Generated by All in One SEO v4.9.10, this is an llms.txt file, used by LLMs to index the site. # Naturally Ottawa Why would you live anywhere else? ## Sitemaps - [XML Sitemap](https://naturallyottawa.com/sitemap.xml): Contains all public & indexable URLs for this website. ## Posts - [Death and Life of a Forest Tree](https://naturallyottawa.com/death-and-life-of-a-forest-tree/) - Do not mourn the passing of a tree. Disturbance is a natural and necessary part of the life of a forest. - [Spring](https://naturallyottawa.com/spring/) - Spring and dawn are always closer than we believe, if we can hold on a little longer. - [Spring Ephemerals](https://naturallyottawa.com/spring-ephemerals/) - A reflection and celebration of spring wildflowers. - [Algonquin Park](https://naturallyottawa.com/algonquin-park/) - An account of an enduring love affair with Algonquin Park. - [Wildlife](https://naturallyottawa.com/wildlife/) - A gallery of wildlife photographs from Ottawa, Ontario - [Wildflowers and other Plants](https://naturallyottawa.com/wildflowers-and-other-plants/) - A gallery of wildflowers and other plants from the Ottawa area. - [Marlborough Forest -- Part Two, the Jock River](https://naturallyottawa.com/__trashed/) - A paddle through the Richmond Fen Swamp on a spring day. - [The Marlborough Forest - Part One](https://naturallyottawa.com/the-marlborough-forest-part-one/) - The Marlborough Forest is Ottawa's largest and most diverse natural area. Part One introduces the forest and describes the Cedar Grove Trail. - [Wetlands](https://naturallyottawa.com/wetlands/) - A photographic tribute and description of the wetlands of Ottawa and the Ottawa Valley. - [Dawn in the Carp Hills](https://naturallyottawa.com/dawn-in-the-carp-hills/) - Autumn photographs of the Carp Hills at dawn, along with photographs from the Carp River. - [Deep River - Part Two](https://naturallyottawa.com/deep-river-part-two/) - Picturesque Deep River, 2 hours from Ottawa, offers some of the finest flatwater paddling on the Ottawa River, as well as outstanding hiking and fishing. - [Carp Hills](https://naturallyottawa.com/carp-hills/) - The morning chorus of songbirds has quieted. The spring sunshine has dried the dew and warmed the rocks. Sprinkles of mica glint in the thin soil under your feet. Green darners hunt over the beaverpond, while a swallowtail settles on to a bed of moss and lichen behind you. Rufous-sided towhees sing from scattered pines, common yellowthroats - [Old and New Along the Rideau River](https://naturallyottawa.com/old-and-new-along-the-rideau-river/) - An account of a paddle up the Rideau River through Ottawa, travelling through 4000 years of history. - [Planning the Manotick Drumlin Forest](https://naturallyottawa.com/planning-the-manotick-drumlin-forest/) - The Manotick Drumlin Forest, an Area of Natural and Scientific Interest, was recently acquired by the City of Ottawa. - [Spring Birding in West Ottawa](https://naturallyottawa.com/spring-birding-in-west-ottawa/) - An account of a birdwatching cycle trip along the Ottawa River and in Ottawa's west end. - [Hiking the Crazy Horse Trail](https://naturallyottawa.com/hiking-the-crazy-horse-trail/) - Photographs and a description of Ottawa's Crazy Horse hiking trail in the beautiful Carp Hills. - [Deep River - Part One](https://naturallyottawa.com/deep-river-part-one/) - A description and photographs of the natural areas around the town of Deep River, in the Ottawa Valley, Ontario, Canada. - [Mer Bleue](https://naturallyottawa.com/mer-bleue/) - Mer Bleue is an internationally significant wetland and the second largest bog in Southern Ontario. - [Barron River, Algonquin Park](https://naturallyottawa.com/barron-river-algonquin-park/) - Canoeing and camping on the Barron River, Algonquin Park - [Landscapes](https://naturallyottawa.com/landscapes/) - A gallery of landscape photographs from Ottawa and the surrounding region. - [The Wonder of Mushrooms](https://naturallyottawa.com/the-wonder-of-mushrooms/) - Mushrooms are not only a fascinating subject to observe and photography, but offer a glimpse into one of the most fundamental ecological relationships on Earth. - [Constance Creek](https://naturallyottawa.com/constance-creek/) - Constance Creek