Gatineau Park

Trails Skied: Fortune Pkwy, Champlain Pkwy, #1, #1 (green) (#2 - #24), #1 (blue), Glide Wax: Swix LF6 over graphite, Grip Wax: n/a

Yesterday Jo-Ann reported that she had the best ski in years. Not to deal in superlatives but I wonder what her judgement would be about today. For me it was wonderful, fantastic, incroyable, superbeau!

Excellent tracksetting this morning, firm fast conditions with a powder surface, the right kind of temperature, warm sun, dazzling scenery - disons superbeau!

I skated from P10 => FP => CP => Huron => #1 = green water tank on #24 => 24 => #1 (west)
=> Blanchette => #1 (east) => Champlain lookout => CP = FP => P10.

The tracksetting was excellent everywhere but #24 was exceptionally excellent. The downhill section has been set quite wide giving lots of room for old telemarkers to make their turns. In my view the tracksetting has been consistently good this season.

As a follow-on from my report of yesterday perhaps a recommendation for #55 is in order - it’s made for the classic skier who wants to get away from the crowds on Ridge Road. A eight km loop with two lakes (Renaud and Taylor) and one shelter (Renaud). The classic-only section is like Kennedy Road (#53) in that it is mainly flat or gently rolling for easy classic gliding with good scenery. The shared section is similar with a wide skating lane as far as Taylor Lake. The pass (blue section) is more of a challenge but with the level of tracksetting this year is quite doable: if you go clockwise you’ll have a great downhill followed by a roller-coaster followed by a slight climb; going the other way it’s a slight downhill then rolling terrain and then a grunt climb - regardless, the scenery in the pass is unique. From P19 it’s about 2.5 km to the start of the loop - from P17 via 51/53 it’s about 8 km.













Gatineau park map


Gatineau Park is ski paradise! The network of ski trails offer machine groomed skate skiing and classic skiing as well as little groomed backcountry trails. Multiple access points allow skiers to access a variety of terrain and scenery. The NCC offers season or daily pay rates.

Gatineau park map

For suggestions on where to ski, excellent trail descriptions, photos and maps checkout Michael McGoldrick`s website about recreational xc-skiing in Canada`s National Capital Region (with an emphasis on the Gatineau Park).

Gatineau park map