The Alpine Club of Canada – Ottawa Section

Established in 1906, the Alpine Club of Canada has a proud history of alpine activity, backcountry hut operation, access protection and environmental conservation that continues today. The Club is the national voice for Canadian backcountry enthusiasts on critical issues affecting our wonderful alpine areas and heritage.

The Ottawa Section of the Alpine Club of Canada (ACC) is made up of outdoor enthusiasts who have a passion for rock and ice climbing, hiking, cross-country and backcountry skiing, snowshoeing, and mountaineering. We are one of 22 sections of the ACC, Canada’s national mountaineering organization.

Joining the Ottawa ACC provides you with great opportunities for adventure, exploration and recreation, for learning and developing new skills, and for good companionship while you enjoy the outdoors. You do not need previous experience in any of our activities to join the Club. Many members begin by attending one of our introductory courses on rock or ice climbing. If you already have strong outdoor skills, you will also find yourself in good company.

We maintain a regular schedule of activities in the Ottawa area that varies with the seasons. Most summer weekends host local hiking or climbing outings; and in winter, cross country or Nordic backcountry skiing, snowshoeing, or ice climbing. Throughout the year, you can find us at one of three outdoor climbing gyms around Ottawa, Tuesday and Wednesday evenings. See indoor ACC climbing nights. Occasional weekend trips to areas in Quebec, Ontario and the Northeast U.S. are also organized. Training courses are popular with our Club members.  Join us for one of our many social events off the trail in the Ottawa area; including Pub nights, and inspiring slide shows. Visit our Events Calendar for regular updates on outings and events.

Most summers, the ACC Ottawa Chapter organizes “summer camps”, suited to both hikers and mountaineers based out of our ACC huts located in the Canadian Rockies.  Our camps are affordable and provide members with access to some of the most spectacular mountain areas of Canada. Visit our Trips page for more information.

Special thanks to QuestionPro, which provides advanced feedback creation, distribution and Conjoint Analysis for our organization, helping us track and analyze data for our stakeholders.