Cross-Country Skiing and Snowshoeing

at Gatineau Park in Ottawa, Quebec

Canada's Capital Region 33 Scott Road, Chelsea, QC Canada J9B1R5

The National Capital Commission (NCC) runs the winter trail network in Gatineau Park, which boasts one of North America’s largest and most popular trail networks with more than 250 kms of various trails that wind through the Park’s forests and along frozen lakes and river valleys (www.gatineaupark.ca; 800-465-1867; 819-827-2020),. And it’s only 15 minutes from Parliament Hill in Ottawa, Canada's Capital Region. The Gatineau Park Visitor Centre is at 33 Scott Road in Chelsea, QC.

Dozens of groomed and patrolled ski trails make the Park a great destination for skiers of all levels and styles. More than 361 square km and there are 104.4 km of trails for skaters. Also 45.9 km of backcountry trails. The park is dedicated to conservation and is a member of the Leave No Trace program.

XC skiers have access to packed and groomed trails at trailheads for access to trails that are located at 15 different parking lots around the Park. Each lot is plowed regularly and has a bulletin board and a collection box for paying trail fees. The daily trail pass is $13 for adults (18-59 years old); $9 for seniors (60+), students (18-24), and youth (13-17 years old); 12 and under is free; family rates include 2 adults and up to 3 youth for $27.

The Park’s 45.5 km snowshoe trail network is accessible from parking lots 1, 6, 13, 15, 17, 19 and the Gatineau Park Visitor Centre in Chelsea. Snowshoe rentals for daily use adults $15 and kids $10; hourly use is $5 for adults and $3 for kids (12 and under).The 10-km winter walking trail network is also open to users for the season and is accessible from parking lots 3, 6 and the Gatineau Park Visitor Center in Chelsea, QC.

The Park’s trail network features 10 daytime shelters where skiers can enjoy their lunch at picnic tables and warm up by wood stoves. Skiers and snowshoers can also extend their stay out on the trails by spending the night in one of Gatineau Park’s four cabins, 4 yurts, or by experiencing winter camping under the stars at Philippe Lake (reservations are required). Click here for On Line Reservations.

For up to date ski conditions and trail status, please visit the Gatineau Park website at Ski Conditions or call the trail conditions hotline at 819-827-2020, 24 hours a day, seven days a week. The Domestic animals are permitted on leash on winter walking trails only.

A library card “borrow a ski pass” program is available for residents at libraries in the Ottawa, Gatineau, and Outaouais regions. Season pass holders get a reciprocal ski pass program for a free trail pass at La

Maurice National Park, Camp Mercier, Olympic Center in Lake Placid, and Hardwood Ski & Bike and 50% discount for pass at Mont-Sainte-Anne. Le Nordic-Nature Spa has 20% discount on Mon-Thur.

Click for a Calendar of Events at Gatineau Park. For nearby accommodations click Wakefield Hotel & Spa.

The access points to the trails in Gatineau Park are formally via parking lots at the periphery of the trail network, and some of these parking lots are also accessible by public transit. The most transit-accessible are parking lots P2 “Relais plein air” (just north of Boulevard du Mont-Bleu) and P1 “Asticou” (about 1km north of Boul. Saint-Raymond), both located along Boulevard de la Cité-des-Jeunes, where STO regular routes 31, 33, 35, 36, 37 and 49 converge. Just look for the blue signs depicting a skier along the road for the respective access point. Parking lot P3 “Gamelin”, which is the southern extent of the cross-country ski trails, is accessible by STO route 49 along Boulevard Saint-Raymond in the Plateau, though a short ski along the emergency access road is required. All the STO bus routes cited above (except route 49 which travels from the Plateau area of Hull) travel to/from downtown Ottawa (via either Wellington Street or Rideau Street on the north side of Rideau Centre where one can connect to the Transitway via a short walk) and Gatineau Centre-ville (née Hull). OC Transpo passes and transfers are accepted on regular STO buses, however OC Transpo tickets are not.