A man and woman exploring a cave.

Outdoor Adventures

Pembroke is the Heart of the Ottawa Valley and your gateway to discovering amazing outdoor adventures. Some activities can be found in Pembroke, and others are a short drive away. Plan your trip today to take advantage of all there is to see in the Ottawa Valley.

Whitewater Rafting and Kayaking

The Ottawa Valley is known as the Whitewater Capital of Canada and has fantastic rivers for kayaking, canoeing, paddling, or rafting for people of all skill levels. Several outfitters across the region, including Madawaska Kanu Centre, OWL Rafting, and Wilderness Tours are ready to help you on your whitewater adventure.

Motorsports

For motorsports enthusiasts, including ATVers and snowmobilers, Pembroke and the surrounding region has a set of groomed and prepared trails to enjoy.

Renfrew County ATV Club

The Renfrew County ATV Club works with the Ontario Federation of ATV Clubs offering ATVing excitement on its many miles of managed trails that meander through forests, lakeview vistas, and remarkable Ontario landscapes. For those looking to acquire a trail pass or learn more about the local trail systems, visit the Renfrew County ATV Club website.

Timberline Snowmobile Club

The Timberline Snowmobile Club actively promotes snowmobiling in the Upper Ottawa Valley as a family-oriented sport. To obtain a trail pass or learn more about local snowmobile trails, visit the Snow Country Snowmobile Region OFSC District 6 website.

Trails

Algonquin Trail

Accessible via Waterfront Park, the Algonquin Trail is a year-round multi-use trail for cycling, snowmobiling, ATVing, walking, or just getting out in nature. It runs through Pembroke from the east end at Rankin Street to the west end at Forced Road with stops available in downtown Pembroke to shop and eat, the Pembroke Waterfront Park, as well as several hotels along the trail.

The trail connects Pembroke to the surrounding region from Smiths Falls to Mattawa.

Kiwanis Way

The Kiwanis Way is a non-motorized trail connecting Waterfront Park and Riverside Park. Enjoy a walk, run, or bike along the shores of the Ottawa River.

Regional Trails

Many trails can be found throughout the Ottawa Valley to use year-round. Some of the most well-used include Forest Lea Trails, Shaw Woods, and Silver Spoon & Cranberry Lake Trails.

Algonquin Provincial Park

Nature, wildlife, camping, and canoeing soothe the soul and calm the spirit of anyone who visits Algonquin Park. At the park, you will find three world-class attractions: the Algonquin Visitor Centre with exhibits, gift shop, restaurant and theatre, the Algonquin Logging Museum connecting Algonquin's human history to the Ottawa Valley, and the Algonquin Art Centre, a wildlife and wilderness landscape art gallery.

Algonquin Park offers a wide variety of recreational opportunities for visitors. These include outdoor recreation opportunities ranging from high-intensity day use to low-intensity wilderness experiences, such as backcountry camping, backpacking, biking, boating, camping, canoeing, dog sledding, fishing, hunting and trapping, interpretive walking trails, picnicking, skiing, snowmobiling, swimming, whitewater canoeing, and wildlife watching.

Barron Canyon Trail

Barron Canyon Trail is a 1.5 kilometre loop trail that leads along the north rim of the spectacular 100 metre-deep Barron Canyon and then returning to the parking lot. Please remember that this trail visits a very high, unfenced clifftop from which a fall would be fatal. You may also explore the Barron Canyon by canoe by accessing the canyon from the Brigham Lake parking lot and/or the Barron River parking lot.

Barron Canyon Trail is located at km 29.0 of the Barron Canyon Road, 11 km north of the Sand Lake Gate.

High Falls

High Falls is a small waterchute, perfect for a picnic and a favourite spot in Algonquin Park for a swim to cool off in the heat of summer. This well-marked trail through mixed forest is a pleasant and direct walk to the falls. For a longer walking trip to High Falls, use the Eastern Pines Backpacking Trails that begin from Achray. Directions are available via Google Maps.

Parks

Kinsmen Park

Located outside of Pembroke's public pool at 424 Herbert St., this park features ample green space, a playground, and a multi-sport court.

