Gatineau Park
Trails Skied: #5 (green), #7, #15 (blue), #15 (black), #26, Glide Wax: Blue, Grip Wax: Blue klister + Vauhti Teho Green
Beautiful sunny March day! A lunch ski from Asticou, up #5, #15 to McKenzie King, down #7, along the parkway down Pink Lake, back around #26, #29 up to #5 and back to Asticou.
I lucked out. This route follows two of the Gatineau Parks new designated "ski routes" that they recommend on their website. I guess as such, it was all groomed beautifully. The routes are called "From City to Wilderness" and "A Prime Minister’s Backyard", for more see - http://ncc-ccn.gc.ca/places/gatineau-park-cross-country-ski-routes
Outside of this route, even on the Champlain past #7 and Gatineau Parkways below #5 it was noticeably not groomed. I suspect everything will be pristine tomorrow morning, so get out and enjoy perfect effortless conditions!
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.
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).
