Winter Fun in the City: Activities in Gatineau!
This winter, fill up on vitamin D! Discover Gatineau’s natural areas and try out a variety of winter activities with your partner or as a family. Between Lake Leamy, Lake Beauchamp and the Brewery Creek skating rink, you can take advantage of all the winter fun that the city has to offer!
*Did you know what the Accès Gatineau+ card (available in libraries) gives you access to several activities and sports equipment for free? Take advantage of this offer!
Enjoy the outdoors with the whole family
Are your kids bouncing off the walls with pent up energy? It’s the perfect time to discover new winter activities for the whole family in the great outdoors. In the heart of the Hull sector, the Centre de plein air du Lac-Leamy offers a magnificent playing field with a view of Lake Leamy and the surrounding natural area. Rent snowshoes or cross-country skis to explore the lake and the wooded trails. This is also an ideal area to go for a beautiful hike. There’s something for the whole family, including your four-legged friends… provided they stay on the leash!
Discover Corporation plein air de la Lièvre’s outdoor sites! Wander through Champboisé de L’Ange-Gardien’s magnificent snowy forest on 5 kilometres of pedestrian trails. Whether you prefer easy trails or difficult ones, you’re sure to find one that suits your needs and gets the whole family’s blood pumping. Walk along the Lièvre River at your own pace. For beginners, this is the ideal place to try cross-country skiing or snowshoeing for the first time. For a longer adventure, look no further than the Sentiers des Renards Blancs. Revel in the fresh air on 20 kilometres of marked and maintained cross-country and snowshoeing trails. All along the trails, there are useful shelters for you to rest and warm up in. You’ll fall in love with this charming family expedition!
A romantic winter getaway
What could be more romantic than skating side by side on a natural body of water? Share a magical moment with your partner under softly falling snow at the outdoor Brewery Creek skating rink, with lights that illuminate the ice come nightfall. Leisurely explore the magnificent ice rink, which spans more than 420 metres in length. The enchanting decor only enhances this amazing experience! Located in the heart of downtown, the rink is close to several restaurants. Make the most of this chance to extend your evening together by enjoying a hearty meal in a softly lit locale.
More activities in and around downtown
Just outside the urban centre, the Centre de plein air du Lac-Beauchamp is easily accessible for all of your winter activity needs. With a surface area of 526 acres, the park has over 15 kilometres of recreational trails. Have fun tubing, teach your little ones how to ice skate, strap on your cross-country skis or snowshoes for hours of outdoor fun!
Located at the entrance of the parc de la Gatineau (P2 parking and trail 27), the Relais plein air du parc de la Gatineau is the ultimate destination for lovers of the great outdoors! Here lies the start (and end) of the trail, where you can make the most of the hundreds of kilometres of trails in the park. Visitors have access to free parking, sports equipment rentals, beginner’s courses and guided excursions! You can also rest and warm up at the café-bistro and at the indoor and outdoor fireplaces. For those without their own equipment, cross-country skis, snowshoes, cleats and winter bikes are available to rent at the park.
In a single day, you can start off by practising your favourite winter sports, head back into downtown for another activity and finish the day in a delightful restaurant. It’s easy to combine winter fun and urban living in Gatineau!
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After a hearty dose of the urban outdoors, it’s time for a hot chocolate break! Once you’re nice and cozy, take some time to plan your next adventures in the Outaouais thanks to our 100 Activities to Put on Your Bucket List for an Amazing Winter!
