Pink Lake

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3 years ago

I absolutely love this trail! The views are gorgeous, the water is Crystal blue especially on sunny days. Very doable for any body type or age group (beginner or advanced) it's roughly 5km! Enjoy!! read more

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uwimana c.

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3 years ago

Hiked this summer here with my 2teenagers , the view at the end was stunning, people were lovely, a very nice couple provided directions to us .just make sure to download your map before u go as there the Internet connection is poor while on trail read more

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Elvis A.

85

1367

4646

6 years ago

A pleasant find in the Gatineau park. We ended up here on a long weekend (for most people) however due the pandemic a whole bunch of access roads were closed or bike/walk only. However somehow we ended up closer to a 10-15 min walk to the trek here. The lake is pristine and the local ecosystem seems intact. We even spotted a turtle popping its head out of water and wading around. The trail itself is short if you are not used to long duration ones. There are viewing areas and info plaques all over so one can take a break and read up on things or absorb the view. However there was no swimming allowed when we visited which is all right all things considered and cons of swimming in fresh water out weigh the risk IMO. I think this would be a good spot to visit in the off season. read more

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WhiteFeather H.

Elite 23

222

293

725

6 years ago

This is my favourite hiking spot in Gatineau Park. It is pristine, peaceful and if you're daring, you can actually step not far off the beaten track and jump in the perfectly crystal clear water for a refreshing dip. The water here is so clear, you can see very far down, and it has a gorgeous turquoise-green hue overall. The entire lake is FULL of so many different species of fish, and the gorgeous woods surrounding the lake are full of oak, cedar, maple and so many other grand sentient beings! Being here is an excellent soul recharge. Currently, the trail around the lake is one direction only, due to COVID-19 measures, so please be sure to respect the requirements!!! The entire trek will take about an hour and a half to go the full way around back to the parking lot where you enter, so plan ahead to avoid back-tracking and endangering others. The trail also features a few areas of fenced off mica mines, leftover remnants where you can still find sparkling flakes of mica on the ground. There are info plaques along the trail so that you can get filled in on the history of the lake and mines, conservation efforts and the tree planting movement in the 70s that has restored it to its current state of lushness. As the signs say: Gatineau Park - yours to protect, yours to enjoy. So, enjoy! And, don't be a douche - pack out your garbage, leave it pristine for everyone, chipmunks included. read more

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Sirena L.

498

194

1646

10 years ago

So beautiful! I visited in mid-September and the water was a gorgeous turquoise-green color. The edges were incredibly clear, so I saw lots of small fish as well as a couple of Northern green frogs. I came on a weekday morning so it wasn't crowded, but I hear it's packed on the weekends. The trail is very well maintained with many wooden walkways & stairs. There are also plenty of good informational signs along the way to learn more about the lake. It isn't an especially challenging 'hike' though the stairs can get you a little winded (of course this all depends on individual condition). One of the signs says it should take about 1-1.5 hours. If you're not into the walking, there's a lookout area you can just pull into. I would definitely come back here again in a heartbeat! read more

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Tomer N.

Elite 24

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8 years ago

Wonderful short trail. We wanted a short outdoor hike, about an hour or 2 this was what we hoped for exactly. The trail was a bit crowded (I assume it is usually crowded on weekends) but still ok. Parking is hard since the small parking spot is getting full very fast, maybe next time we will park at the observation point since it is a loop trail. The views are great, the trail is well maintained and there are interesting and educational signs along the trail which add value to it. A great 2.5 Km trail, too bad it is not dog friendly. read more

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Cecily W.

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10 years ago

One of the better lakes inside Gatineau Park. It's not far from Ottawa downtown, and the color of the lake is very beautiful. The trail around the lake is about 1 hour, easy walk. If you don't have too much time spend here, just take a look at the start point of the trail is fine too. That is the best view point for the lake. If you come during a beautiful weather weekend, you may find hard to find a parking spot. read more

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Mimi J.

Elite 19

177

550

2297

10 years ago

I love nature, and Pink Lake does not disappoint! It can get packed on weekends, so try going on Sunday (vs. Saturday), or in the early morning (but sunset is beautiful)! The trail is wooden and very wide, and goes all around the lake. The water is absolutely stunning and makes for great photos! When the leaves have turned color, the entire area looks super vibrant and colorful. To make your experience better, pack yourself a picnic! There are lots of spots along the way to rest :) read more

Pink Lake - A lookout point! - Parks Near Me - Gatineau, Quebec

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Patrick W.

