Some weekends call for water, trees and not much else: a trail you can finish before lunch, a bay calm enough to paddle and a picnic table with a river view. Out in Fitzroy Harbour, a small island on the Ottawa River delivers exactly that. Plenty of Ottawa residents still haven’t found it.
This Morris Island Conservation Area guide, updated for October 2026, covers 11 ways to spend a visit, from 6 km of trails and Ottawa River kayaking to fishing platforms, fall photography and winter snowshoeing. We also checked five nearby alternatives for days when you want rentals, a beach or free parking. Start here to plan the right visit for the season.
In This Guide
- Quick picks: Morris Island Conservation Area at a glance
- The best ways to visit Morris Island Conservation Area in Ottawa right now
- Tips for visiting Morris Island and other Ottawa conservation areas worth knowing
- Frequently asked questions about Morris Island Conservation Area
- More Ottawa guides worth exploring
Quick picks: Morris Island Conservation Area at a glance
Short on time? These five picks give the fastest picture of what the island and its neighbours offer.
1. Morris Island Hiking Trails
Walk about 6 km of woodland and wetland trails with Ottawa River views in Fitzroy Harbour, for $7 per vehicle.
2. Morris Island Ottawa River Kayaking
Paddle sheltered bays and small islands from designated launches with your own boat, for $7 per vehicle.
3. Morris Island Fall Colours
Photograph autumn leaves reflected in calm bays, a City of Ottawa recommendation, for $7 per vehicle.
4. Morris Island Accessible Nature Trail
Follow a 500-metre wheelchair-accessible loop near accessible washrooms, for $7 per vehicle.
5. Fitzroy Provincial Park
Rent a canoe or kayak and hike two trails at a nearby provincial park in Fitzroy Harbour. A day-use permit is required.
The best ways to visit Morris Island Conservation Area in Ottawa right now
The quick picks give the overview. Below is every way to experience the Morris Island Conservation Area Ottawa offers, followed by five nearby alternatives worth knowing.
1. Morris Island Conservation Area
A 47-hectare island conservation area offers 6 km of woodland trails, Ottawa River views, sheltered bays, fishing platforms and accessible nature walks. Managed by the Mississippi Valley Conservation Authority (MVCA), this Morris Island Conservation Area Ontario site mixes forest, wetlands, small islands and sheltered stretches of the river. It opens seven days a week from dawn until dusk, and 2026 pricing lists a $7 four-hour day pass per vehicle. Accessible washrooms sit near the parking area, and dogs must stay leashed.
Good to Know
🔥 Known for: A $7 four-hour day pass, open dawn to dusk
📍 Location: Morris Island Conservation Area, Fitzroy Harbour, 156 Morris Island Drive, Ottawa, ON
⭐ Vibe: Outdoor, dog friendly, accessible
2. Morris Island Hiking Trails
Approximately 6 km of interconnected nature trails pass through mature woodland, wetlands and scenic Ottawa River viewpoints. The Morris Island Conservation Area trails offer views of the river and nearby islands along the way. The Ottawa Field-Naturalists’ Club describes the main path as a through-route rather than a loop, so anyone hunting for a Morris Island Conservation Area map should plan to return the way they came. Wet or uneven sections are possible after rain, and leashed dogs are welcome on designated trails.
Good to Know
🔥 Known for: About 6 km of trails, with a through-route main path
📍 Location: Morris Island Conservation Area, Fitzroy Harbour, 156 Morris Island Drive, Ottawa, ON
⭐ Vibe: Outdoor, active, dog friendly
3. Morris Island Accessible Nature Trail
A 500-metre wheelchair-accessible loop allows visitors with different mobility needs to experience the conservation area’s natural surroundings. The City of Ottawa identifies this 0.5 km loop as a shorter alternative to the longer woodland routes, with accessible washrooms near the main lot. It is the easy hiking option on the island, though snow, ice or wet conditions can affect accessibility.
