Award: Best Fishing!
Misty mornings, sun-dappled afternoons or dazzling dusks: it's always a good time to cast your line from the docks at W.A. Taylor Conservation Area in Osgoode.
Nestled on the eastern banks of the Rideau River's Long Reach – the longest lock-free stretch of water along the Rideau Canal system – this serene slice of waterfront green space offers an exceptional respite from the daily grind, only 20 minutes from urban Ottawa.
Bass, pike and muskie all call Long Reach home, and local anglers will tell you they've pulled trophy-worthy fish out of that stretch of water. (Whether or not you believe their fish tales is another matter – perhaps you'd better go see for yourself.)
The wide and well-maintained boat launch allows visitors to take their motor boats into the channel, while the large public dock is the perfect spot to ready your canoe for a shoreline tour.
Back on land, enjoy a picnic lunch with the whole family, get a game of frisbee going on the large lawn, or take a stroll through the woods over a hidden bridge (à la Secret Garden!)
It's even got washrooms, so you can stay all day.
Parking is $7 for boat launch users, or $50 for an annual pass valid at all of our paid lots across the watershed.
For all the details and directions, visit https://www.rvca.ca/conservation-areas/fee-required/w-a-taylor-ca.