Gatineau Park Camping Full Guide to Campgrounds & Activities
Gatineau Park is a short drive from Ottawa but offers a peaceful retreat from the city with lakes, beautiful lookouts, fall colors, scenic hikes, water sports, and camping opportunities.
As someone who has lived in the Ottawa area and loves to camp, I am qualified to share the best places to camp in Gatineau Park and tell you everything you need to know before you go!
There are lots of different campsites in Gatineau Park. You can find fully furnished cabins, yurts, basic tent campsites, and even backcountry campgrounds that you can only get to by canoe.
You’ll also learn which campsites are best in the summer and which are best in the winter.
So in this post, we’ll look at all the camping options, plus the best things to do and what to bring with you for Gatineau Park camping!
🚙 Experience both adventure and comfort by camping in Gatineau Park with an RV! For rentals, I highly recomend this website!
Gatineau Park Summer Camping
The summer camping season in Gatineau Park is from May 10th – October 14th, and it’s the perfect time to camp in Gatineau because the weather is perfect! You can swim in the lakes, ride your bike, and enjoy being outdoors. You can also explore numerous hiking trails or rent a canoe/kayak to relax on the water.
During this time, nearly all of the campsites are available, but you should reserve your site a few months ahead of time since they tend to fill up quickly (especially on weekends)
There’s a lot to enjoy in the summer at Gatineau Park, but a few noteworthy campground rules:
- No pets (except service animals)
- All firewood must be purchased in Gatineau Park
- Alcohol must stay within your campsite
- Visitors must leave by 10PM
- Summer quiet hours are 10PM – 7PM
Of all the campgrounds available in summer, you should book a campsite at either Lake Phillipe, Taylor Lake, or Lake Peche.
Lake Phillipe Camping
Lake Philippe is the most built-up section of Gatineau Park, with all the necessary facilities. In addition to three public beaches, you’ll also have public restrooms available, two volleyball courts, kayak rentals, a playground, and crystal-clear water for swimming.
The largest collection of Gatineau Park accommodations is by Lake Phillipe. This campground has nearly 250 sites, including RV campsites, tent sites, furnished cabins, and even yurts.
I recommend booking cabin Cabins for your outdoor retreat in Gatineau Park! It feels “off the grid” but still has many of the comforts of home.
Also, you should book the Pines Cabin at Gatineau Park for the easiest access to the beach!
Here are the details for each option:
- RV Campsites: Lake Philippe is the only Gatineau Park campground with RV sites and a dumping station. So if you are camping in a recreational vehicle, this is where you’ll need to reserve a campsite.
- Tent Campsites: The tent sites all have a fire pit, firewood, and a picnic table. There are also shared campground bathrooms with pit toilets and water taps.
- Cabins: The cabins include a fridge or cooler, a wood stove, an outhouse, and drinking water stations. Reserving a cabin is a great camping option if you don’t want to “rough it” in a tent but still want to enjoy some time in nature.
After you set up camp, you can enjoy the Ottawa summer sun by hanging out on the shore of Parent Beach, renting a canoe, mountain biking, or hiking through the best Gatineau Park hiking trails.
Taylor Lake Gatineau Park
Taylor Lake is a peaceful place to stay in Gatineau Park. Imagine swinging in a hammock surrounded by the sounds of water lapping the shore and birds singing in the forest.
The campground has 2 yurts and 34 tent sites you can reserve, and all of the Taylor Lake campsites are in a beautiful wooded area perfect for viewing wildlife. It’s common to see deer, squirrels, rabbits, and various species of birds.
The campsite includes firewood free of charge, and there is a picnic table next to each firepit, so come ready with all the fixings for s’mores and some great campfire meals.
The biggest downside to camping at Taylor Lake is the lack of plumbing. This means you have to bring your own drinking water, and while there are pit toilets, you’ll need to bring sanitizer or extra soap for washing your hands.
The good part is it’s not far from Lake Phillipe if you need access to running water, drinking water, or other amenities.
Ultimately, it’s a perfect location for campers who love a peaceful atmosphere!
Lake Peche Campground Canoe Camping
Lake Peche is the smallest campsite in Gatineau Park, but it’s a unique experience because all 34 campsites are only accessible from the water.
These campsites are all next to the lake and designed for canoe camping in Gatineau Park, where you take a canoe to your camp. The sites are non-electric, but there are pit toilets at the campgrounds and hangers for food and trash to keep them away from critters. are
These sites are organized into 11 clusters of either 2, 3, or 4 campsites, which is excellent for larger groups camping together.
If you don’t have your own canoe or kayak, rentals are available right next to where you launch your boat into the water.
Once you secure a canoe, you can hop in and paddle to the campsite. Depending on which Lake Peche campground you booked, your canoe journey requires anywhere from 30 to 90 of paddling.
All your gear should fit in the canoe with you, but you may want to invest in a few waterproof dry bags to keep your things extra safe! Luckily, each campsite has firewood and a fire pit, so you don’t have to worry about loading firewood onto your canoe.