Elite 22

171

914

1961

9 years ago

Pink Lake is a very unique lake. It is a meromictic lake where some of the layers of water do not mix. As a result, there is no oxygen at the bottom and nothing is alive down there. It also results in a beautiful turquoise color. It is one of the most memorable lakes I have ever seen. There is a hiking path that runs around the lake. If you go in a clockwise direction, the first half of the path offers the best views of the lake. Definitely spend some time to soak in the views and take some pictures. If you are visiting Ottawa and looking for recommendations, feel free to message me through Yelp and I can share my itinerary, which includes my Yelp reviews. The information for an electronic copy can also be found in the link via my Yelp profile. read more

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Alice T.

Elite 24

498

1227

568

12 years ago

Pink Lake is located in Gatineau Park. Turns out that the lovely turquoise color is due to it being one of the few meromictic lakes in the world, meaning that it has two layers of water that do not mix. So one layer has oxygen and one doesn't, allowing different types of animal life. Or at least something like that... if you want to learn more, go visit the trail along the park. There are lots of educational placards as you walk the trail explaining all the cool things about the lake. The trail is about 3 km or 1.5 miles, so it takes about 1 hour at most to do. There are a lot of runners on the trail. One running couple probably lapped us three times while we were walking the trail. Most of the trail is shaded, but be sure to wear your sunscreen anyways. There are plenty of beautiful vantage points, so also bring your camera. The majority of the trail is pretty flat and easy to walk. However, there are a few sections with lots of steps (both uphill and downhill). Also, beware of poison ivy along the trail. For those who just want to see the lake and are not interested in the trail, you don't have to exert much effort as the parking lot is right at the entrance of the trail where the lake is. read more

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Christina L.

0

3

2

10 years ago

Pink Lake has a trail which is classified as a "moderate" difficulty walk. While Gatineau Park has an easier trail for those who want a general stroll or have some mobility concerns, if you are able to navigate stairs, then this walk is certainly a "can't miss." Beautiful at any time of year, and truly spectacular in the fall, this lake is well known for its diverse and lovely flora. This lake is one of the few meromictic lakes in the world. Algae in the lake creates a greenish/ turquoise effect, giving it a truly lovely colour. Parking is available at the entrance, as are outhouse facilities. A short portion of the boardwalk at the entrance is accessible and the lake can be seen from the bottom portion of the initial walkway. However, please note that this is not an accessible location as the surrounding high cliffs necessitate many steep stairs. The walk takes from 1 hour to 1.5 hours, depending on your physical ability and whether you linger at any of the information plaques, benches, or the lookout. When we visited, there were quite a few people already touring the lake, however this did not detract from our experience and didn't make us feel like it was overcrowded. There were stretches where we were completely alone and we could only hear the sounds of nature. A truly fantastic experience we would highly recommend! As we found it difficult to find at first, if you're visiting the park for the first time we suggest that you attend at the Visitor's Centre located at 33 Scott Street, Old Chelsea, QC J9B 1R5. You may ask for directions from the helpful and friendly staff at the Centre's information desk but be warned that despite having the map, navigation to the location of your choice can be difficult as there are no clear road signs in the park saying "this way to ..." Also, something we learned after getting turned around a few times - and what we would suggest you do at the outset - is to set your GPS for your hiking destination. This will avoid much confusion, although the extra drive through the countryside was lovely! Google Maps saved the day for us and we were able to find the area fine with its help. (The map provided by the park is not a street by street representation and only shows the main roads and not how to get to them.) Ultimately, the Pink Lake Trail is a truly lovely walk with beautiful views and is a lovely way to spend part of your day. Highly recommended! read more

Pink Lake - Photo taken at bottom of walking loop. - Parks Near Me - Gatineau, Quebec

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Brittany T.

2

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9 years ago

The park and this trail in particular is amazing! I went on a really nice saturday evening at about 5:30 p.m.. There were a few parking spaces at the first lookout. The trail took about an hour going at a leisurely pace and stopping to take pictures at a few of the lookouts along the way. If you're going clockwise, I found the beginning half to be the most difficult (most stairs) and the the latter half to be the most enjoyable (less up-and-down, more "trail" as opposed to wooden steps). With that in mind, it's probably best to go clockwise. The views are awesome. Lots of places to look out onto the lake. I can only imagine what it looks like in the fall. Even the drive to the lookout was enjoyable. I can't wait to go back. read more

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Siamak R.

2

34

0

10 years ago

Very cozy and quite place for hiking! The trail is circular around the lake with so many steps. So, maybe not much suitable to people with knee pain. read more

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More info about Pink Lake

Promenade De La Gatineau
Gatineau, QC
Canada
Directions

Hours

What time does Pink Lake open?

