If you have cabin fever and you’re eager for outdoor winter adventures in Ottawa, Eastern Ontario or the Outaouais, worry not—I’m coming to your rescue, with tips on places to go skating, snowshoeing, cross-country and more! And because I firmly believe in rewarding myself with tasty treats for braving the winter cold, I’ll also tell you where can enjoy French toast, a comforting bowl of soup or a full three-course meal along the way.
Ready to throw your outdoor gear in the trunk and hit the road? Read on!
Cover photo credit: Parc du Lac-Beauchamp by Richère David for Tourisme Outaouais.
Breakfast and winter fun in Gatineau
Why wait until after you’ve exercised to fuel up? If you’re heading to Parc du Lac-Beauchamp (741, boul. Maloney est, Gatineau), you can stop a few blocks west of the entrance for a big breakfast at the simply named Mon Resto (532 boul. Maloney est, Gatineau). Dig into a plate of Breton-style crêpes, eggs Benedict or French toast (don’t worry, there are lighter options and lunch choices, too).
Then, continue to the 213-acre park on the east side of Gatineau for outdoor adventures of all kinds, including cross-country skiing, tubing, snowshoeing, skating and even ice biking. You can rent equipment for all of it at Parc du Lac-Beauchamp’s outdoor centre (centre du plein-air), where you can also book skating lessons.
Winter trails in Fitzroy Harbour, and lunch in Arnprior or Burnstown
Start the day with a bracing hike, snowshoe or cross-country ski trek along 6km of trails at Morris Island Conservation Area (156 Morris Island Drive, Fitzroy Harbour). A highlight of this spot is the wide causeway (once a railway line) that offers sweeping views of the Ottawa River. Bring your own gear, along with coins or a credit card to pay the $6 parking fee. Over at Adventure Report, Meg has an excellent 2018 post about winter hiking at Morris Island; you can also check out my post about Morris Island if you’re curious what the conservation area is like in the summer.
Once you’ve worked up an appetite, drive 15 minutes west to Arnprior for fresh soups, salads, quiches, sandwiches and baked goodies at Mighty Fine Bakehouse (79 Madawaska Street, Arnprior). I actually have a whole post about things to see and do in Arnprior, if you have time. And if you want a slightly longer country drive, you can motor 30 minutes from Morris Island to Burnstown for a hearty lunch at the BlackBird Café (1694 Burnstown Road, Burnstown), where the portions are huge and there’s craft beer on tap.
Skiing, skating and private dining in Wakefield
High in the Gatineau Hills and right next to Gatineau Park, Wakefield is an ideal base for just about every sort of outdoor recreation. In winter, for instance, you can go downhill skiing at Ski Vorlage (65, ch. Burnside) or Sommet Edelweiss (538, ch. Edelweiss), or skate along a frozen water maze or snowshoe along trails at Eco-Odyssée (52, ch. des Sources). At day’s end, unwind at the Wakefield Mill (60, ch. Mill) with drinks and bistro fare at the Héron Lounge or the five-course tasting menu at La Muse. (That’s just one suggestion; here’s are more tips for visiting Wakefield.)
For more ideas for adventures in and around Ottawa, subscribe to my free weekly newsletter or pick up a copy of my book, Ottawa Road Trips: Your 100-km Getaway Guide.
As the owner of Ottawa Road Trips, I acknowledge that I live on, work in and travel through the unceded, unsurrendered territory of the Algonquin Anishinaabeg Nation. I am grateful to have the opportunity to be present on this land. Ottawa Road Trips supports Water First, a non-profit organization that helps address water challenges in Indigenous communities in Canada through education, training and meaningful collaboration.