Petrie Island is a designated conservation and recreation area formed by sand deposited along the edge of the Ottawa River about 12,000 years ago. Located in the east end of the city at the foot of Tweddle Road in Orleans (formerly Trim Road; this road appears to have been re-routed since I last visited before the pandemic and the disastrous floods of 2017, 2019 and 2023), there are 7 kilometers of hiking trails within 291 hectares, which include wetlands, forests, and a series of islands that are a naturalist’s paradise. While two public beaches on the northeast corner of the island draw large crowds on hot summer days, Petrie Island also offers hiking, picnicking, canoeing, kayaking, and fishing (including ice fishing in winter) within its picturesque channels and bays. The islands are designated as Class 1 wetlands, the highest rating in the Ontario system, as well as a regionally significant Area of Natural and Scientific Interest (ANSI) by the Government of Ontario. It is home to a number of threatened and regionally significant species, including many species of turtles and a major stand of Hackberry Trees; as such it is the best spot to find the uncommon Hackberry Emperor butterfly in Ottawa. There is a nature center operated by the Friends of Petrie Island in an old cottage near the picnic area and a pavilion between the parking area and the beach containing public washrooms. Please note that dogs are not allowed on the beach or island at any time, and that bicycles are not allowed onto the ecologically sensitive nature trails, including the William Holland Trail west of the nature center; there is a bike rack here if you wish to leave your bike to explore.
There are 320 paid parking spots near the beach. Current rates are $2.00 for five hours, between 7:00 am and 6:00 pm, 7 days a week. There are four Pay-and-Display stations on site which accept coins and credit cards. Petrie Island is also reachable by bus: OC Transpo Route 198 operates on summer weekends and holidays from Place D’Orleans station to the beach at Petrie Island (we will see whether this special route continues with the recent service cutbacks planned for spring 2025).
Specialties
As of the summer of 2025 Petrie Island has a total of 48 species recorded within its environs. It is home to many different damselflies including the uncommon Swamp Spreadwing, Elegant Spreadwing, Orange Bluet and Vesper Bluet. I could (and have!) spent hours scanning the vegetation next to the parking lot to photograph the lovely Orange and Vesper Bluets perching on the leaves! Look for the spreadwings in the vegetation next to the water, especially on emergent vegetation close to shore in the bay.
Petrie Island is also a good spot for river clubtails. While I haven’t seen many myself (my visits date back to 2009 before I started keeping detailed notes or using iNaturalist), the following species have been reported there: Dragonhunter, Black-shouldered Spinyleg, Midland Clubtail, Cobra Clubtail and Elusive Clubtail. I did see a clubtail there once that I thought might be the first Ottawa record for Unicorn Clubtail, but it turned out to be a very yellow male Lilypad Clubtail.
Other Species
Petrie Island is also home to many skimmers, notably Slaty Skimmer, Eastern Amberwing and Blue Dasher. The first known colony of Blue Dashers in the Ottawa area was discovered here by yours truly on July 2, 2011, and it is a stronghold for another recent arrival, the Eastern Amberwing, discovered in the Ottawa region in 2012.
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