What time does Pink Lake close?

Outdoor Amenities

Does Pink Lake have parking?

Yes, Pink Lake has parking options. Private Lot Parking

Review Highlights - Pink Lake

“As the signs say: Gatineau Park - yours to protect, yours to enjoy.”

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Sheila McKee Park

11.4 km

This place is a kind of known hidden gen near Ottawa/Kanata. This park, which is open 24/7 365 days…read morehas a 2.5 km loop that has access to a small beach. The park offers some highlights year-round. In the summer you can walk about 200-300 m from the parking to a beach that is never crowded do some fishing/sunbathing/swimming. In autumn walk the small loop to see the change of colours but clearly, the best time is winter. In winter go to the beach and watch the wonderful ice structures, you will feel like you are in a frozen movie. On one side the frozen river seems to stretch all the way to Gatineau. people often drive on it with a snowmobile or XC skis. On the other side frozen waterfalls and ice castles for kids to play (very carefully with). The only downside is that the parking lot is closed during winter and you have to park near the side of the road. Be careful that your care doesn't slip to the ditch (happened to me once, luckily some good Canadians helped and we could go on with our hike). P.S this is a dog-friendly trail

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Champlain Trail

9.0 km

This is a moderate challenge short trail that starts with a great lookout. The trail is a…read more1.3-kilometre loop at the top of the Eardley Escarpment. Along the trail, you can learn about the unique plants that grow here. Stop at the Champlain Lookout, and learn about the geological history of the area. While the hike is very short (I would say 15-20 min), the views, especially in the fall, are breathtaking. The trail has several parts where you need to climb staircases/steps so be aware of that but it is dog-friendly and tends to be crowded during the fall festival in Gatineau park.

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Ottawa River Pathway

4.4(11 reviews)

10.4 km

The Ottawa River Pathway is a pedestrian and bicycle path along the Ottawa River. The scenery is…read morevery beautiful year-round, but especially in the autumn. The pathway is about 30km, but you can get on and off at certain points, so you definitely don't have to do the entire length. It's fully paved and not particularly hilly. Just watch out for goose poop along certain parts of the path during certain times of the year, lol. Goose poop aside, the Ottawa River Pathway is beautiful. It's great for getting some exercise, be it cycling, rollerblading, jogging, Nordic walking, power walking, or even taking a leisurely stroll, while admiring nature. Sunsets along certain parts of the Pathway are especially breathtaking.

This is a great little escape for the government workers in Tunney's pasture, to break away from…read moretheir computers for a few minutes of fresh air and R&R while they come outside for lunch or a walk or bike ride along the river. Be careful of the goose droppings on the grass, though. The cyclists using this path would rather the pedestrians walked on the grass, and the walkers would prefer if the cyclists used the grass! All of us are avoiding the droppings left by the Canada Geese that frequent this area. Also, look for the man who builds Inukshuk (if I've spelled that right?) For many years now, a man has been building amazing statues out of the rocks at the shoreline - they rocks balance on each other at seemingly impossible angles, threatening to drop at any moment, but seem to keep their balance! There was an article about him several years ago in the Canadian Geographic. It's been a pleasure to watch him work, and he's become something of a tourist attraction. It's May now, and I haven't seen him there yet this year, but maybe the water's too cold yet. Maybe he begins this work after the Victoria Day weekend.

Cool-looking tree along the Ottawa River Pathway near Lincoln Heights Park.

View along the Ottawa River Pathway (pedestrian and bicycle path).

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Stone sculptures along the Ottawa River Pathway (pedestrian and bicycle path).

Pine Grove Trail

20.9 km

The NCC's Pine Grove Trail, is a lovely-easy trail in the green belt. It's very well maintained,…read morepretty flat and easily accessible from Davidson. It took a pretty heavy hit from the dechero in May and it took awhile to get it cleaned up (they're still working on the 45 section), but they've done an amazing job. There's bathroom facilities at the parking lot and picnic tables. Bug spray recommended. I visited the trail on the September long weekend, had no problems finding parking. The trail itself is well signed, so it was pretty easy to find my way around. Saw some fellow walkers/hikers along the way and everyone was friendly and courteous (not getting in one another's way). Saw a couple dogs on leash, one was friendly enough for pets, which honestly made my day. I could hear the traffic from the road a bit, but it faded away once I got into it. The trail connects to several other trails, so seems like a good starting point for longer hikes. This will be a pretty spot when the leaves start changing.

