Gatineau Park

Trails Skied: #24, #40, #1 (blue), Glide Wax: CH6, Grip Wax: VR40

Classic ski from P12 up 40 then west on 24 and Ridge Road to McKinstry. We were pleasantly surprised to find that complete grooming now extends to "Old McKinstry" (at the top of the hill where the sign indicating 2km to "New McKinstry" is located). Past that point we found strictly backcountry skiing, with a single skier-groomed track winding under bent birches and past fallen brush. The actual jeep road is hardly recognizable! With the soft, deep fresh snow the backcountry skiing was easily controllable. We found a few other adventurous types enjoying the warm fire at McKinstry. Jo-Ann continued on towards the Fire Tower, and found that there was little storm damage on this section. She followed snowshoe tracks past the intersection with old Trail 10, but eventually even the snowshoe tracks tapered off and she turned around rather than break a fresh trail. Overall it was a great adventure and perhaps the only chance we'll get to visit McKinstry this year. There is still a fair bit of brush clearing to do before the last 2km of the road to McKinstry is open. The groomed sections were in uniformly excellent condition, with firm classic tracks and a nicely packed skate lane. The final descent down Trail 40 was a delight, even though by mid-afternoon legions of snowplowers had started to expose the hard base. After returning to P12 we did a quick trip across Meech Lake, which is currently crisscrossed with classic tracks and snowshoe trails. Pictures are posted on www.musicianonskis.ca.













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