Gatineau Park

Trails Skied: Gatineau Pkwy , Gatineau Pkwy, Champlain Pkwy, Glide Wax: CH7, Grip Wax:

I picked a dull ski for a dull gray day, skating from P8 up the GP and CP to Mulvhill and back. The NCC morning report indicating no fresh grooming was, regrettably, accurate. The skate lane was skied flat and had no texture, making it difficult to get edges to hold. Where corduroy from yesterday's grooming remained, it was covered with a very thin crunchy freezing rain crust. In a few places (sheltered under the trees) the snow was still powdery. Downhill tracks were fast with a glazed base but becoming shallow and indistinct. I'm not sure why there wasn't grooming, at least on the basic parkway loop- the snow didn't feel wet. It's skiable, but hardly worth the drive up from Ottawa.













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