The Gatineau Park A map of riding trails you’re sure to enjoy

By Bob McCrindle

WELCOME TO GATINEAU PARK, owned by us the people of Canada, and run by the National Capital Commission (NCC). What a great place to walk, hike, and most of all ride!

A little look at “the Gats”—a true hidden treasure

If you ask people where the best places in the world to mountain bike are, you hear of places such as Moab, Durango and the North Shore of BC. Rarely do you hear of Gatineau Park. It’s not a name boasted of in bike magazines or videos. Consider this a good thing, because it means that we are not overrun by hoards of outsiders looking to ride on the trails we call our own. Is it a bad thing, wanting to shelter these little gems from the rest of the riding world? Who said that being a little bit selfish is bad? How did the Gats come to be?

Gatineau Park is located in Western Quebec and covers 36,131 hectares. The park is approximately 50 kilometres long and 12 kms across at its widest point. The federal government purchased the first 10,000 hectares of land in 1934. Mountain biking has been part of Gatineau Park’s recreational makeup since 1989. Volunteers from the Ottawa Ski Club created some of the current bike trails in the park in the 1940s and 1950s. What’s up today?

Today the park has 90 kms of multiusage trails, which are trails designated for hiking, skiing and biking. Camp Fortune has become somewhat of a hub for riding in the region, offering the use of 168 hectares of land. It is a virtual playground with novice, intermediate and expert trails just minutes from the base of the hill. Downhill, cross-country or free riding are all minutes away from downtown Ottawa. The Suderman brothers took over Camp Fortune seven years ago, at which time there was no true mountain biking happening at the hill. Dedication and hard work have seen it transformed into one of Canada’s most challenging technical cross-country race courses. Bill Hurley, former Master’s World XC Champ, claims it is his favourite course owing to the demanding nature of the terrain.

You can be fined $150 for riding in the park prior to or after the official summer season. Another taboo is riding on trails designated for hiking only. The same fine applies. The rules are in place in order to promote environmental sustainability, and enforce the shared use of the park. The interesting thing about these fines is that they will follow you if you don’t pay them. I had a friend who was pulled over for a traffic violation and was asked ever so politely to pay his outstanding mountain bike fine or be brought down to the station. Needless to say, he paid the fine and the late penalty. Where are the Gats going tomorrow?

Let’s not take Gatineau Park bike trails for granted. Don’t ignore the fact that we can lose it at anytime. You don’t think that this can happen to us? Just look at some of the major parks and riding areas in the U.S. and Western Canada. “No biking allowed” is the reality for many people. How can we prevent the loss of this treasure?

Become involved somehow. Be proactive! Let your voice be heard, help out the National Mountain Bike Association in some way and adhere to the rules set out by the NCC. It is better to have some trails available than none at all. Every once in a while you will find a trail with a strange little sign on it—the translation is no bikes allowed!

The NCC has some concerns about mountain bikers with respect to their environmental impact and the sharing of trails with other users. A comprehensive report on policy will be produced in the very near future. Issues looked at will include new environmental policies, new public policy, environmental impact studies and the place of mountain bikes and bikers in the Gatineau Park. Can all these things leave us a rosy future? I’m not too sure!

Gatineau Park Trails Trail # 1, Chelsea to fire tower #40 to Western Fortune Parkway to Huron Fortune to #1 Penguin loop off #1 Mackenzie King to Notch Kingsmere to #1 Fortune to Western #1 to #54 Shilly Shally to #3 Fortune to #1 Pink Lake to Mackenzie King #1 Penguin to Keogan #1 to #34 #2 to #21 #33 to #3 #4 to #6 Loop off #1 to #40 P2 to Gatineau Parkway Loop off #3 Loop off #5 P7 to #1 #8 to #1 Fortune to Parkway Fortune Parkway to P10 #1 to #40 #4 to #6 P6 to #7 #16 to #40

(look to pick up a map of the trails at gear outlets and NCC info booths around town.)

Length 25 kms 3 kms 7 kms 1 km 7 kms

5 kms 6 kms 7 kms 2 kms 1 km 4 kms 5 kms 1 km 2 kms 3 kms 3 kms 2 kms 2 kms 1 km 3 kms 1 km 0.5 km 1 km 2 kms 1.5 kms 2 kms 2 kms 2 kms

Description Gravel highway Wide and flat, steep and rocky

Gravel Wide, maintained 4 kms Singletrack Singletrack Singletrack Singletrack Rocky near #1 Wide, maintained Singletrack Singletrack Singletrack Singletrack Singletrack Very wide, gravel, maintained Wide, gravel, dry, maintained Singletrack Wide Wide, gravel, maintained Steep, wide, eroded Steep, wide, eroded Singletrack, steep, off camber Wide, gravel, maintained Singletrack Wide, gravel, maintained Singletrack

Of note Main access trail 1B

Wet sections, high use Climbing

Two wide, maintained Dry

Wet sections Wet sections Wet Dry Wet sections Beaver dams Underused, dry Good condition Mixed conditions

Good condition Very wet Dry Wet Wet

Dry Good condition Dry Good condition Trail information compiled by B. Thorpe

HOT SPOT! Two-day Mountain Bike Tour How would you like to do two or three days of mountain biking the length of Gatineau Park? This trip is 75-160 kms, depending on the route. Day one: You will travel from Ottawa to the Gatineau Park International Hostel. The distance is 40 kms from Ottawa (via the parkways, Meech Lake and the Meech Valley). Day two: Your final destination will be the Haven Lodge, where you may rest your weary bones. Take Carman Road to River Road. Turn left and ride to Wakefield, where there is plenty to eat and lots to explore. Want to find out more? Look for the advertisement on page 39 of this magazine, or call (819) 459-3180.