Gatineau Park Winter Camping
Gatineau Park is the perfect place to go camping in the winter if you love snowshoeing or cross-country skiing. The area offers amazing winter views and plenty of accessible hiking trails.
Winter camping in Gatineau Park is from November through April. There are significantly fewer campsites available during this season, but Gatineau Park still offers some quality cabins, yurts, and permanent 4-season tents.
There are two places for winter camping at Gatineau Park. You can go to Wanakiwin (Philippe Lake) or stay at one of the Taylor Lake Yurts.
Either way, it’s important to pack appropriately for the winter cold. Bring warm clothes and check that your sleeping bag is rated to withstand near-freezing temperatures to ensure it will keep you warm through the night.
Wanakiwin Philippe Lake
The yurts along Philippe Lake are called ‘Wanakiwin,’ which means “peaceful place.”
The Wanakiwin Yurt is located in Phillipe Lake’s Campground and is the perfect rustic setting for a cozy Ottawa winter getaway.
You’ll still need to bring your sleeping bag to place on top of the mattresses, but there are bunkbeds along the wall, so you won’t have to sleep on the ground.
The yurts also have a picnic table in the middle for playing games or enjoying meals, solar-powered lighting, a wood stove, and a skylight in the center of the domed roof.
You can also find four 4-season tents (V-Tents) at Phillipe Lake available during the winter. The V-roof tent is halfway between a tent and a rustic cabin. Each V-tent has similar furniture to the yurt, such as bunk beds with mattresses, a wood stove, and a nearby outhouse.
Whether you’re staying in the yurt or the tent, start a fire in the wood stove to help heat up the space right away.
Taylor Lake Yurts
Taylor Lake Yurt and Ohomisi Yurt are two winter camping accommodations in Gatineau Park near Taylor Lake. Like the Wanakiwin Yurt, they offer bunk beds with mattresses, a wood stove, a nearby outhouse, and basic kitchen supplies.
Bring your skis or snowshoes for some fun winter adventures on the trails nearby. The Taylor Lake Yurt is located by Trail 55, which is very popular for cross-country skiing.
These yurts are a comfortable introduction to winter camping and are great for couples and groups of up to 4 people.
Backcountry Camping Gatineau Park
The canoe campsites at Lake Peche are the best place for backcountry camping in Gatineau Park. (Just remember that it’s not an option in the winter).
Backcountry camping is a beautiful experience, but you must pack in everything you need for the night since the campsites have few amenities. You’ll be without any electricity, sewer systems, or running water.
While this can be a neat experience, it can be challenging, so I wouldn’t recommend it for first-time campers, especially when more comfortable accommodations are available.
However, it’s a straightforward process if you are an experienced camper and want to go backpacking.
Simply select a route that connects a few hiking trails, get the proper permits/reservations, and head out into the backcountry.
Gatineau Park Camping Reservations
Make your camping reservations for any campsite at Gatineau Park through their online reservation system.
You can check out the Gatineau Park map for an idea of which site you want to reserve before booking.
Most of the basic tent sites hover around $20-25/night, and the
The Gatineau Park camping rates vary by season and campsite type. Most basic tent sites hover around $20-25/night, but the cabins, yurts, and 4-season tents cost about $100-250/night.
The nice part is that it’s flexible. The Gatineau Park camping cancellation policy offers a full refund (minus the administration fee) if you cancel 5 or more days in advance.
Things to Do When Camping in Gatineau
While camping in Gatineau, Quebec, you’ll find so many things to do nearby! From enjoying the sites within Gatineau Park to exploring the nearby landmarks and the city of Ottawa, you won’t get bored in Gatineau.
You can also stop by the Gatineau Park Visitor’s Center on your way to the campground for more ideas!
Gatineau Park Nocturnal Snowshoeing Adventure Dinner
This is a very popular winter activity in Gatineau Park. The Nocturnal Snowshoeing Adventure Dinner starts in Gatineau Park and takes you along trail #70 to Healey Shelter.
At the shelter, your guide will serve hot chocolate and hot soup with a grilled cheese sandwich.
The trail is 7.5 km (4.6 mi). With an hour stop for food and stargazing, the whole evening adventure takes 3 hr 30 min.
Gatineau Park Guided Hike King Mountain
King Mountain Trail is one of the more popular hikes in Gatineau Park. The hike leads you through dense trees before opening up to a gorgeous lookout over Gatineau and Ottawa.
At just over 5km (3.1 mi), many people choose to hike on their own, but you can also find guided tours.
For instance, this 3-hour guided hike in Gatineau Park takes you to the top of King Mountain, where you will enjoy a snack and hot chocolate at the summit, then head back down in the dark.
Joining a tour is great for inexperienced hikers since they provide the additional security of hiking in a group, plus some gear like hiking poles and headlamps.
Full-Day Pontiac Wine Tour Day Trip from Ottowa & Gatineau
Like wine tasting? This full-day Pontiac wine tour has 4 stops and will pick you up in Gatineau.
The journey starts in Domaine de Pontiac Village, where you’ll enjoy a few different wine samples and explore the old car museum from 1920.