Good to Know
🔥 Known for: A 0.5 km wheelchair-accessible loop
📍 Location: Morris Island Conservation Area, Fitzroy Harbour, 156 Morris Island Drive, Ottawa, ON
⭐ Vibe: Accessible, family friendly, relaxed
4. Morris Island Ottawa River Kayaking
Sheltered bays and small offshore islands create opportunities for kayaking along the Ottawa River’s quieter shoreline sections. Morris Island Conservation Area kayaking starts from designated canoe launches, and the Ottawa Field-Naturalists’ Club notes that paddling around the island reveals numerous small inlets and shoreline habitats. Canoeing is officially supported too, but no canoe, kayak or other rentals are advertised, so bring your own boat and safety gear. Check currents, wind and water levels before launching, since the Morris Island Conservation Area Ottawa River shoreline changes with conditions.
Good to Know
🔥 Known for: Sheltered bays, but bring your own boat
📍 Location: Morris Island Conservation Area, Fitzroy Harbour, 156 Morris Island Drive, Ottawa, ON
⭐ Vibe: Waterfront, adventure, couples
5. Morris Island Fishing Platforms
Designated fishing platforms provide shoreline access to Ottawa River waters known for walleye, perch and northern pike. Morris Island Conservation Area fishing centres on those platforms, and the City of Ottawa lists pickerel (also called walleye), perch and pike as common catches. Accessible facilities exist on the property, but confirm that your chosen platform suits your needs, and follow Ontario fishing licence rules, seasons and catch limits.
Good to Know
🔥 Known for: Walleye, perch and pike from designated platforms
📍 Location: Morris Island Conservation Area, Fitzroy Harbour, 156 Morris Island Drive, Ottawa, ON
⭐ Vibe: Waterfront, relaxed, solo
6. Morris Island Birdwatching
Wetlands, riverbanks and mature woodland support diverse birdlife, including ospreys, warblers, hawks and seasonal woodland species. The Ottawa Field-Naturalists’ Club highlights red-shouldered hawks, ospreys, scarlet tanagers and breeding warblers, with Canada and mourning warblers possible in summer, especially in habitats reached by canoe. Wetlands along the access road add more viewing. Bring binoculars and stay on designated trails, since sightings vary with season and weather.
Good to Know
🔥 Known for: Ospreys, hawks and summer warblers
📍 Location: Morris Island Conservation Area, Fitzroy Harbour, 156 Morris Island Drive, Ottawa, ON
⭐ Vibe: Nature, morning, solo
7. Morris Island Wildlife Photography
Forest trails, wetland habitats and quiet riverbanks provide opportunities to photograph birds, beavers, deer and other native wildlife. The City of Ottawa lists deer, beavers, porcupines and raccoons among the island’s animals, and the mix of wetland, forest and bays gives varied backdrops for Morris Island Conservation Area photos. The property opens at dawn rather than before sunrise, so early visits mean the first hours of daylight, and visitors must never approach or feed wildlife.
Good to Know
🔥 Known for: Wetland and forest backdrops for wildlife shots
📍 Location: Morris Island Conservation Area, Fitzroy Harbour, 156 Morris Island Drive, Ottawa, ON
⭐ Vibe: Scenic, early morning, solo
8. Morris Island Fall Colours
Autumn foliage reflects in sheltered Ottawa River bays, creating distinctive fall photography opportunities among forested trails and islands. The City of Ottawa specifically recommends Morris Island for photographing autumn leaves reflected in calm water, which makes this beautiful island a strong October outing. Peak colour shifts each year with the weather, and the $7 day pass covers trails, viewpoints and a picnic stop.
Good to Know
🔥 Known for: Fall leaves reflected in calm bays
📍 Location: Morris Island Conservation Area, Fitzroy Harbour, 156 Morris Island Drive, Ottawa, ON
⭐ Vibe: Scenic, date day, photography
That’s the halfway mark. The rest of the island’s list covers picnics and winter visits, followed by five nearby conservation areas for different kinds of days.
9. Morris Island Picnic Areas
Designated picnic areas allow visitors to eat outdoors while surrounded by woodland, wetlands and Ottawa River scenery. The picnic areas make this a nice spot to pair lunch with a short walk or a longer hike. Washrooms are near the parking area, with basic facilities elsewhere on the property. Bring your own food and water, and pack out all garbage.
