Best hikes, easiest first
Sugarbush Trail (1.9 km loop)
A gentle forest walk from the Visitor Centre in Chelsea. Good with small kids.
King Mountain (about 2 km loop)
Stairs and steep sections up the Eardley Escarpment, with lookouts high over the Ottawa Valley. No dogs.
Pink Lake (about 2.3 km loop, 1 hour)
Boardwalk and stairs around one of Canada's rare meromictic lakes, whose layers of water never mix. It's green, not pink. No dogs and no swimming.
Champlain Lookout
A short walk from the parking lot to the park's most famous view. Reached by the parkway, which closes to cars in winter.
Wolf Trail (about 8.3 km loop)
Forest, rocky climbs and lookouts from the P13 lot at Meech Lake. A good half-day.
Luskville Falls (4.5 km, 290 m climb)
Steep and rocky up the escarpment to a waterfall, best in May during snowmelt. The hardest of these. No dogs.
Lusk Cave
A marble cave in the Lac Philippe area that you walk through, with a creek still running through it. The hike starts at the Parent Beach parking lot and is about 10 km round trip; allow around four hours.
- You will get wet: water in the cave can be a metre deep, and it's cold early and late in the season.
- Bring a headlamp, closed shoes you don't mind soaking (not sandals or rubber boots) and a change of clothes.
- Not suitable for strollers or reduced mobility, and not advised for children under seven.
- Parts of the trail network around the lake have had detours, so check the NCC's Lusk Cave page before you go.
Beaches
Meech Lake has O'Brien Beach, the closest swim to the city. Lac Philippe, further north, has the bigger beaches (Parent, Breton and Smith) with lifeguards in swimming season. Dogs aren't allowed at Gatineau Park beaches or picnic areas.
Mackenzie King Estate
The former prime minister's summer home, with landscaped ruins he collected (including the Abbey Ruins), gardens and picnic areas. Short trails nearby lead to Pink Lake.
Parking, shuttle and closures
- In summer, the beach lots and Mackenzie King Estate charge for parking; most other Gatineau Park lots are free.
- Pink Lake, King Mountain and Champlain Lookout fill up on sunny weekends. Go early, go on a weekday, or take the free Gatineau Park shuttle, which loops past those stops.
- The parkways close to cars overnight, and switch to a winter schedule after Fall Rhapsody in October.
Can you bring your dog?
Leashed dogs are allowed on most trails from April 15 to November 30. They're not allowed on Pink Lake, King Mountain or Luskville Falls, or at beaches and picnic areas.
Fall colours
Peak colour is usually late September to mid-October. The Champlain Lookout drive is the classic, but it's slow on weekends. Lac Philippe and the Lusk Cave loop are quieter alternatives.
Winter
The park has a large network of groomed cross-country ski and snowshoe trails. A day or season pass is required. See the Ottawa winter guide.
FAQ
What is the easiest hike in Gatineau Park?
The Sugarbush Trail (1.9 km loop) from the Visitor Centre and the Pink Lake Trail (about 2.3 km, mostly boardwalk with stairs) are the easiest popular options.
How long is the Lusk Cave hike?
About 10 km round trip from the Parent Beach parking lot, taking around four hours. Expect to wade through water inside the cave.
Are dogs allowed in Gatineau Park?
Leashed dogs are allowed on most trails from April 15 to November 30, but not on the Pink Lake, King Mountain or Luskville Falls trails, or at beaches and picnic areas.
Is there a fee to visit Gatineau Park?
Entry is free. In summer there are parking fees at the beaches and Mackenzie King Estate, and a pass is required for the winter ski and snowshoe trails.
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