For those coming from Toronto, the Ottawa Valley rafting region is about a five-hour drive, which makes it a good destinations for those looking to make a weekend out of it. I had the Mazda CX-50 Hybrid from the Mazda press fleet for the trip, and it turned out to be a perfect match for the journey. It was comfortable on the highway and right at home on the dirt and gravel roads with their trail setting. I am also always amazed by the mileage of the hybrids compared to their gas counterparts.

If you are planing on spending some time in the region, many rafting companies also offer accommodations, making it easy to extend the adventure without much extra travel. On this trip, we stayed at Wildwood Nature Escape on the Coulonge River, a peaceful spot that was just a short drive from several of the rafting destinations.

Now for the list. Here are some of the best places to go whitewater river rafting near Ottawa. Let us know if I missed any so we can visit them and update the list.

Where to go whitewater rafting near Ottawa

1. OWL Rafting

Location: Foresters Falls, ON
Website: owlrafting.com

OWL Rafting has been family-run since 1981 and is known for combining adventure with comfort. Guests can choose from low-, medium-, and high-intensity rafting trips, and each day ends with a relaxing pontoon boat ride and BBQ dinner on the river. With on-site camping and cabin rentals, OWL makes it easy to turn your rafting day into a weekend escape.

2. Wilderness Tours Adventure Resort

Location: Foresters Falls, ON
Website: wildernesstours.com

Wilderness Tours is the largest rafting resort in Canada and one of the most popular destinations for rafting enthusiasts. They offer trips ranging from family floats to extreme whitewater adventures. Off the water, the resort provides mountain biking, bungee jumping, live music, and a variety of dining options. Accommodations include camping, rustic cabins, and deluxe lodging, making it ideal for groups and multi-day getaways.

3. Ottawa City Rafting

Location: Ottawa, ON
Website: ottawacityrafting.com

For a quick and accessible adventure, Ottawa City Rafting offers a 2.5-hour guided trip along the Ottawa River, right within city limits. You’ll paddle through fun rapids, float past Parliament Hill, and even have the chance to try cliff jumping. This is the perfect choice for families, beginners, or anyone looking for a unique way to experience the capital without leaving town.

4. RiverRun Rafting & Wilderness Resort

Location: Foresters Falls, ON
Website: riverrunrafting.com

RiverRun offers a balance of wild rafting trips and family-friendly options, making it accessible to all ages. Its location along the Ottawa River provides beautiful shoreline views, and the resort also offers hiking trails and forest exploration for those who want to extend the adventure. Guests can stay overnight in campsites or rustic cabins, giving plenty of flexibility for group sizes.

5. Rafting Momentum

Location: Bryson, QC
Website: raftingmomentum.com

Rafting Momentum has a welcoming atmosphere that appeals to first-timers and seasoned rafters alike. Their packages include full-day rafting trips with meals and camping, as well as add-on partner experiences like vineyard visits, aerial parks, or spa treatments. With options for “Adventure,” “Classic,” and “Family” rafting, it’s a versatile choice for groups of all kinds.

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“First to the Finish”, out now on Amazon Prime, presents an in-depth look at the challenges and successes of its featured drivers, both on and off the track. The screening also reminded me about the upcoming MX-5 Cup race at the Canadian Tire Motorsport Park in Bowmanville, near Toronto. This annual event is a key highlight in Canadian motorsports, allowing fans to witness first-hand the competitive spirit and skill showcased in the docuseries.

After the screening, media got a chance to hold one on one interviews with the drivers to find out more about them.

Heather Hadley’s racing journey began at nine with indoor karting, setting the stage for a career marked by diverse experiences. Her early years were spent in regional go-kart racing, where she honed her skills in both two-stroke and four-stroke karts. Heather noted, “I raced karts for about five years in various types, which helped me adapt to different styles of racing.” The contrasting demands of two-stroke and four-stroke engines — quick maneuvers versus maintaining momentum — provided a foundational understanding that she continues to apply in her professional racing career.

Balancing a racing career and academics, Heather attended the University of North Carolina, managing both with determination. “I’ve been balancing school with my racing career since I started,” she stated. Despite the challenges of exams and race days clashing, Heather remained focused on her goals, often prioritizing her racing career over typical social activities. Support from her professors, who adjusted schedules to accommodate her racing commitments, was pivotal. Heather’s ability to maintain academic performance while pursuing her racing ambitions highlights her exceptional time-management skills and commitment.

