Gatineau Park

Trails Skied: Fortune Pkwy, Champlain Pkwy, #1, Glide Wax: vauhti shop blue, Grip Wax: vauhti carrot + tar

Pretty good skiing given the minimal amount of snow we have at the moment. Snow was fast and glazing on top of day old grooming. The skate lane on the parkways is the best skiing. It's not bad along Ridge, but there are thin spots and rocks to watchout for, and more on the way with the traffic this weekend. Still great skating conditions in general.

The classic skiing is another story. The tracks are shallow and looks like M.C. Escher did the grooming. Lots of traffic has eroded the tracks in many places. More snow will be required to allow the groomers to sink good quality tracks in. Carrot was my guess for grip. If it was too slippery, then try alternating layers of carrot and tar.

Enjoy the mid-winter scenery and the early season skiing, but don't expect perfection.













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