Gatineau Park

Trails Skied: #24, #40, #1 (blue), Glide Wax: , Grip Wax:

David Paton tells me... We’re still not down (or is it up) to 10% walking, but the first 500 m. from P12 were best to be walked, and there was another 500 m. in the last km. to walk (a couple of sections). Plus a few ginger walk-overs, and a few ten m. portages. Hairies were a great way to go – decent grip, no mess, and they skate reasonably well when asked to.

The warm rain on Sunday night was the real snow-eater, and was really destructive on the sections of trail that become streams when the streams overflow. Nevertheless, with a blue sky, sun, and 14 degrees it was another great day for shorts and polo shirt. The rest of the week doesn't look as promising. Thursday and Friday may be pretty icy, and by Tuesday, the next double-digit prediction, I suspect more like 50% walking - there were lots of skiable but thin sections yesterday.

For those desperate to ski (precious little evidence of them yesterday!), I think that you'd better head out today from P12, and head west.













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