdoor activities are a significant part of life here. Cross-country skiing, snowshoeing, snowmobiling, and ice fishing are all popular. The Ontario Federation of Snowmobile Clubs maintains an extensive trail network through the county, and local ski clubs groom cross-country trails at several locations.
Ice fishing on the county's lakes is a winter tradition, with walleye, lake trout, and pike the primary targets. The Ottawa River freezes in some areas and supports ice fishing as well, though conditions vary from year to year and caution is always warranted.
Reliable snowfall makes Renfrew County a strong destination for winter outdoor activities.
Cycling
Road cycling on the county's quiet rural roads is excellent, with low traffic volumes and varied terrain. The roads through the Madawaska Highlands are particularly scenic, though they include significant hills. The flatter roads along the Ottawa River between Arnprior and Pembroke offer easier riding with river views.
Mountain biking opportunities exist on trail networks near several communities, though the county does not yet have the developed mountain bike infrastructure found in some other parts of Ontario. Gravel cycling on the county's extensive network of maintained gravel roads is growing in popularity and offers excellent access to the back-country landscape.