provides a unique opportunity to experience a riverine wetland as it would have appeared to Ottawa's Aboriginal people 2500 years ago. - [Chapman Mills and Heart's Desire, South Nepean](https://naturallyottawa.com/chapman-mills-and-hearts-desire-south-nepean/) - A photo-essay on the woodlots of South Nepean, Ottawa, Ontario. Chapman Mills East, Chapman Mills West, and Heart's Desire are green, suburban gems. - [Poole Creek, Stittsville](https://naturallyottawa.com/poole-creek-stittsville/) - Poole Creek is one of Ottawa's outstanding urban natural features, and a wonderful example of urban stream conservation and restoration. - [Bilberry Creek Ravine, Orleans](https://naturallyottawa.com/bilberry-creek-ravine-orleans/) - Bilberry Creek Ravine, in the community of Orleans, in Ottawa, is one of the City's most outstanding natural areas, deserving of recognition and protection. - [Time of Rebirth](https://naturallyottawa.com/time-of-rebirth/) - The second week of May is one of the best times to enjoy the natural wonders of Ottawa. - [Mud Lake, Britannia](https://naturallyottawa.com/mud-lake-brittania/) - Mud Lake. Such an unappealing, dull name for such a beautiful, diverse place. It conveys nothing of the delightful chorus of migrating warblers in the surrounding forest and thickets on a early May morning. It gives no hint of the late, summer sun setting aglow the surface of the Ottawa River and silhouetting a lone fly - [The Rideau River](https://naturallyottawa.com/the-rideau-river/) - The Rideau River is a gem set in the heart of Ottawa. It is place for canoeing, fishing, cycling, photography and simple relaxation in the heart of the City. - [Morris Island and the Snye River](https://naturallyottawa.com/morris-island-and-the-snye-river/) - Morris Island and the Snye River are one of Ottawa's most outstanding natural areas. - [Skiing in Gatineau Park](https://naturallyottawa.com/skiing-in-gatineau-park/) - Favourite places to ski in Gatineau Park - [Learning to love Ottawa](https://naturallyottawa.com/learning-to-love-ottawa/) - How I came to love Ottawa from the perspective of a canoe. - [In search of quiet on the Carp River](https://naturallyottawa.com/in-search-of-quiet/) - "It's easy to be a holy man on top of a mountain." I don't know the origin of this quote, or where I heard it. But I recalled it a couple of weeks ago. I had guided my canoe gently on to a shallow mud flat at the edge of the Carp river, and then leaned - [Corkstown Bridge](https://naturallyottawa.com/corkstown-bridge/) - Photographs of the Rideau Canal from the Corkstown Footbridge through the seasons. - [Mississippi River and the Cody Creek Black Maple Swamp](https://naturallyottawa.com/mississippi-river-and-the-cody-creek-black-maple-swamp/) - A paddle from the Village of Pakenham down the Mississippi River to Cody Creek. - [The Ottawa River](https://naturallyottawa.com/the-ottawa-river/) - Places to visit along the Ottawa River within the City. - [Paddling at Bate Island](https://naturallyottawa.com/paddling-at-bate-island/) - A visit to "The Wave": an urban, whitewater paddling site at Bate Island on the Ottawa River. - [The Barron River on Thanksgiving Weekend](https://naturallyottawa.com/the-barron-river-on-thanksgiving-weekend/) - I woke to a quiet morning. Slowing working out the kinks in my back and neck, I wriggled out of my sleeping bag and dressed as quietly as possible in the twilight of the tent. Thomas stirred and asked about the time. I told him that it was early, and that he could sleep longer if he wished. He pulled himself - [Early Spring Birding: Mer Bleue, Bearbrook, Cardinal Creek](https://naturallyottawa.com/early-spring-birding/) - With a week of warmer weather behind us, I had a feeling that today would be good for the first expedition of the Spring. I rose at 5 AM, careful not to wake Sue, dressed quietly, packed my binoculars and camera, and pulled my bike from the basement. I then cycled over to Elgin Street - [The dog days of summer](https://naturallyottawa.com/the-dog-days-of-summer/) - According to various sources, the phrase, "the dog days of summer" originated with the Romans. The Romans noticed that the hottest days of summer tended to occur during a period when the "Dog