Major's Hill Park, Ottawa, Guía del visitante y qué hacer cerca

Major's Hill Park is a public park in downtown Ottawa, set on a bluff above the Ottawa River and the Rideau Canal, right beside Parliament Hill. It is often described as the city's oldest park, and it offers some of the best views of the Parliament buildings, the Château Laurier and the river. It is a green, open place to pause between the Byward Market and the national landmarks around it.

The story behind it

The park takes its name from Major Daniel Bolton, a Royal Engineers officer who worked on the Rideau Canal in the 1820s, when the settlement that became Ottawa was first taking shape. The high ground above the river and the canal locks was a natural lookout, and it stayed in public hands as the town grew into a capital.

Today the hill sits at the meeting point of old and new Ottawa. The canal, now a UNESCO World Heritage Site, runs along one edge, and the Gothic towers of Parliament Hill face it across the water. Walking through the park, you are covering the ground where the city's early engineers surveyed the river.

What to look for

• Look across the Ottawa River and toward the Rideau Canal locks for a clear view of the Parliament buildings on their cliff.
• Notice the Château Laurier, the castle-like hotel at the edge of the park, with its steep green roofs and turrets.
• Follow the paths along the edge of the hill for views of the river and the Alexandra Bridge toward Gatineau.
• Take in the wide lawns and mature trees, which make the park a natural gathering spot when the city holds outdoor events.

Tips for your visit

• Allow 30 to 45 minutes for a relaxed walk and a few photo stops, longer if you bring a picnic.
• Late afternoon and early evening give soft light on the Parliament buildings, and the park is quieter early in the morning.
• The park is outdoors and open to walk through, though events can close parts of it, so check current information before you go.
• The Byward Market, the Rideau Canal locks, the National Gallery of Canada and Parliament Hill are all within a short walk.

See it on a quest

Murder Mystery: Death in the Shadows in ByWard Market, Ottawa reaches the park on foot as one stop on a longer route through the Byward Market area. The app tells you about each place as you arrive and sets a puzzle in what is in front of you. It is a paid quest, and one ticket covers the whole group.

Dorothy’s Quest: The Trials of Oz in Ottawa brings an Oz theme to the same part of the city. You walk from stop to stop, hear about each place as you get there and solve a puzzle on the spot. It is a paid quest, and one ticket covers the whole group.

Kid Quest: Solve the case of the lost senses in Ottawa is built for younger explorers. The park is one stop on a route on foot, with the app telling you about each place and a puzzle to solve there. It is a paid quest, and one ticket covers the whole group.