Good to Know
🔥 Known for: Riverside picnic tables inside the conservation area
📍 Location: Morris Island Conservation Area, Fitzroy Harbour, 156 Morris Island Drive, Ottawa, ON
⭐ Vibe: Relaxed, family friendly, couples
10. Morris Island Snowshoeing
Snow-covered woodland trails offer a quiet winter alternative to the conservation area’s popular summer hiking and paddling activities. MVCA lists snowshoeing among the island’s activities, and Morris Island Conservation Area winter visits run from dawn until dusk on the same 6 km network. Trails depend on natural snowfall and shouldn’t be assumed to be groomed, rentals aren’t advertised, and the $7 day pass still applies.
Good to Know
🔥 Known for: Quiet winter trails, open dawn to dusk
📍 Location: Morris Island Conservation Area, Fitzroy Harbour, 156 Morris Island Drive, Ottawa, ON
⭐ Vibe: Winter, active, dog friendly
11. Morris Island Cross-Country Skiing
Winter visitors can explore the island’s wooded natural environment on cross-country skis when snow conditions permit. When there is enough snow cover, the nature trails work for a cross country ski outing, though MVCA does not advertise mechanically groomed tracks. Bring your own equipment and check conditions before starting. The four-hour day pass is still $7.
Good to Know
🔥 Known for: Ungroomed winter skiing through woodland
📍 Location: Morris Island Conservation Area, Fitzroy Harbour, 156 Morris Island Drive, Ottawa, ON
⭐ Vibe: Winter, active, solo
12. Fitzroy Provincial Park
A riverside provincial park combines two hiking trails, Ottawa River fishing, kayak rentals, canoe launches and sandy beaches. Near the junction of the Carp and Ottawa rivers, it adds the 2 km Terraces Trail past shale pillars and glacial boulders and the easy 1 km Carp Trail. Canoe and kayak rentals run through the park store in season, and anglers can fish the dock, shoreline and waters near Butternut Island while observing Ontario Power Generation signage around Chats Falls. Day-use permits are required.
Good to Know
🔥 Known for: On-site canoe and kayak rentals
📍 Location: Fitzroy Provincial Park, Fitzroy Harbour, 5201 Canon Smith Drive, Fitzroy Harbour, ON K0A 1X0
⭐ Vibe: Waterfront, family friendly, active
13. Sheila McKee Park
A 2 km trail network descends through an Ottawa River escarpment, revealing rocky cliffs, seasonal waterfalls and unusual winter ice formations. East of Dunrobin, the City of Ottawa highlights its rocky shoreline, summer waterfalls and winter ice formations, all free to visit. Steep terrain and stairways make some sections unsuitable for visitors with limited mobility.
Good to Know
🔥 Known for: Free escarpment trails with seasonal waterfalls
📍 Location: Sheila McKee Park, Dunrobin, 1730 Sixth Line Road, Ottawa, ON
⭐ Vibe: Free, scenic, active
14. Shirley’s Bay Conservation Area
Seven kilometres of nature trails and a free shallow-water boat launch provide hiking, fishing and kayaking opportunities along the Ottawa River. The NCC site’s network includes the Shoreline Trail, Trail 10 and Trail 12, with free parking at lots P1, P2 and P3. Its rocky, shallow launch suits only small canoes and kayaks, and ice fishing is listed in winter. Dogs are banned year-round on the Shoreline Trail but allowed leashed on Trails 10 and 12 from April 15 to November 30, and partial Greenbelt closures mean checking NCC advisories first.
Good to Know
🔥 Known for: Free parking and a free small-boat launch
📍 Location: Shirley’s Bay Conservation Area, Kanata, Rifle Road and Carling Avenue access, Ottawa, ON
⭐ Vibe: Free, waterfront, active
15. Petrie Island
An Ottawa River island conservation area combines nature trails, kayaking, canoeing, designated fishing locations and wildlife-rich wetlands. This 291-hectare east-end site has about 12 km of shoreline, roughly 5 to 7 km of trails and designated fishing along Basswood Trail, Sunrise Trail and the causeway. Paddlers launch from the dock west of the main lot or north of the causeway, but dogs are banned throughout the protected areas, and parking fees may apply in season.
