Bate Island
Bate Island
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Most Recent: Reviews ordered by most recent publish date in descending order.
Detailed Reviews: Reviews ordered by recency and descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as waiting time, length of visit, general tips, and location information.
4.0
30 reviews
Excellent
10
Very good
11
Average
7
Poor
2
Terrible
0
Wanderlusting Canadian
Kingston, Canada87 contributions
Jul 2012 • Couples
Really beautiful area, and an excellent view of the cityscape. Nice fishing and kyaking in the surrounding waters.
Just don't go here at night! Myself and the wife went here to see Ottawa by night and were visited by RCMP telling us we shouldn't be there as it's a local gay prositituion area, and that the prostitutes can be "fairly aggressive". Not sure what that means, but we didn't wait around to find out.
Just don't go here at night! Myself and the wife went here to see Ottawa by night and were visited by RCMP telling us we shouldn't be there as it's a local gay prositituion area, and that the prostitutes can be "fairly aggressive". Not sure what that means, but we didn't wait around to find out.
Written October 20, 2012
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Gary O
Ottawa, Canada24 contributions
Mar 2016
This Island is on the Champlain Bridge between Ontario & Quebec. Picnic tables with BBQ pits. Listen to the water flowing over the rapids. You can see the Parliament Buildings from here. Nothing commercial, just peaceful.
Written March 18, 2016
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Chickadeedee51
Ottawa, Canada331 contributions
Aug 2013 • Friends
Park like setting with picnic tables, ample parking, mature trees and grass lawn. Located in the Ottawa River west of downtown Ottawa, the east end of the island offers good views of Parliament Hill and on the opposite shore downtown Hull/Gatineau. Sunsets viewed from the west side of the island where the waters are often calm can be spectacular. Rapids on the north side of the island attract kayakers which are fun to watch.
Be aware that birds like the island too. Canada Geese, Mallards and gulls can be numerous and they leave behind poopy evidence of their presence. Many people feed the birds so they are often accustomed to people being nearby. Squirrels and groundhogs also make the island their home and the wildlife can be entertaining for nature photographers. Bate Island is a birding hotspot as many species of birds can be found there year round. Its possible to spot Osprey, Bald Eagle, Herons, several duck and gull species, Cliff Swallows nesting on the bridge, and many other songbird species.
Facilities are limited to garbage bins, parking spots and picnic tables. Bring your own food and refreshments.
Be aware that birds like the island too. Canada Geese, Mallards and gulls can be numerous and they leave behind poopy evidence of their presence. Many people feed the birds so they are often accustomed to people being nearby. Squirrels and groundhogs also make the island their home and the wildlife can be entertaining for nature photographers. Bate Island is a birding hotspot as many species of birds can be found there year round. Its possible to spot Osprey, Bald Eagle, Herons, several duck and gull species, Cliff Swallows nesting on the bridge, and many other songbird species.
Facilities are limited to garbage bins, parking spots and picnic tables. Bring your own food and refreshments.
Written October 24, 2013
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Paulshappy
Courtenay, Canada4,147 contributions
Oct 2016 • Family
I spent the first 35 years of my life in Ottawa and never knew of Bates Island, but on my recent visit to my two sons, they took me to Bates Island...WOW.
Very peaceful, very pleasant.
We met some ladies feeding the geese, explored this small sanctuary, and enjoyed the waterfront scenery of both Quebec and Ottawa.
Free parking and no admission...
THIS site should be on your "To-See-List" for sure!
Paul
Very peaceful, very pleasant.
We met some ladies feeding the geese, explored this small sanctuary, and enjoyed the waterfront scenery of both Quebec and Ottawa.
Free parking and no admission...
THIS site should be on your "To-See-List" for sure!
Paul
Written January 1, 2017
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Fnbpost
5 contributions
Aug 2013 • Family
Beautiful, small, clean little Island between Ottawa and Gatineau. Make sure you bring with you nuts, bread and even popcorn to feed the animals. You can also fish from the shore if fishing is your thing. Perfect for a family picnic.
Loved it, will sure be visiting again.
Loved it, will sure be visiting again.
Written September 14, 2013
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
sugarwaffle
Ottawa, Canada13 contributions
Jul 2018 • Couples
Not sure who takes care of this island but it was covered in garbage and looked uncared for. Went during the end of the heat wave / dry spell and the grass is basically dead as well (not that it can be helped), so overall not too impressed. It's a great location, quiet/private and the water is still nice though! I will go back again to see if it gets better.
Written July 7, 2018
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Lifetraveler1
Atlanta, GA1,387 contributions
Jul 2015 • Solo
I stumbled on this island on a previous visit to Ottawa. It is an island park upstream on the Ottawa River between Ottawa and Gatineau.
Location: West of downtown Ottawa, you get to it by crossing on the Champlain Bridge and following that exit sign that will drop you onto the island. There is ample parking space on the island.
Also if you ride bikes, there is a bike land on the Champlain Bridge, so you can ride your bike to the island as well.
On a beautiful and sunny day, you can get some really great photographs of the river, the ducks and the Ottawa skyline in the background.
July 2nd, 2015 was one of those great days. It is a nice park. See the attached photographs. Some were taken from the bridge itself towards the downtown area.
Location: West of downtown Ottawa, you get to it by crossing on the Champlain Bridge and following that exit sign that will drop you onto the island. There is ample parking space on the island.
Also if you ride bikes, there is a bike land on the Champlain Bridge, so you can ride your bike to the island as well.
On a beautiful and sunny day, you can get some really great photographs of the river, the ducks and the Ottawa skyline in the background.
July 2nd, 2015 was one of those great days. It is a nice park. See the attached photographs. Some were taken from the bridge itself towards the downtown area.
Written July 4, 2015
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
JohnTheBear
Toronto, Canada4,498 contributions
Pretty Little Island Sanctuary in the Ottawa River. Lot of picnic tables and a view of the downtown skyline. Lots of birds too (gulls, ducks) etc. and it can get a little yucky.
Written March 4, 2009
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Kevin B
Kemptville, Canada1,283 contributions
Jul 2017 • Couples
Stopped off to have a picnic lunch while on a bike trek around Ottawa. Very nice park. Lots of picnic tables. Watched people fishing and also some stand up surfing in the rapids. Very pleasant and relaxing atmosphere.
Written July 9, 2017
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
HJToursInc
Ottawa, ON112 contributions
We spend a relaxing afternoon in the summer sitting along the water's edge. Great view of downtown Ottawa and you can also see the shoreline of the Quebec side. You can watch people in kayaks and hear the water babbling over the rocks. Very calming.
The only negative were the Canada geese and all their droppings.
The only negative were the Canada geese and all their droppings.
Written February 10, 2012
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Is it possible to kayak or canoe to Bate Island? If so, what's the closest area to do so? Looking to help a friend out with a proposal and am thinking a "mini private island" might do the trick...
Written April 12, 2017
We were interested in the history of this island.
Written April 9, 2016
Morgan N
Ottawa, Canada
what's the water quality here for fishing? Is it safe to eat the fish caught here?
Written June 30, 2015
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