Petawawa lies on the Trans-Canada #17 in the upper Ottawa Valley, midway between Ottawa and Mattawa, just north of Pembroke. This town of 6,500 is best known as home to the Canadian Forces “Airborne” regiments. You know you are in the training range when the telephone poles beside the highway drop real low, both to reduce their profile to make the training terrain more realistic, but also (likely) to reduce damaging them during shelling practice.
Petawawa Attractions
Petawawa Airborne Forces Museum, and CFB Petawawa Military Museum
Canadian Forces Base Petawawa, 2 km west of town
613-588-6238
This museum showcases the evolution of Canada’s airborne units from World War II to the present. The adjacent Military museum traces the history of the base and includes 25 military vehicles. Admission by donation. Open weekdays 1pm to 4pm, weekends and holidays 11 am to 4 pm.
Fish Hatchery
Laurentian Dr, 2 km SE of old Highway 17
This hatchery specializes in raising lake trout and brook trout to fingerling size. The Canada Geese nest in the vicinity each summer, which you can see from the trails for nature hiking and winter cross-country skiing. Open all year Mon-Fri.