Good to Know
🔥 Known for: Designated fishing spots and two paddling launches
📍 Location: Petrie Island, Orléans, north end of Trim Road, Ottawa, ON
⭐ Vibe: Waterfront, family friendly, east end
16. Mud Lake Nature Trails
A network of woodland paths and boardwalks circles a protected wetland known for turtles, wood ducks and migratory birds. Part of the 79-hectare Britannia Conservation Area, the trails run over natural ground, stone dust and boardwalk around a provincially significant wetland. It’s the only conservation area on this list marked transit accessible, with parking on Cassels Street, but there are no washrooms directly at the lake.
Good to Know
🔥 Known for: Boardwalks around a protected urban wetland
📍 Location: Mud Lake, Britannia, Cassels Street, Ottawa, ON
⭐ Vibe: Free, urban nature, birdwatching
Tips for visiting Morris Island and other Ottawa conservation areas worth knowing
Choosing an activity is the easy part. These tips cover conditions, costs and the rules that change from site to site.
Check Ontario weather and river conditions before you go, especially if you plan to paddle, since currents, wind and water levels all affect the Ottawa River. If you are checking Morris Island Conservation Area flooding before a visit, note that the trails can be wet or uneven after rain. Assess any water access on the day.
Morris Island’s $7 vehicle fee buys a four-hour day pass, and the 2026 pricing we checked lists day passes only, not annual passes. For a free alternative, Shirley’s Bay, Sheila McKee Park and Mud Lake cost nothing to visit, while Petrie Island may charge for parking in season.
Dogs are welcome on leash at Morris Island, which makes it an easy dog walk. They are banned on Petrie Island’s protected areas and on Shirley’s Bay’s Shoreline Trail. If you plan to kayak, dog in tow, check each site’s rules before you launch.
Morris Island Conservation Area reviews and older photos can help you picture the island, but conditions change by season, so treat the conservation authority’s own information as the final word. Autumn reflections and the first hours after dawn are the two moments the City of Ottawa and local naturalists point to for the best photos.
Pair the island with Fitzroy Provincial Park for rentals and a sandy beach, or with Sheila McKee Park east of Dunrobin for waterfalls and ice formations. Together they make a full Fitzroy Harbour day in a part of the city local naturalists know well. Mud Lake is the most transit-friendly conservation area Ottawa offers on this list, if you’re going without a car.
Frequently asked questions about Morris Island Conservation Area
With the practical tips covered, these answers handle the questions visitors ask most before heading out.
How much does it cost to visit Morris Island Conservation Area? Morris Island Conservation Area charges $7 per vehicle for a four-hour day pass, according to 2026 pricing. The site is open seven days a week from dawn until dusk, and the pricing we checked lists day passes only. More detail on facilities is in the entries above.
Is Morris Island Conservation Area open in winter? Yes. The conservation area stays open through winter from dawn until dusk, and MVCA lists snowshoeing and cross-country skiing among its activities. Morris Island conservation trails depend on natural snow and aren’t advertised as groomed, so bring your own equipment, as covered in the entries above.
Are dogs allowed at Morris Island? Yes, dogs are allowed at Morris Island as long as they stay leashed, including on the hiking trails. Rules differ at nearby sites like Petrie Island and Shirley’s Bay’s Shoreline Trail, so check the entries above before choosing a backup.
Where is Morris Island in Ottawa? Morris Island sits on Morris Island Drive in Fitzroy Harbour, along the Ottawa River in the City of Ottawa. Morris Island Ottawa visitors can pair it with Fitzroy Provincial Park or Sheila McKee Park, with directions and parking details in the entries above.
More Ottawa guides worth exploring
If Morris Island has you hooked on Ottawa conservation areas, these guides keep you outside.
Outdoor things to do in Ottawa: More trails, parks and waterfront plans across the city.
Ottawa’s lesser-known bike trails: Quieter rides for days when you’d rather pedal than paddle.
Free things to do in Ottawa: No-cost outings, including more free nature spots.
Family things to do in Ottawa: Kid-friendly ideas to pair with a picnic at the island.
Things to do in Ottawa for visitors: Plans for guests who want nature without a long drive.
Morris Island Conservation Area rewards a slow day in any season: a short trail, a calm bay and a picnic with a river view. We update this guide as fees, trail conditions and seasonal access change, so bookmark it before your next trip west.
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