Back Bacon Hole and CUKC Wave

Back Bacon Hole
As an alternative to the Ottawa River in the City of Ottawa, the Rideau River offers a few play features. Below Hogs Back Falls on the Rideau River is the Back Bacon Hole. This playspot is more rain dependent and, as such, is playable all year. About 200m downstream of the waterfalls, upstream from Carleton University, lies a series of 2 to 3 holes depending on the water level. The main hole has been given the name Back Bacon Hole because of it's depth at low water levels.
Get to Hog's Back Road and, if you are heading east on it, make a left into the parking lot. Walk down the hill and put-in BELOW the waterfalls. You should not run the falls unless you have ran them in the past. You cannot see the hole from shore so go with someone that knows where it is. Never go out alone. Paddle over to the river left channel and the holes are located on the river left shore about two-thirds down the rapid.

There is a class III rapid above the hole that you have to run. The hole itself really varies with the water level. It also has eddy service.

CUKC Wave

CUKC Wave is only good at high water approx 4m on the Rideau at Ottawa gauge typically for a few days in the spring.  CUKC Wave is located on the Rideau River down stream from Hogs Back Falls and Back Bacon basically it’s right on Carleton University campus by Stacey Building. Google Link - CUKC Wave. Please note there is no eddy access… you have to walk up every time… that’s the only downside.. the hole is super nice currently with a nice green shoulder.

                        CUKC Wave

                   

                                         Back Bacon Hole

                                         Back Bacon Hole

                                         CUKC Wave

Chaudiere Rapids - Dessert Wave

The Dessert Wave at Chaudière Rapids is bitter sweet. It is the best playwave in the City of Ottawa but it doesn't have eddy access. The Center Wave playspot at Remic Rapids by the Champlain Bridge, until recently, was the best playspot at low water in the summer in the city. After the 'main course' of paddling at Remic's Center Wave, or if the line-ups got too big, you would paddle down to surf the wave at Chaudière Rapids for dessert. Thus, the wave was given its name.
There are a few access points but the one I prefer when the water is below 57.7 and the rock shelf is there is Remic Rapids lookout parking. Google Link - Dessert Wave

The Dessert Wave is in the middle of the Ottawa River which is probably 300m to 400m wide in this area.
You will see the Dessert Wave coming as you approach it from above. The wave is big and glassy, with pile on the top. It is a slower moving wave. The higher the water level, the bigger the wave. It will hold 2 or 3 paddlers easily at higher water levels. At medium to high water you have one shot at catching the wave on the way down. If you miss it or get blown off you have to paddle to shore, walk up, and put-in again.

At low water below 57.7 on the Britannia gauge, the Dessert Wave can be reattained by paddling to the river left immediately after you come off of the wave. There is a rock shelf almost adjacent to the wave on the river left. Paddle left after coming off the wave. If the water is low enough you will beach yourself on the rockshelf then you can get out of your boat and walk up to reattain the wave. There is still water running over the shelf so beware of foot entrapement! Above 57.7 you have one shot at hitting the wave. Once you're off you have to paddle back to the Quebec shore to try again. This can take 20 minutes or more.

Safety: It's location and lack of eddy service means that it is not often that you will see paddlers there. It's best to head out with another paddler because a swim there could be really long. The Chaudiere Falls are 1km downstream and going over these would mean certain death. Moreover, it may be difficult to find so it's always good to paddle with someone that knows how to get there.

Chaudieres Rapids - Sewer Wave

Chaudière Rapids have a playspot on the Quebec side of the Ottawa River that is seldom used. It is generally best in the winter or in the spring when the levels are falling. A storm drain empties out into the abutting eddy and hence the playspot gets its name "Sewer Wave".
The put-in is at the end of Begin street, where you can park, and walk to the river. Google Link - Sewer Wave.
It is a forgiving breaking wave with eddy access on the river left. These waves are great for all types of wave moves like spins, blunts, and backstabs, mcnasty's and airscrews. If the water temperature is right it is a decent spot for beginners to learn. It is very comparable to Pushbutton on the upper Ottawa River but it is wider.
The waves are best between 58.4 and 58.7 on the Britannia Gauge. As levels fall the waves further downstream become shallower and there is the potential of hitting rocks. At around 58.45, two other surfable waves show up so if you flush, you can surf again on the way down!

This is a class II-III playspot. It is a close swim to shore, however, make sure that you are wearing the appropriate cold water gear in the spring or earplugs after a rainstorm.