Sally Mott’s introduction to go-kart racing was heavily influenced by her father, a seasoned racer since childhood. Growing up surrounded by trophies and the constant hum of F1 races, Sally was naturally drawn to motorsports. Initially hesitant due to the male-dominated environment, she took a hiatus before deciding at age 15 to re-enter racing. Her renewed interest was sparked by the realization that few peers shared her racing background and recognizing the opportunity her father provided by coaching other teenagers. Despite a rough start, including being taken out in her first race, Sally’s determination was cemented during the reflective car ride home, leading to her rapid progress in the sport and eventually securing a scholarship with the MX-5 Cup.

The transition to the competitive MX-5 Cup presented several challenges for Sally, from adapting to racing iconic tracks like Daytona to the financial strains of the sport. The limited $75,000 prize from the MX-5 Cup shootout pushed her to secure sponsorships to fund her racing season. This experience forced Sally to develop business acumen, learning quickly how to network and promote herself. Training plays a crucial role in her preparation, as she incorporates simulator practice, physical fitness routines, and even intense ping-pong sessions to hone her focus and reflexes. Looking ahead, Sally aspires to continue in the MX-5 Cup with ambitions of transitioning to NASCAR, where she aims to become one of the first women to win a cup race. Additionally, she has her sights set on the endurance challenge of the 24 Hours of Le Mans, highlighting her passion and diverse goals within motorsports. Sally believes that documentaries like “First to the Finish” will help broaden public interest in racing, especially promoting women’s participation in the sport.

If you are interested in motorsports, or the drama behind the scenes of them, be sure to check out the new docuseries “First to the Finish” on Amazon Prime.

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After 18 months of lockdowns, Torontonians are finally breaking out of their shells. Everyone is excited to finally get a hair cut, visit with friends, and travel further than the grocery store. We must be mindful, however, that we all need a proper reset as we transition back to our normal daily patterns.

Our city is resilient, and it shows in how we are collectively reopening with fervour. This period has been one of the most disruptive of our lifetime. One that may have taken a toll on our overall well-being and mental health. For frequent gym-users, lockdowns broke routines, while runners and cyclists may have lost partners that helped push them those extra kilometres. Many people experienced a change in their weight, either gaining or losing pounds. And on the mental health front, one in five Canadians screened positive for symptoms of depression, anxiety or post-traumatic stress disorder.

This is where the ancient Japanese tradition of shinrin-yoku, or “forest bathing” is worth considering. In simplest terms, this means leaving your mobile phone behind, ignoring your millionth Zoom call, and going deep into a forest to intentionally reconnect with the earth. It means separating from the daily demands that many of us don’t even think about anymore because they have become so routine.

Scientific evidence supports the benefits of this approach to mental health and wellness. Forest Bathing: How Trees Can Help You Find Health and Happiness by Dr. Qing Li outlines the physiological results of spending time in the woods. “As well as having a higher concentration of oxygen, the air in the forest is also full of immunity-boosting phytoncides,” explains Dr. Li. “They are the natural oils within a plant and are part of the tree’s defence system. There is also a harmless bacterium in the soil that we breathe in called Mycobacterium vaccae. It stimulates the immune system, and our emotions.”

The concept of shinrin-yoku is second nature to Mazda, which is headquartered in Japan. Mazda instills the idea of forest bathing in its designs, purposely crafting each vehicle—from the Mazda3, the current Canadian Car of the Year, right up to their CX-5 and CX-9 SUVs—with the comfort and wellbeing of the occupant at the forefront. This includes uncluttered dashboards, premium materials inspired by nature, and an interior engineered to be quiet and calm. Because of Mazda’s mindful design, getting into one of their vehicles begins the process of disconnecting from your daily demands.

The good news is that Torontonians don’t have to go very far to find old growth areas where they can reconnect with nature. For example, the oldest tree in Ontario is located in the Greenbelt, less than a 45-minute drive from the city. And there are a surprising number of forests in the ravine system that criss-cross Toronto. You don’t need to travel for six hours to the middle of nowhere to find a place for an amazing forest bath – although you may want to!

There is no single magic button that is going to improve everybody’s mental health as we come out of the pandemic. All of us are different, and we each have unique needs, but it’s safe to say that all of us can do with a bit of a reset. There’s no better way to do that than to put our phones down, close our laptops, and drive toward the trees.

Krista Kelly-Gombocz is the Director of People & Culture at Mazda Canada

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