Star", Sirius, rose in the morning with the sun: a period from mid-July to mid-August, by our current calendar. The phrase has remained - [Growing up; growing older](https://naturallyottawa.com/growing-up-growing-older/) - Thomas and I cycled the Hogs Back loop today. I wanted to assess his capacity for longer rides -- perhaps to Fitzroy Harbour Provincial Park, or down to Dawn and Chris' home in Oxford Mills. He rode to school through the autumn, and both his speed and endurance seem good. I don't think that he'll - [Goodbye Kodachrome, hello Spring.](https://naturallyottawa.com/goodbye-kodachrome-hello-spring/) - I dropped into Mags and Fags on Friday, after a lunchtime meeting at Bridgehead. With ten days of holidays ahead, I wanted to pick up a magazine or two. Browsing the shelves, I came across a photography magazine with a story about the last roll of Kodachrome film. The article was written by the same ## Pages - [About Naturally Ottawa](https://naturallyottawa.com/) - A guide to the best parks and natural areas around Ottawa, Ontario for canoeing, cycling, hiking and enjoyment of nature - [Index](https://naturallyottawa.com/posts-index/) - NATURALLY OTTAWA Bilberry Creek Ravine, Orleans Carp Hills Chapman Mills and Heart's Desire, Nepean Constance Creek Crazy Horse Trail Dawn in the Carp Hills Death and Life of a Forest Tree Marlborough Forest - Part One Marlborough Forest - Part Two, the Richmond Fen Mer Bleue Mississippi River and the Cody Creek Black Maple Swamp - [Conservation: How Can I Help?](https://naturallyottawa.com/about-2/conservation-how-can-i-help/) - Suggestions about how anyone can help to promote, conserve and manage Ottawa's Natural Areas ## Categories - [Active Ottawa](https://naturallyottawa.com/category/active-ottawa/) - [Beyond Ottawa](https://naturallyottawa.com/category/beyond-ottawa/) - [Naturally Ottawa](https://naturallyottawa.com/category/naturally-ottawa/) - [Personally Ottawa](https://naturallyottawa.com/category/personally-ottawa/) - [Galleries](https://naturallyottawa.com/category/galleries/) ## Tags - [Paddling](https://naturallyottawa.com/tag/paddling/) - [whitewater](https://naturallyottawa.com/tag/whitewater/) - [canoeing](https://naturallyottawa.com/tag/canoeing/) - [kayaking](https://naturallyottawa.com/tag/kayaking/) - [surfing](https://naturallyottawa.com/tag/surfing/) - [stand-up paddleboard](https://naturallyottawa.com/tag/stand-up-paddleboard/) - [Ottawa River](https://naturallyottawa.com/tag/ottawa-river/) - [stromatolites](https://naturallyottawa.com/tag/stromatolites/) - [cycling](https://naturallyottawa.com/tag/cycling/) - [fishing](https://naturallyottawa.com/tag/fishing/) - [wildlife](https://naturallyottawa.com/tag/wildlife/) - [beach](https://naturallyottawa.com/tag/beach/) - [Mississippi River](https://naturallyottawa.com/tag/mississippi-river/) - [Cody Creek](https://naturallyottawa.com/tag/cody-creek/) - [Black Maple Swamp](https://naturallyottawa.com/tag/black-maple-swamp/) - [Pakenham](https://naturallyottawa.com/tag/pakenham/) - [turtles](https://naturallyottawa.com/tag/turtles/) - [photography](https://naturallyottawa.com/tag/photography/) - [Corkstown Footbridge](https://naturallyottawa.com/tag/corkstown-footbridge/) - [Rideau Canal](https://naturallyottawa.com/tag/rideau-canal/) - [rowing](https://naturallyottawa.com/tag/rowing/) - [skating](https://naturallyottawa.com/tag/skating/) - [Gatineau Park](https://naturallyottawa.com/tag/gatineau-park/) - [skiing](https://naturallyottawa.com/tag/skiing/) - [Old Chesea](https://naturallyottawa.com/tag/old-chesea/) - [L'Orêe Du Bois](https://naturallyottawa.com/tag/loree-du-bois/) - [Old Chelsea Pub](https://naturallyottawa.com/tag/old-chelsea-pub/) - [Luigi's Pizza](https://naturallyottawa.com/tag/luigis-pizza/) - [Ottawa](https://naturallyottawa.com/tag/ottawa/) - [nature photographs](https://naturallyottawa.com/tag/nature-photographs/) - [landscapes](https://naturallyottawa.com/tag/landscapes/) - [Morris Island](https://naturallyottawa.com/tag/morris-island/) - [Snye River](https://naturallyottawa.com/tag/snye-river/) - [nature photography](https://naturallyottawa.com/tag/nature-photography/) - [conservation](https://naturallyottawa.com/tag/conservation/) - [Rideau