Then, the next stop is at Little Red Wagon Winery for some wine and food pairings.
Next, the guides will take you to Cidrerie Coronation Hall Cider Mills to tour the old cider mill.
Finally, after indulging in sweet and hard cider, the tour finishes in Vignoble les Collines in Luskville. This is the perfect place to end the tour with a wonderful view of the Gatineau hills.
Mackenzie King Estate
Mackenzie King Estate offers exhibits and activities for all ages.
The estate belonged to Prime Minister William Lyon Mackenzie King, the 10th prime minister of Canada. After passing away, he left his 231-hectare (2.31 km2) home to the Canadian people.
Today, it’s operated by the National Capital Commission (NCC). The gardens and historic buildings are a treasured part of Gatineau Park.
It’s also close to the waterfall trail and Pink Lake, so you can make a day of it!
What to Bring Gatineau Camping
Gatineau is not super far off the grid. Heck, it’s just 15 minutes from both Ottawa and Gatineau City. But you should still come prepared with everything you need for a few days in nature.
Besides packing your tent, sleeping bag, and food, here are some more items to consider.
- GPS
- First Aid Kit
- Headlamp
- Fire Starter
- Sunscreen
- Bear Spray
- Bear Resistant Cooler
- Bug Spray
- Sleeping Pad
- Pocket knife
- Extra food, water, and clothes.
- Snowshoes (winter)
- Crampons (winter)
There are bears in Gatineau Park, but it’s rare for them to bother campers. Still, you should always come with a certified bear-resistant cooler and bear spray, just in case.
FAQs
Is camping allowed in Gatineau Park?
Yes, camping is allowed in Gatineau Park, but you must make a reservation through the online reservation system. Several campsites are available, including tent sites, RV sites, cabins, yurts, and V-tents.
Can you drink alcohol in Gatineau Park?
Yes, you can drink alcohol in Gatineau Park, but you much drink at your campsite. You cannot bring alcohol to the beaches or along hiking trails.
What is the best month for camping in Ontario?
The best month for camping in Ontario is May. The weather is warm, and the wildflowers are blooming, but you’ll still avoid summer’s heavy heat and mosquitoes.
Can you park overnight in Gatineau Park?
You may park overnight in Gatineau Park if you have a campsite reservation. However, each campsite is only allowed one vehicle, and parking in any public parking lot overnight (including in the beach area) is illegal.
Do you need a Park Pass for Gatineau Park?
You do not need a Park Pass for Gatineau Park, but you do need to pay a trail fee to access certain hiking trails and beaches during the summer.
Summary
Gatineau Park has many camping opportunities no matter what time of year you visit!
The most adventurous option is canoe camping on Lake Peche.
But there are more comfortable options, too. You can book a cabin with a wood stove and bunk beds at Philippe Lake or one of the beautiful Taylor Lake yurts. These are perfect options for visitors seeking a quiet and comfortable nature retreat.
Oh! And don’t forget to check out the other treasures near Ottawa. There are so many beautiful lakes and even a surprising number of beaches near Ottawa!
I hope you have a great time Gatineau Park camping this year!
🚙 Experience both adventure and comfort by camping in Gatineau Park with an RV! For rentals, I highly recommend this website!
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Ottawa Travel Planning Guide
🚑 Should I buy Ottawa travel insurance?
100% YES! — There’s a misconception that Canada has “free healthcare” for everyone. Nope! Only Canadians. So you’ll need to get travel insurance to visit Ottawa. I recommend this one.
💧Can you drink the tap water in Ottawa?
Yes – ish — While you can technically drink the tap water in Ottawa, as a local I don’t recommend it. Old hotels especially can have some nasty things in their pipes. Instead, get a filtered water bottle. (Read more)
🚙💨 Do I need to rent a car in Ottawa?
Yes — Renting a car in Ottawa is one of the best ways to get around! You’ll be able to see more of the city and beyond, like the epic hiking trails. I recommend Discover Cars for the cheapest rates possible.
📲 Do I need to know French in Ottawa?
Nope! — The primary language of Ottawa is English. While French is also spoken and on some signs, you can easily get by without knowing any French. (Read more)
🏩 What’s the best way to book my Ottawa accommodations?
For Ottawa hotels, Booking is the best site. If you’re considering an Ottawa Airbnb, don’t forget to also check VRBO, which is often cheaper than Airbnb. My #1 hotel recommendation in Ottawa is the Fairmont Chateau Laurier.
✈️ What’s the best site to buy Ottawa flights?
For finding cheap Ottawa flights, I recommend Skyscanner. You can even set a price alert to find out when flights are on sale.
🎫 Do I need a Visa for Ottawa?
Likely Not — U.S. and most European Passport holders don’t need a Visa to visit Canada.
📍 Where is Ottawa? And what’s nearby?
Ottawa is the capital city of Canada, located in Ontario. It’s right on the border of Quebec. It’s about 2 hours from Mont Tremblant, 3 hours from Montreal, or 5 hours from Toronto. You can take a road trip to get to other places or fly.
