Gatineau Park

Trails Skied: Fortune Pkwy, Champlain Pkwy, #32, #3, Glide Wax: Swix CH180, Grip Wax:

My very first report. Today, I did P9-P10, FP to junction with #3, #3, #1 to junction with 1b, CP to FP and back to P9.
#32 is a lost cause. Half of it is straight ice. I walked that part. (If only the parking lot at P10 was bigger.)
Though the snow was soft around midday, I got fairly good glide on the parkways, #1 and #3.
#3 was beautiful today. Apparently it was groomed yesterday and it showed. The trail was in much better shape than a week ago. It was even throughout. A bit of ice showing up Burma and one largish ice patch somewhere (between bogs after a downhill stretch). The classic tracks on #3 were anywhere from non existant to beaten up to shallow, for the most part. I met up with a classic skier who said it wasn't bad though (she had waxless skis).
#1 (between 3 and 1b) was good. Only one medium size rock showing.
The stretch between Champlain Lookout and Huron Lookout was still quite icy early afternoon. Double polling was my best friend then.
Overall a very enjoyable ski. Lots of people started out in the afternoon to avoid the icy trails.
I recommend doing #3 while it's good.













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