Sight guide · Ottawa · Canada
Visiting Gatineau Park
A 361 km² wilderness park in the Gatineau Hills begins about 15 minutes from Parliament.
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
Photo: No machine-readable author provided. Arctic.gnome assumed (based on copyright claims)., CC BY 2.5
Quick answer
Gatineau Park is a nature spot in Gatineau, Ottawa. Allow half a day; it is low cost. Booking ahead is not usually needed.
Key facts
- Type
- Nature
- Area
- Gatineau
- Time needed
- Half a day
- Cost
- Low cost
- Book ahead
- Not usually needed
- Good for
- nature, outdoors, views and active
- Best months
- June–August
About Gatineau Park
A 361 km² wilderness park in the Gatineau Hills begins about 15 minutes from Parliament. Champlain Lookout looks over the Ottawa Valley, Pink Lake is a short loop around a deep green lake, and the Mackenzie King Estate preserves a prime minister's country retreat and garden ruins. Trails are used for hiking and biking in summer and cross-country skiing in winter.
Tip: Visit in late September or early October for autumn colour; parking at popular lots fills by mid-morning at weekends.
Plan your visit
- Time needed: Half a day.
- Cost: Low cost.
- Book ahead: not usually needed; buy on arrival.
- Where: Gatineau.
Best time to visit Gatineau Park
Gatineau Park is outdoors, so weather matters most. The driest, most comfortable months are:
- August: 25°C (77°F) highs, about 11 rainy days, busy crowds.
- June: 24°C (75°F) highs, about 12 rainy days, busy crowds.
- July: 27°C (81°F) highs, about 11 rainy days, very busy crowds.
For the view at golden hour: in mid-August the sun sets at about 20:11 local time (calculated for Ottawa).
When to visit Ottawa has the full month-by-month picture.
Fit it into your trip
Gatineau Park is not on our short itineraries, so plan it as an extra once you have seen Parliament Hill and Rideau Canal and the Ottawa Locks.
- No. 17 of the 18 sights in our Ottawa things-to-do list.
- One of the picks in outdoors in Ottawa.
If you like Gatineau Park
- Rideau Canal and the Ottawa Locks — Downtown and Parliament Hill, 1–2 hours
- Major's Hill Park — ByWard Market and Lowertown, 30–60 minutes
- Rideau Falls — New Edinburgh, 30 minutes
Staying near Gatineau Park
Where to stay in Ottawa compares every area by price and who it suits.
Questions travellers ask
+How long do you need at Gatineau Park?
Plan half a day.
+Is Gatineau Park free?
No, it is low cost. Tickets are usually available on the day.
+When is the best time to visit Gatineau Park?
June–August for the most comfortable weather. Visit in late September or early October for autumn colour; parking at popular lots fills by mid-morning at weekends.
+Do I need to book Gatineau Park in advance?
Usually not: you can decide on the day.