into the heart of this part of the park with several
cabins as destinations. And the return trip to P10
is mostly downhill.
P16 to Herridge
Trail 50 is also a shared trail for skate and classic
cross-country skiing. Total distance to Herridge
and back is about 10 kilometres.
If Trail 1 is the backbone of the network in the
southeastern park, then the same could be said
for Trail 50 in the northwest section. A popular
stretch of Trail 50 is the segment between P16
and the Herridge cabin in a nice wooded area.
3 Gatineau Park
There’s a lot of climbing right at the beginning.
Once you get by these hills, this trail generally
consists of a lot of little slopes except for a fairly
ski trails take you
large hill about one kilometre before the cabin.
Although the hills can be a little tiring, they are
not so steep and scary to descend, despite a few
to cabins in the woods
interesting twists and turns.
Herridge is a two-storey log cabin with more
than a dozen picnic tables.
MIChAEL MCgOLDRICk Going back to the parking lot involves more
downhill than uphill runs, so the return to P16
>>
Many trails in Gatineau Park can be challenging for people who are new to cross-country goes by faster than you think.
skiing. And this applies to some of what the National Capital Commission calls “easy” trails.
The Park is in the Gatineau Hills, and hills are exactly what you’ll find on most trails. The added effort
P12 to Western
and skill required for hill skiing may surprise even experienced cross-country skiers who are used to This outing uses Trails 40, 33 and 2. Trail 40 is
relatively flat terrain. restricted to classic cross-country skiing, while
But start with easier trails and work your way up. Within a season or two you should soon feel right 33 and 2 are shared. A return trip is close to 10
at home on anything Gatineau Park has to offer. kilometres. The drive to P12 has a long stretch
The maps on my website (mcgoldrick.ca/xc-sking/) use a colour scheme for trail difficulty based along a narrow road on the south shore of
on the NCC’s cross-country ski trail map. The easiest are green, the more difficult blue, and the most Meech Lake.
difficult red. Consider this code only a guideline; some of the more challenging green trails can be This entire route to the cabin at Western is
almost as difficult as some blue trails. blue; expect a challenge. When going towards
Trail number signs also indicate this classification. Easy trails have signs with numbers in green the cabin, most of Trails 40 and 33 work their
circles. The more difficult blue trails have signs with the number in a blue square. Red trails have signs way up a ridge to a plateau. It can sometimes
with numbers in a black diamond. seem like you are climbing hill after hill, steep
and twisty.
P10 to keogan and Huron
These trails go through a nice wooded area
This route uses Fortune Parkway (green) or are challenging back-country trails. After a while that still lets in lots of sunlight, and includes
Trail 1 (green). Both are shared trails for skate you’ll reach Trail 1 and possibly the busiest ski bright open areas. A nearby brook and ravine
and classic cross-country skiing. It’s about intersection of the park’s entire network. A large make this trail quite scenic.
seven kilometres to Keogan and back from the sign points you in the direction of Keogan Cabin The cabin at Western offers one of the best
P10 parking lot. To Huron and back is about (about 100 metres further in), which holds about views of any the shelters in the park from the
10 kilometres. This parking a dozen picnic tables inside. top of the escarpment overlooking the Ottawa
lot is a good starting point for An option is to turn right and continue on Trail Valley and the Ottawa River. You can see the
many trails, so expect it to fill 1 for another 1.5 kilometres to Huron Cabin (very view through the cabin windows or from a bench
up quickly on weekend after- similar to Keogan). Along the way you’ll pass outside. Western is built with large logs, but it’s
noons. Shilly Shally cabin, which has to be the smallest not very big inside (fewer than 10 picnic tables),
The first kilometre involves in the park. Inside, there’s room only for a small so everyone has a view of the fire through the
non-stop hill climbing but on a sitting area and one picnic table. wood stove’s glass door.
gradual slope, so the hills can Although Trail 1 is fairly easy, it’s narrower So if you’re new to Ottawa, or just haven’t
be managed with your skis still than the Fortune Parkway and relatively level on been out on the trails for a while, be sure to taste
in the tracks. The climbing stops as you approach the way to Huron – up until Shilly Shally. After their many delights this winter. A sunny Sunday
Lac Fortune. From this point onwards, you’ll find that, there is one large hill where a knowledge of afternoon offers nothing better!
large open areas on the left of the trail, with the herringbone climbing will come in handy.
right side at the bottom of an embankment. Fortune Parkway Trail is good for the skier new
“Cross-country skiing is great if
As you continue towards Keogan, you’ll to the park. It gives a taste of hill climbing, but
you live in a small country.”
notice signposts for connecting trails, but many under manageable conditions, and brings skiers
Steven Wright
www.OttawaOutdoors.ca OTTAWA >> WINTER 2007/2008 7
Page 1  |  Page 2  |  Page 3  |  Page 4  |  Page 5  |  Page 6  |  Page 7  |  Page 8  |  Page 9  |  Page 10  |  Page 11  |  Page 12  |  Page 13  |  Page 14  |  Page 15  |  Page 16  |  Page 17  |  Page 18  |  Page 19  |  Page 20  |  Page 21  |  Page 22  |  Page 23  |  Page 24  |  Page 25  |  Page 26  |  Page 27  |  Page 28  |  Page 29  |  Page 30  |  Page 31  |  Page 32  |  Page 33  |  Page 34  |  Page 35  |  Page 36  |  Page 37  |  Page 38  |  Page 39  |  Page 40  |  Page 41  |  Page 42  |  Page 43  |  Page 44  |  Page 45  |  Page 46  |  Page 47  |  Page 48