Trail

Boardwalk

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Trail

Rideau River Nature Trail

12.6 km

The Rideau River Nature Trail is a lovely little trail along the Rideau River in Old Ottawa East…read more It spans Brantwood Park, Springhurst Park and People's Park. It's very peaceful and beautiful. There are some rest areas with benches overlooking the river. There are also some informational signs along the way which provide education on topics like stormwater, fish, and historic sites. Lots of turtles nest in the area and there are signs to let you know which specific areas. There are also a few bat houses along the trail. It's an easy trail for fairweather walkers like me. It's not a real hiking trail for hardcore hikers. More for a leisurely stroll to spend some time with nature without leaving the city.

Views along the nature trail. Note the Turtle Nesting Area sign.

A little rest area along the Rideau River Nature Trail

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Informational sign along the Rideau River Nature Trail

Shirley Bay Trail

4.0(2 reviews)

13.3 km

Beautiful water views, picnic tables, parking lot with another overflow lot…read more Very historical, you can read about it on site. A small spot, some sand and very rocky. Perhaps water shoes if you have kids. Tons of kayakers. The water looked clean enough and my dog was welcome, on leash, of course. It was a busy holiday, not a lot of shade and it was very crowded. We didn't stay long but I love to explore so, was happy that someone told me about it!

This is a very easy trail perfect for small kids and families with strollers. If you start from the…read moreparking (P2) you can go 3 direction from B to E and reach the water line in about 1 km walk, go the log way via C-D and extend the walk by 1-2 Km which is mostly exposed and you can hear the road but it does have some magical parts or go via F and walk the others back to the parking. Over all the real gem is the waterfront that upgrade this trail from a 3 stars to a 4. Social Distancing ( hopefully this wont be relevant in the future): This trail is not super crowded.

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Pinhey Forest

4.0(1 review)

16.6 km

This is a great short trail system(2-4 km) which is perfect all year round. The trail starts right…read morebehind Napean Sportflex so parking is not a problem. The trails like most NCC trails are well marked and this trail also serves as a fitness trail so you have distance marking every 200m for the 1800 m loop (that is the smaller inner loop, you can also add another 2K to your loop if you want) with fitness station along that trail. Perfect for small kids, XC ski or jogging. Just be aware the location of the trail makes it very popular amount people that just want a short hike to get fresh air and people from the area that walk their dogs so it is realitvely crowded. You can still distance yourself (COVID) easily if needed.

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Mer Bleue bog

5.0(3 reviews)

23.0 km

I can't recall how I bookmarked this place, but I think Air Canada had it as something to do while…read morein Ottawa. I'm glad we found it for our drive to Montreal. This is a great interpretive walk to do on a nice day. We learned a lot about the local unique eco system and enjoyed a peaceful quiet walk through the bog. While we didn't see much wildlife other than a couple of frogs, this was great. Even our 4 year old enjoyed doing the loop and looking at the signs and learning about this place. Parking lot can be rough, especially after the rains.

We were in Ottawa and looked for some nice trails that are between Ottawa and Montreal. This hike…read morewas PERFECT. Its a short (2-3 Km) and very easy hike (mostly wooden deck) that tells the wonderful story of the bog. The night before mosquitos killed us at the campground so it was good to see that in this open area, slightly windy we had no flying monsters. The signssay no dogs, BUT the sign does also say (and also the site) that you can bring a dog on a leash. We brought our dog but I will double check it to be sure next time. If you are looking for a lovely,easy and scienic trail you just found it !

Winter Trails. Not stroller friendly.

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I had a nice hiking with a friend and his son walking along the boardwalk. The view was beautiful and very easy to walk on the path.

Mud Lake Conservation Area

4.5(2 reviews)

10.8 km

I love Mud lake. We discovered this urban jam last year during one of our bike rides. This place is…read morejust magical all year round. In winter the lake is completely cover in ice which is perfect for ice skating, hockey or just a cool walk=. During the warmer parts of the year it is full of other type of magic. You can come here to see wildlife (birds, turtles, frogs and more). Perfect place for photography, little escape or coffee break. Not far you can find Britannia Beach, playground and ice cream shop to celebrate the end of the hike. Just one note, this is a popular spot and highly traffic.

The lake is absolutely gorgeous, there are multiple spots to oversee it, but be careful about some…read moreways being covered with water because of high water levels and dont go near the canadian goose i accidentally sat near one and dint know they were the devils mirror but i made it out safe. Don't go off the marked trails it is a conservation area and you could harm important environment.