Witches’ Rock Tour, behind the Rockcliffe Pavilion
Schedule
Sat Apr 18 2026 at 10:00 am to 12:00 pm
UTC-04:00Location
Rockcliffe Pavilion Parking | Ottawa, ON
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Come and learn about this ancient ritual site above the Ottawa River with a dark history. Each visit reveals more astronomical alignments, more carved rocks. This is the best time of the year to see the site. Have you ever come across “Witches’ Rock” (also known as “Indian Rock”) situated on the toboggan hill behind the Rockcliffe pavilion?
The members of the Kichi Sibi Trails group are hoping you can help them learn more about this ancient marker.
Here is what they know so far:
Witches Rock is located above the 7,000-year old excavated “Portage Bay”, the starting point of an ancient portage route that is thought to have connected to the Rideau River near the modern-day St. Patrick’s Street bridge, next to a trail along Buena Vista to McKay Lake.
According to articles from 1898 and 1929, “River men” describe a place of human sacrifice and a sorceress that had bewitched the betrothed of a chief’s son. People would shoot at the Rock, with a witch on a broomstick (clearly a European idea).
On the Summer Solstice, the sun sets on the Ottawa and Gatineau rivers directly across from this spot.
There appears to be an incised face on this Rock, and on another on the opposite side of the hill. The Rock is below another circular ritual area with an incised rock on what geologist Allan Donaldson thinks may be a constructed conical hill.
Anishinàbe and Maya elders and leaders have been brought to the spot and other experts have been consulted as well, but so far traditional knowledge about the Rock remains elusive.
Any additional knowledge or insight would be most welcome!
Meet in the parking lot. https://maps.app.goo.gl/tDmdD6zmFmQuACvt6 It is closed.
But parking is available on Lisgar Street at Buena Vista.
The 9 is the closest bus. It requires a 20 minute walk from the end point.
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Where is it happening?
Rockcliffe Pavilion Parking, Rockcliffe Park Pavillion, Sir George-Etienne Cartier Pkwy, Ottawa, ON K1M 2H9, CanadaEvent Location & Nearby Stays:
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