Ottawa's Christmas tree tradition runs deep into the farmland ringing the city, from the Ottawa Valley out past Arnprior to the fields south of North Gower. This list was compiled from farm websites, local tourism write-ups, and public reviews on Google and Facebook, not from a visit by ottown. Ten farms made the cut based on how consistently they turn up in Ottawa-area recommendations and how much verifiable detail is available about each one.
1. Thomas Tree Farm
Area: North Gower, about 30 minutes south of downtown Ottawa · Rating: 4.9 on Google (82 reviews) · Specialty: horse-drawn sleigh rides through a 50-acre maple bush
Thomas Tree Farm sits on 50 acres just west of North Gower, and reviewers consistently single out the sugar house fire, the free hot chocolate and homemade cookies, and the option to reach the tree fields by tractor-drawn hay wagon or horse-drawn sleigh. It suits families who want the full outing, not just a tree, and its review volume and score are among the highest of any farm on this list.
2. Cedar Hill Christmas Tree Farm
Area: Pakenham, about 30 minutes west of Ottawa · Specialty: tobogganing hill, zipline and a cafeteria-style restaurant
Cedar Hill leans further into the day-trip side of tree cutting than most farms on this list, with a large tobogganing hill, a zipline, a straw bale fort, a playground and an on-site cafeteria alongside the usual wagon rides to the fields. It has appeared in coverage as a filming location for Hallmark movies, and reviewers describe the staff as helpful with a well-priced selection across Fraser fir, balsam fir, white spruce, blue spruce and Scotch pine. It suits families planning to spend most of the day on site rather than a quick in-and-out trip.
3. Laird's Tree Farm
Area: Osgoode, south of Ottawa · Rating: 4.6 average across review platforms (18 reviews) · Since: 1977
Family-owned and operated since 1977, Laird's provides a saw and a map marking the different tree varieties, then helps haul the cut tree to the main area for wrapping. Reviewers praise the staff and selection, along with wagon rides and hot drinks, though a small number have flagged inconsistent needle retention on certain trees. It suits visitors who want a straightforward, no-frills u-cut experience with decades of history behind it.
4. Ottawa Tree Farm (Fallowfield Tree Farm)
Area: Fallowfield Road, Stittsville, the closest option to central Ottawa · Rating: 5 out of 5 on FunAdvisor (5 reviews)
Billed as the closest cut-your-own farm to the city itself, Ottawa Tree Farm (operating as Fallowfield Tree Farm) offers both pre-cut and cut-your-own trees along with a complimentary tractor hayride or sleigh and wagon ride. Reviews highlight friendly, professional service, and the farm has been selling and installing trees in the Ottawa area for decades. It suits anyone who wants to skip a long drive and still get the full cut-your-own experience.
5. Briggs Trees
Area: Navan, east of Ottawa off Highway 417 · Since: family-run for over 40 years
Briggs Trees covers more than 100 acres of Scotch pine, balsam fir, white spruce and Norway spruce, and has been supplying Ottawa-area customers for decades. Visitors describe it as a fun family outing capped off with hot chocolate after the cut. It suits anyone in the east end who wants a large property to walk with plenty of tree variety to choose from.
6. MacGowan's Christmas Tree Farm
Area: Arnprior / Kinburn, northwest of Ottawa · Specialty: weekend-only, dog-friendly cutting with wagon rides
MacGowan's runs weekends only through the season and keeps things simple: wagon rides out to the fields, hot chocolate and homemade cookies by the fire, and tree shaking and wrapping included in the price of the tree. It is noted as dog-friendly, which sets it apart from several other farms on this list. It suits visitors who want a smaller, low-key outing rather than a full activity park.
7. Mageau's Tree Farm
Area: Anderson Road, west of Ottawa · Specialty: long daily hours, cut-your-own or pre-cut
Mageau's stands out for its hours, open seven days a week from 9 a.m. to 8:30 p.m. through the season, which gives evening and weekday flexibility that many farms on this list don't offer. It carries balsam fir, Fraser fir, white spruce, blue spruce and Scots pine, with both cut-your-own and pre-cut options. It suits people who need to fit a tree run around a weekday work schedule rather than a single weekend outing.
8. Ian's Christmas Adventure Park and Tree Farm
Area: Ashton / Beckwith, west of Ottawa off County Road 10 · Specialty: lit fields for night cutting, live reindeer
Ian's runs long daily hours through the season, including lit fields that allow cutting after dark, plus live reindeer, a campfire and hot chocolate. Reviews are mixed but generally note the lights and reindeer visit as highlights, with some disappointment over specific activities varying visit to visit. It suits families who want to combine tree cutting with more of a petting-zoo, evening-outing feel.
9. Kings Creek Trees and Ornamentals
Area: Ashton, west of Ottawa near Carp · Specialty: Concolor fir, Douglas fir and Fraser fir, varieties uncommon elsewhere in the region
Run by Tim and Sue Dyer, Kings Creek sells pre-cut Concolor fir, Douglas fir and Fraser fir sourced from a family tree farm in Pennsylvania that Sue's relatives have operated for over 30 years, giving it a variety mix that's harder to find at other Ottawa-area farms. It also runs evergreen wreath-making workshops on weekends through November and December. It suits shoppers specifically hunting for a Fraser or Douglas fir rather than the more common local balsam or spruce.
10. RiverOak
Area: roughly a half-hour drive from downtown Ottawa · Specialty: guided property tour on a 1955 military 6x6 truck
RiverOak's signature feature is its "safari" tour, a ride out to the tree trails and sugar shack on a 1955 six-wheel-drive military truck, with a JayDog food truck and scheduled Santa visits during the season. Visitors bring their own handsaw to cut fraser, balsam, blue spruce, Scotch pine or white spruce, or buy one pre-cut. It suits families looking for a more novel outing built around the ride itself, not just the tree.