River](https://naturallyottawa.com/tag/rideau-river/) - [Bilberry Creek](https://naturallyottawa.com/tag/bilberry-creek/) - [Orleans](https://naturallyottawa.com/tag/orleans/) - [Urban Natural Area](https://naturallyottawa.com/tag/urban-natural-area/) - [forest](https://naturallyottawa.com/tag/forest/) - [hiking](https://naturallyottawa.com/tag/hiking/) - [snowshoeing](https://naturallyottawa.com/tag/snowshoeing/) - [forest ecology](https://naturallyottawa.com/tag/forest-ecology/) - [Pink Lake](https://naturallyottawa.com/tag/pink-lake/) - [Shirley's Bay](https://naturallyottawa.com/tag/shirleys-bay/) - [Baie McLaurin](https://naturallyottawa.com/tag/baie-mclaurin/) - [Poole Creek](https://naturallyottawa.com/tag/poole-creek/) - [South Nepean](https://naturallyottawa.com/tag/south-nepean/) - [Chapman Mills](https://naturallyottawa.com/tag/chapman-mills/) - [Heart's Desire](https://naturallyottawa.com/tag/hearts-desire/) - [wildflowers](https://naturallyottawa.com/tag/wildflowers/) - [trees](https://naturallyottawa.com/tag/trees/) - [Jock River](https://naturallyottawa.com/tag/jock-river/) - [archaeology](https://naturallyottawa.com/tag/archaeology/) - [Aboriginal history](https://naturallyottawa.com/tag/aboriginal-history/) - [fungi](https://naturallyottawa.com/tag/fungi/) - [mushrooms](https://naturallyottawa.com/tag/mushrooms/) - [forests](https://naturallyottawa.com/tag/forests/) - [evolution](https://naturallyottawa.com/tag/evolution/) - [Carp Hills](https://naturallyottawa.com/tag/carp-hills/) - [Barron River](https://naturallyottawa.com/tag/barron-river/) - [Algonquin Park](https://naturallyottawa.com/tag/algonquin-park/) - [camping](https://naturallyottawa.com/tag/camping/) - [Mer Bleue](https://naturallyottawa.com/tag/mer-bleue/) - [bog](https://naturallyottawa.com/tag/bog/) - [wetland](https://naturallyottawa.com/tag/wetland/) - [Deep River](https://naturallyottawa.com/tag/deep-river/) - [Birdwatching](https://naturallyottawa.com/tag/birdwatching/) - [peregrine](https://naturallyottawa.com/tag/peregrine/) - [ice cream](https://naturallyottawa.com/tag/ice-cream/) - [Manotick](https://naturallyottawa.com/tag/manotick/) - [Manotick Drumlin Forest](https://naturallyottawa.com/tag/manotick-drumlin-forest/) - [Mahogany Woodlot](https://naturallyottawa.com/tag/mahogany-woodlot/) - [environmental planning](https://naturallyottawa.com/tag/environmental-planning/) - [environmental management](https://naturallyottawa.com/tag/environmental-management/) - [development](https://naturallyottawa.com/tag/development/) - [Early Woodland](https://naturallyottawa.com/tag/early-woodland/) - [Carp River](https://naturallyottawa.com/tag/carp-river/) - [Hudsonian godwit](https://naturallyottawa.com/tag/hudsonian-godwit/) - [beavers](https://naturallyottawa.com/tag/beavers/) - [Ottawa Valley](https://naturallyottawa.com/tag/ottawa-valley/) - [Marlborough Forest](https://naturallyottawa.com/tag/marlborough-forest/) - [snowmobiling](https://naturallyottawa.com/tag/snowmobiling/) - [flooding](https://naturallyottawa.com/tag/flooding/) - [floodplain](https://naturallyottawa.com/tag/floodplain/) - [Richmond Fen](https://naturallyottawa.com/tag/richmond-fen/) - [Village of Richmond](https://naturallyottawa.com/tag/village-of-richmond/) - [Plants](https://naturallyottawa.com/tag/plants/) - [Gallery](https://naturallyottawa.com/tag/gallery/) - [Killarney Lodge](https://naturallyottawa.com/tag/killarney-lodge/) - [Brent](https://naturallyottawa.com/tag/brent/) - [Lake of Two Rivers](https://naturallyottawa.com/tag/lake-of-two-rivers/) - [Cache Lake](https://naturallyottawa.com/tag/cache-lake/) - [Madawaska River](https://naturallyottawa.com/tag/madawaska-river/) - [Spring](https://naturallyottawa.com/tag/spring/) - [Depression](https://naturallyottawa.com/tag/depression/) - [Hope](https://naturallyottawa.com/tag/hope/) - [Dawn](https://naturallyottawa.com/tag/dawn/) - [spring wildflowers](https://naturallyottawa.com/tag/spring-wildflowers/) - [spring ephemerals](https://naturallyottawa.com/tag/spring-ephemerals/) - [ecology](https://naturallyottawa.com/tag/ecology/) - [Crazy Horse Trail](https://naturallyottawa.com/tag/crazy-horse-trail/) - [South March Highlands](https://naturallyottawa.com/tag/south-march-highlands/)