Outaouais Summer Hiking Guide
This summer, lace up your hiking shoes and hit the beautiful trails in the Outaouais. Whether you’re up for a peaceful woodland stroll or a longer expedition, there’s a trail for you! Hike the shorelines of sparkling lakes, climb lofty peaks, and get to know the local flora and fauna. Here’s your guide to summer hiking in the Outaouais!
THE CLASSICS
Gatineau Park
33 Scott Road, Chelsea
183 km of trails | Trail length 0.5 km to 8.5 km. | Absolute musts: the Mackenzie King Estate, the Champlain Lookout and Lac Philippe. | Dogs are allowed on most of the summer trails.
Parc des Montagnes Noires de Ripon
39 Chemin de la Montagne Noire, Ripon
17 trails, total length 25 km | Wooded terrain in the heart of Petite Nation. The park has a 12-metre observation tower at the lookout at the top of Mont Grand-Pic (elevation 426 metres). | Dogs are allowed.
Mont Morissette Regional Park
Chemin du Lac Long, Blue Sea
13 km of trails | Mountainous terrain with an 18-metre observation tower offering views of a dozen lakes, including Blue Sea Lake.
FOR SERIOUS HIKERS (2 HOURS +)
La Route des Zingues
Chemin Lac Gagnon, Duhamel
24.3-km trail | The trail runs alongside Lac Gagnon and Lac Preston. It’s one of the most beautiful sections of the Quebec National Trail. | At P1, in Pimatina Park on the Julie trail, dogs are not allowed.
Oiseau Rock Trail
1 Chemin Schyan, Sheenboro
9-km round trip | The trail leads to an important North American rock art site more than 150 metres above the Grande River. | The trailhead is accessible only by 4x4 all-terrain vehicle.
Albatros Trail
Chemin du Lac-de-l’Aqueduc, Val-des-Bois
19.5-km section of the National Trail | The trail starts in Val-des-Bois and leads to Lac Écho and beautiful mountains. | Leashed dogs are welcome.
Kenauk Nature | Baldy Trail
1000 Chemin Kenauk, Montebello
Length 8.5 km | Observation point at Lac Papineau and stunning view of Mont Tremblant. | Rock piles mark the rocky sections of the trail.
Cycloparc PPJ
From Wyman to Isle-aux-Allumettes
Length 92 km | A natural park built on a former railway line, the trail crosses a varied landscape of farms, swamps, fields and forests.
HALF-DAY TRIP (30 MINUTES TO 2 HOURS)
Base de plein air Air-Eau-Bois
32 Chemin de la Base de Plein Air, Denholm
Six hiking trails, 1.2 km to 3.5 km | Two lookout points (the Petit point de vue and the Grand point de vue) offer views of the Poisson Blanc Reservoir.
Luskville Falls Trail
Chemin de l’Hôtel de Ville, Luskville
4.2-km loop | Rocky uphill climb, panoramic view of the Ottawa Valley and the Luskville Falls. | Dogs are not allowed.
Leslie Park
460 Chemin Belmont, Otter Lake
Over 15 km of trails | You can hike a 4-km loop around Lac Moore.
Sentier du marais du parc des Chutes de Denholm
830 Chemin Paugan, Denholm
3.7-km loop | Hike to the marsh lookout point and admire Denholm Falls and the permanent outdoor art along the way.
Kenauk Nature
1000 Chemin Kenauk, Montebello
Skymount Trail (intermediate), 4.2 km round trip | Fern Trail (intermediate), 3.6 km | Kinonge Trail (easy), 4.6 km | Hemlock Trail (easy), 3-km loop.
Trails of Lac Sainte-Marie
Centre de plein air du Lac-Beauchamp
741 Maloney Blvd. East, Gatineau
15 km of trails | Accessible main building and beach nearby.
Centre de plein air du Lac-Leamy
100 Atawe Street, Gatineau
2.5-km lakeshore loop | Dogs are allowed in the park.
SHORT HIKES (UNDER 30 MINUTES)
Chutes Coulonge Park
100 Promenade du Parc-des-Chutes, Mansfield-et-Pontefract
Three hiking trails, 1 km to 2.4 km. | Several footbridges over a canyon, and five lookouts with great views of the 48-metre Coulonge Falls.
Du Lièvre Trails
121 Chemin du Pont-de-Bois, Val-des-Bois
Family-friendly beginner-level trails, 0.8 km to 4 km | End your hike with a stop at the children’s park located on the same property. | Leashed dogs are welcome.
Cedar Lakes Recreational Trails
70 Principale Street, Messines
Five trails, 1.2 km to 5.5 km | Woodland, cedar forest and two lakes.
First Nations Trail (Parc Omega)
399 Route 323 North, Montebello
1.5-km walking trail | Admire the First Nations totem poles and observe the wild deer along the trail.
Pont de pierre de Déléage Trails
Chemin de la Baie Noire, Déléage
Four trails, 0.6 km to 1.5 km | Access to the Pont de pierre (“stone bridge”), a natural rock formation over the river. | Take a swim in a natural rock pool.
NATURE TRAILS
Forêt-la-Blanche Ecological Reserve
300 Chemin Saddler, Mayo
12 km of trails | One of the oldest forests in eastern North America. | The interpretation centre is open from Wednesday to Sunday from 10 AM to 4 PM, most of the year.
White-Tail Deer Interpretation Centre
6 Chemin du Barrage, Sainte-Thérèse-de-la-Gatineau
1-km loop | Interpretation panels about the white-tail deer are displayed in an impressive log pavilion.
Parc national de Plaisance
1001 Chemin des Presqu’Îles, Plaisance
Ten trails, 1 km to 21 km | Boardwalks and bridges through marshland that is home to more than 260 bird species.
Les Chutes du Moulin
100 Rang Malo, Plaisance
2-km round trip | Views of the Chutes du Moulin waterfall, with a vertical drop of over 35 metres. | Lookout point, picnic table and interpretation panels.
Papineau-Labelle Wildlife Reserve
Papineau-Labelle Wildlife Reserve
More than 60 km of trails | Opportunity to observe white-tail deer, moose and beaver.
Centre touristique du Lac-Simon
1216 Principale Street, Duhamel
Ten trails, 300 m to 3.5 km | Ideal for wildlife observation in a mixed forest.
For even more trails, check out the PERO trails website and the Capital Pathway Network. With all these options, you’re sure to hit your daily steps target!
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