Gatineau Park Snowshoeing Trails

Snowshoeing in Gatineau Park

With over 45 kilometers of designated snowshoeing trails within 17 to 40 minutes from Parliment Hill in Ottawa, the Gatineau Park offers a great choice of FREE trails (and FREE parking) for all skill levels. Good quality snowshoe rentals are available at the NCC Visitor Centre in Chelsea at a cost of $3 to $5/day or $10 to $15/day.

The trails are located in four main sectors, click on one to get more information:

East Sector: Chelsea
The shortest and closest trails to downtown, great place to start.

South Sector: Meech Lake
A classic, Wolf-Blanchet (#62) is a challenging trail with rewarding views

North Sector: Wakefield
Two different departure spots and lots of variety!

West Sector: Lac Philippe
Beautiful scenery around Lac Philippe, plus access to Lusk Caves and more!

Snowshoeing Trails in Gatineau Park

East Sector: Chelsea

The shortest and closest trails to downtown, great place to start.

Snowshoeing East Sector - Chelsea

Access: HWY5 or 105, left on Old Chelsea road, right on Scott, park at Visitor’s Centre

Distance from Parliament Hill: 16 km

Trail-Head: from Visitor's parking lot, walk past small shelter, cross wooden bridge, turn left on Sugarbush trail, veer left at abandoned house, cross Old Chelsea Rd, then strap on snowshoes when ready.

Trail #60: start on the right up a small hill, then right again and right a third time to start this loop in a counter-clockwise manner. Nice wooded hills to start followed by a flat iced-up marshy area. Length: < 1km.

Trail #61: Half-way around trail #60, veer right to cross trail #1, careful not to damage the cross-country trail. Nice wooded hills all round with good view. Length: <1km.

South Sector: Meech Lake

A classic, Wolf-Blanchet (#62) is a challenging trail with rewarding views

Snowshoeing South Sector - Meech Lake

Access: HWY5 or 105, left on Old Chelsea road, becomes Meech Lake Rd, to Parking #13

Distance from Parliament Hill: 25km

Trail-Head: at P13

Trail # 62: To climb the steepest sections, take the loop in a counter-clockwise manner. Trail follows and crosses multiple streams, including a log-bridge. The views from the Mahingan lookout is well worth climbing 800 feet of elevation. If you’re lucky a nice bench is available for you to rest your legs. Another 1km or so leads to the breathtaking Tawadina lookout. Don’t forget your camera on this trip! The return back to the parking lot is much easier on the remaining portion of the trail. Length: 8-1/2 km.

North Sector: Wakefield

Snowshoeing North Sector - Wakefield

Access: HWY5 to end, turn left on 105, left on Cross Loop road to Parking #16

Distance from Parliament Hill: 31km to P16

Trail-Head: at P16

Trail # 70: provides access to Healy and Herridge shelters. Starts with a gradual 1km climb to trail #71. Length: 7 km to Healey, 8 km to Herridge (there & back)

Trail # 71: In a counter-clockwise manner, starts with flat section in fields, followed by picturesque Carman lake, ending with wooded and quite hilly section to rest area with fire pit and benches. Length: 7.5km loop via #70, not including connection to #72

Alternate Access: HWY5 to end, turn left on 105, at traffic signal near Wakefield, continue straight for another 0.5 km to Parking #17

Distance from Parliament Hill: 34km to P17

Trail-Head: at P17

Trail # 72: provides access to the Brown shelter. Trail continues as a loop around the mountain. In counter-clockwise manner, first part is the width of an access road, second part is narrower trail. Length: +/- 6km

West Sector: Lac Philippe

Snowshoeing West Sector - Lac Philippe

Access: HWY5 to end, turn left on 105, left on 366-W after traffic lights, left after 6.5km onto Lac Philippe road, follow to end.

Distance from Parliament Hill: 43km

Trail-Head: First-Aid Station parking on your right.

Trail # 74: Very nice wooded and hilly trail to Renaud shelter. Can also be used to access Philippe and Des Pins shelters. Length: 6.5km.

Trail # 73: Details not available. Two rest-areas with fire-pits. Access to Wanakiwin shelter. Access to Lusk caves. Length: +/= 10km loop.

•Access: HWY5 or 105, left on Old Chelsea road, right on Scott, park at Visitor’s Centre

•Distance from Parliament Hill: 16 km

•Trail-Head: from Visitor's parking lot, walk past small shelter, cross wooden bridge, turn left on Sugarbush trail, veer left at abandoned house, cross Old Chelsea Rd, then strap on snowshoes when ready.

•Trail #60: start on the right up a small hill, then right again and right a third time to start this loop in a counter-clockwise manner. Nice wooded hills to start followed by a flat iced-up marshy area. Length: < 1km.

•Trail #61: Half-way around trail #60, veer right to cross trail #1, careful not to damage the cross-country trail. Nice wooded hills all round with good view. Length: <1km.

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