Gatineau Park, Outaouais

I was eleven years old. I was an American girl who grew up in Colorado. Gatineau Park is as beautiful as it gets. I had the opportunity to live in Ottawa for three years. They were the best years of my life. I can't explain the pure beauty of the experience.

If you are attempting to reserve or check availability on line for a sight, don't bother! Nothing is upkept. After speaking to a friendly, helpful but equally frustrated staff they let me know that the company that services the website does very little to update the information. I checked one group site for 8 different dates and it said they were available. The staff said it was completely booked. What a waste of time, money and "service". All the staff seemed frustrated from having to handle irrate campers trying to book a site, rightfully so. Curiously enough all the "contact us" web links for Gatineau Park and the NCC fail. It is obvious they could care less for feedback and are happy filling their quotas and refreshing their staff as needed. All reservation sites for camping are bad but this was the worst that I have encountered yet.

Gatineau Park has something for everyone. Offers wonderful scenic nature drives, and several vistas over the city of Ottawa and Gatineau/Hull. (some areas require paid parking- season passes available) For the adventurer or the tourist, this is a four season destination; fantastic scenic trails from easy walking to challenging distance hiking, road and mountain biking, alpine and x-country skiing both classic and skate on over 100km of groomed trails. In the summer there are several drivable scenic lookout points, with walkable trails from all of them. In the winter the roadways are closed to vehicles and open to skiers, hikers, shoe-shoers etc. The terrain is vast and varied technically enough to challenge almost anyone of any level ability in any sport you choose. To see all the park has to offer, you'll need to stop in the visitor center and get a map, then take a couple liesurely days to explore. And then come back time and time again and immerse yourself in the park in all its seasons!

ITS A GREAT CREATION OF NATURE. I LIKED THE POSSIBILITY TO WALK AROUND. I DISLIKE THAT NO LEAVES COULD BE TAKEN OUT AS SOUVENIERS. I AM GOING TOMORROW AGAIN FOR MY THIRD TIME, WHEN I COME BACK I'LL GIVE YOU ADDITIONAL INFO OF THIS VISIT.

I'm from Ottawa and the Gatineau Park is one of my favourite places to go. There is something there for almost everyone. One of the best walking trails was the Mackenzie King Estate trail. Its not only a walk it is a part of history as well. The Queen of England once walked down that trail with Mackenzie King. The park is very beautiful in the fall. The only problem about going up here is paying for the parking but other than that I definately would recommend the park to anyone visiting Ottawa.

It's important to get the direction right when starting off on the Gatineau park loop. For those fit individuals who can bike the loop's entire 23 kilometre distance more than one time around in one day can go ahead and do it without the assistance of a map. However, for those of us who have set off to take advantage of a beautiful day for a leisurely bicycle ride should be forewarned of the dangers of wrong turns and unexpected terrain. This is not to say that the Gatineau park loop isn't for everyone. It isn't intended that this review dissuade anyone from bicycling in Gatineau. I consider Gatineau park to be one of the best aspects of living in Ottawa - biking, rollerblading, swimming, and much more in the summer plus skiing, snowshoeing in the winter... But, in case of time restrictions or physical disabilities (like asthma) or sticky bicycle gears you cannot say that you haven't been warned... For starters, the loop covers some hilly terrain. In order to avoid some of the hills, it would be best to approach the loop from a counterclock wise direction. Nevertheless, you will probably find that you'll need most (or all) of your gears! Secondly, watch out for traffic (cars and speedy bicyclists). Let this review be a friendly warning about the hilly and somewhat arduous terrain...but don't let this review discourage you from experiencing a beautiful day out in Quebec's beautiful countryside!