Gatineau Park

Trails Skied: Fortune Pkwy, Champlain Pkwy, Glide Wax: Swix Universal, Grip Wax: Swix Blue

Checked the NCC site around 8:30 AM before heading out and all trails had the red 'not recommended' symbol with the only grooming being the doldrums. Decided to chance P10 and luckily the FP was freshly groomed for both classic and skate. The classic tracks were a combo of either deep set or very thin and icey. Swix blue grip wax worked nicely and the conditions were pleasantly fast. Intended to ski up to the Champlain lookout but the grooming ended abruptly just before the Huron lookout (see pic below). Took off my skis and walked for awhile to see if it picked up further on, but no. Heard the groomer over on ridge so skied back down the FP and hooked onto ridge. The fresh tracks on ridge were thin or covered over by the groomer here and there but skiable. Other than the windy January like temps it was a fair to good ski..













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