Beaches

Map of Renfrew County beaches along the Ottawa River Checklist

See the Waterkeeper Swim Guide map for Renfrew County beach information.

McLean Beach (Arnprior)

Size of beach: 5m x 2m

River bed drop off: very shallow

River bed: sandy with lots of protuding rocks

Type of sand: fine and sparse

Picnic areas: large well kept grassy area 60m x 30m with several tables

Lifeguards: no

Boat launch: no

Facilities: rest rooms in park across McLean Ave

Surrounding area: large sports field complex across street, also a childrens' playscape

Feature: nearby access to the MacNamara Conservation Trails

Robert Simpson Park

Size of beach: 60m x 25m

River bed drop off: gentle

River bed: sandy

Type of sand: clean, soft and well maintained

Picnic areas: very large well kept grassy area

Lifeguards: yes

Boat launch: no

Facilities: rest and change rooms and canteen

Surrounding area: part of a large family recreation complex with playscape, spray pad, bandshell, fountain, flowers

Feature: 2km trail along the Madawaska River to Madawaska Blvd

Braeside (Arnprior)

Size of beach: 60m x 15m

River bed drop off: rapid

River bed: stoney

Sand: sand and pebbles, poorly maintained

Picnic areas: no

Lifeguards: no

Boat launch: no

Facilities: compost toilet

Surrounding area: boat launch at 642 Usborne has a modest size beach, with picnic tables and flush toilets

Feature: Boat launch area good for family picnic, public beach is good for launching an upstream shoreline ramble

Riverside Park (Pembroke)

Size of beach: 120m x 30m

River bed drop off: very gradual, swimming area marked off by buoys

River bed: sandy with some muddy spots

Type of sand: medium to coarse

Picnic areas: yes – part of a 30-hectare, fully-serviced trailer and tent campground park owned by the City of Pembroke with shade trees, pavilions

Lifeguards: yes

Boat launch: no

Facilities: public rest rooms

Surrounding area: mini-golf, horseshoe pits, ball diamonds, soccer pitches, playground apparatus, splash pad, snack bar

Feature: connected to Pembroke Marina/Waterfront Park by the 1.5-km Kiwanas Walkway. The Pembroke Area Field Naturalists have recorded as many as 56 bird species on their annual field trip along the Walkway in late August, including gulls, terns, ducks, geese, cormorants and songbirds such as vireos, warblers, sparrows and finches. Surprises usually occur.

Petawawa Point Beach (Petawawa)

Size of beach: 400m x 40m

River bed drop off: gradual to moderate drop-off to a deeper boat channel. Passing motorboats create small waves breaking on the beach

River bed: sandy, some freshwater mussels

Type of sand: medium

Picnic areas: yes

Lifeguards: no

Boat launch: yes - the beach on the east side of Petawawa Point has a heavily used boat launch and is designated as a no-swimming area

Facilities: public rest rooms, beach volleyball court, play structure, snack bar and canoe/kayak/tandem kayak rentals

Surrounding area: Petawawa Point extends as a series of islands across the Ottawa River to Quebec. The confluence of the Petawawa and Ottawa Rivers is 500 m upriver from the point.

Feature: paddling among the islands by canoe or kayak (be careful crossing the motorboat channels, marked by buoys)

Lamure Beach (Deep River)

Size of beach: ~150 metres

River bed drop off: very gradual sloping, no sharp drop off within the buoy-lined swimming area, depth approx. 6 feet at 100 metres off shore

River bed: sandy, few clams

Type of sand: fine white near wateredge – good for sandcastles

Picnic areas: yes, plus covered gazebo

Lifeguards: yes, 12-5 pm, seven days a week

Boat launch: nearby Deep River Marina

Facilities: flush toilets and drinking fountain, BBQ’s (hibachi style), play structures, volleyball net

Surrounding area: Lovely view of Ottawa River and Laurentian Lowlands on Quebec side, surrounded by forest and near many trails, 10 min walk to Deep River downtown area

Feature: bald eagles, berries (in season)

Pine Point Beach (Deep River)

Size of beach: ~200 metres

River bed drop off: quite gradual sloping for approx. 100 metres and then abrupt drop off – water depths vary with sand bars and water levels. Drop off is close to shore near the point. Very abrupt dropoff!

River bed: sandy, some clams and patches with weeds in chestdeep water

Type of sand: fine white near wateredge – good for sandcastles

Picnic areas: no

Lifeguards: no

Boat launch: nearby Deep River Marina

Facilities: flush toilets

Surrounding area: Lovely view of Ottawa River and Laurentian Lowlands on Quebec side, surrounded by mixed forest with abundant trails

Feature: bald eagles, berries (in season)

Lake Clear Public Beach (Bonnechere Valley Township)

Size of beach: 12m x 60m

Lake bed drop off: very gradual one needs to wade at least 200m to get to swimming depth as illustrated by water colour change in above photo

Lake bed: smooth clean sand

Type of sand: fine white near wateredge – good for sandcastles

Picnic areas: no

Lifeguards: no

Boat launch: no

Facilities: compost toilets

Surrounding area: an ideal starting point for a paddle to nearby Hurds Creek with its many snapping turtles

Feature: peregrin falcons