Here are pictures at 58.45 and a video of Adam Chappell at 58.6

Remic Rapids - Champlain - The Wall

High water levels produce the best playspot that the City of Ottawa has to offer. Every spring paddlers flock to The Wall playspot at the Champlain Bridge for a series of surf waves with abutting eddy access that are great for playboating.
The Wall playspots at the Champlain Bridge are located on the river right shore abutting Bates Island. There is ample parking and, at times, it can become quite a spectator sport. Every spring the Level 6 Cup whitewater festival takes place here. Parking is right there on the island. Google Link - The Wall.
At high water The Wall is a class III rapid that consists of a series of 3 to 4 surfable wave-holes that have eddy access, are retentive for all boat lengths, and allow all wave and hole freestyle tricks to be done. However, as the water levels fall, the waves become smaller, some disappear, and the eddy becomes unattainable from below.

Using the Britannia Gauge for water flow - the following are the characteristics of the playspot:
Below 58.5 - eddy is small, you have to portage up island for each ride, waves are small.
58.5 to 58.7 - the eddy is in, but rope needed to reattain the top.
58.7 to 58.9 - you can paddle up the eddy with effort.
59.0 - the eddy is full with little effort needed to paddle up, the waves are steep and retentive.
Above 59.1 - you are recirculated to the top of eddy and the waves continue to be great. The higher the water level the more the the playspots become breaking waves and lose their hole character.

                                         Pictures at 59.3 on the Brittania Gauge

Dechenes Rapids - Heavy D

Located halfway in between the Quebec and the Ontario side of the Deschenes Rapids, next to the island where all the seaguls hang out, Heavy D is undeniabely the most fastest wave many paddlers have surfed. Known worldwide, this wave is like if Garburator and Buseater had a baby and that child was fed with steroids! This is definately a class V+ wave because of it's big ferry upstream of the deadly Ruins rapids but it's one of the preferred wave by many Freestyle atheltes.
The wave usually comes in in the spring, at high water, after the ice melts and when the river flows over 59.2 on the Britannia Gauge.
It would be a good idea to have a sea doo downstream for safety as the current is strong and the boils are huge. Definately not for beginner or intermediate paddlers.
The put in is about 300 yards upstream in the other parking lot at the end of Vanier street.
Here are a few pictures and a video (from 0:45 - 0:56) and they do not do this wave justice.

Deschenes Rapids - Channel Wave

Channel wave is located between two rock walls on the Quebec side of the Deschenes Rapids.
Parking is the same as for the Lower JJ's Wave. Google Link - Channel Wave
The put in is about 100 yards upstream. Just hike along the bike path and you will see a little trail leading down to the river.
The wave shows up between 58.4 and 58.9 on the Britannia Gauge.

 It is a very fun hole at 58.4 - 58.6.

It is a very fun wave from 58.6 - 58.9.

Above 58.9 its flooded. Go to Champlain.

There are small eddies on both sides of the hole which are easy to catch if you're upright but harder to catch if you flip. They also get harder to catch as the level goes up... but the wave gets better so it's all worthwhile. Below the feature the water runs cleanly into a small pool. Take out river left and carry up the paved walking trail to the top which is about 100 yards.

There is also one rebar on channel left downstream so look out for it and be careful.

     Adam Chappell on the wave in this video. Level was 58.75 IIRC.

Deschenes Rapids - Lower JJ's Wave

Lower JJ's Wave is situated on the Quebec side of the Deschenes Rapids on the other side of the channel, next to the ruins.
Safety: DO NOT RUN THE DESCHENES RAPID from above! The Deschenes Rapids are dangerous at all levels. The rapid along the Quebec shore runs through an old hydro facility that has crumbled. As such, it is full of potential pin spots that can kill if you run it from above (see the pictures below). Never paddle alone

Parking is at the end of Martel street.
Google Link - Lower JJ's Wave

The put in is about 20 above the wave. You will have to ferry accross, drop in the wave and then eddy out to surfers left. This eddy is quite boily and, at times, you feel that you are being pushed into the wall nearest the wave. This is a Class III+ playspot due to the numerous surrounding hazards. The remaining structures are essentially big strainers. There are multiple holes and potential pin spots throughout the walls.
About 100ft below the wave is a small shallow pourover so you might want to roll up quick.
The wave usually appears at around 57.7 on the Britannia Gauge
                                         

                                          Ruins

                                          Rebar

                                          Lower JJ's Wave

                                          Lower JJ's Wave