Pansy Patch Park

Accessible via Dickson Street. Pansy Patch Park is Pembroke's hidden gem. This 10-acre park is the perfect place to relax and enjoy nature, right in the heart of Pembroke. Enjoy a quiet day in the park with the flower beds, trees, and the Muskrat River.

Netherlands' Princess Julianna and her children, including future Queen Beatrix, played in the park while visiting during World War II.

Riverside Park

At Riverside Park, located at 961 Pembroke St. W., you will find Pembroke's beach, public fire pits, campground, sports equipment (including paddleboards, kayaks, and bikes) that can be borrowed free of charge, a variety of sports fields, walking trails, playgrounds, mini golf, and a splash pad.

Rotary Park

Located at the corner of Mary Street and James Street, Rotary Park is a small, centrally-located park with green space, a playground, tennis court, and splash pad. During the summer, free drop-in activities are available for children.

Waterfront Park

Accessible from downtown via Albert or Alexander Street, Waterfront Park is Pembroke's biggest natural attraction. The park features a boardwalk, vast green space, a marina, an amphitheatre, a playground, the scenic Portage Sundial, and walking trails connecting it both to Riverside Park (Kiwanis Way), and to the surrounding region (Algonquin Trail).

Skydiving

Airborne Petawawa is a skydiving centre operated out of the Pembroke and Area Airport. They offer world-class tandem skydiving, accelerated freefall (AFF), solo certifications, wingsuiting courses, military conversions, HD video packages, and coaching for all skydiving disciplines.

Ziplining

Chutes Coulonge has both a historical park and an adventure park just a short drive from Pembroke in nearby Mansfield-et-Pontefract. At Chutes Coulonges, you can experience ziplining, a via ferrata, obstacle courses, and breathtaking views of canyons and waterfalls.

Water Parks

Splash Valley Resort & Waterpark, located less than 30 minutes from Pembroke, features several giant water slides, a splash pad, water trampolines, paddleboats, and mini golf. Plus, there is ziplining and trail hiking available onsite, as well as a golf course adjacent to the park.

Additionally, an inflatable water park can be found at Wilderness Tours.

Cave Exploration

Located just over 30 minutes from Pembroke, Bonnechere Caves gives you the chance to go spelunking 100 feet underground through a cave system formed hundreds of millions of years ago. Fun, adventurous, and educational, these are a sight to be seen. Plus, take advantage of guided tours through the caves to learn more.

Boating

Enjoy guided boat tours from Pembroke around the region on the water with Griff Slaughter Experience. A variety of water sports are available, including tubing, waterskiing, wakeboarding, and surfing. Looking for a way to uniquely celebrate a family tour, birthday, or bachelor(ette) party in the Ottawa Valley? Have a fun and safe day on the water with up to 16 people.

Boating here yourself? Take advantage of visitor boat slips available at the Pembroke Marina, open seasonally from May-October. The marina also offers gasoline, oil, pump-out, public washrooms, showers, laundry facilities, and a public launch ramp. Call the marina at 613-735-6821 ext. 1505 for more information or for availability.

Camping

Pembroke has a tent and trailer campground open seasonally from Victoria Day weekend in May until Thanksgiving weekend in October at Riverside Park. To reserve a campsite, call the campground at 613-735-6821 ext. 1504. Riverside Park offers both sites for fully-serviced RVs as well as basic tent camping.

Fishing

There are many great opportunities for fishing throughout the region. Throughout the year, there are four free fishing weekends set by the provincial government, which can be found on the Ontario Family Fishing website. Outside of these weekends, Canadian residents between the ages of 18 and 64 need to purchase a fishing license to legally fish in Ontario. To see detailed fishing maps from the Ministry of Natural Resources and Forestry, visit Fish ON-Line.

Sports and Recreation

For information on any other sports and recreational activities, visit our Sports and Recreation page.

Skiing and Snowboarding

Many local hills and trails exist within a short drive of Pembroke to enjoy skiing and snowboarding. For downhill options, try Calabogie Peaks Resort, Mont Chilly, Mount Martin Ski Club, or Mount Pakenham. For cross-country options, try Forest Lea Trails, Opeongo Hills, Shaw Woods, or Silver Spoon & Cranberry Lake Trails.