The day use shelters in Gatineau Park are the perfect spot to stop and rest, enjoy the wood-burning fireplace, and spend a bit of time indoors during your outdoor adventure. I’ve seen them used for kids’ birthday parties (so cute!), as well as small social get togethers- a great way to be active and socialize with friends.
In the winter, it can sometimes seem like anywhere you want to get to in Gatineau Park, you have to ski. But a closer look reveals that there are actually 5 day-use shelters that you can walk or snowshoe to in the park- no ski skills required😊. (You can also fat bike to them!).
Headed through the gate to get to the Herridge Cabin.
Sugarbush Shelter
Distance: Right near the Gatineau Park Visitors Centre.
Route: No hiking required!
Open: 9 a.m.-4 p.m.
Healy Shelter
Distance: 3.7 km one way.
Route: Trail 70 all the way to the Healy Shelter.
Open: All day
Fat Bikes Allowed: Yes
Dogs Allowed: No
Full Trail Report: Trail 70- An 8.6k Snowshoe and Fat Bike Trail in Gatineau Park | Adventure Report
Herridge Shelter
Distance: 4.1 km one way.
Route: Trail 70 all the way to Herridge Shelter
Open: All day
Fat Bikes Allowed: Yes
Dogs Allowed: No
Full Trail Report: Trail 70- An 8.6k Snowshoe and Fat Bike Trail in Gatineau Park | Adventure Report
Brown Lake Shelter
Distance: 2 km one way
Route: Trail 72 all the way to the Brown Lake Shelter.
Open: All day
Fat Bikes Allowed: Yes
Dogs Allowed: No
Full Trail Report: Is currently being written!
The Brown Lake Shelter before the snow arrived for the year.
Renaud
Distance: Just over 3 km one way.
Route: Trail 74, go straight at the split.
Open: All day
Fat Bikes Allowed: Yes
Dogs Allowed: No
Full Trail Report: Trail 74 to Parent Beach- An 8.4 km Snowshoe in Gatineau Park | Adventure Report (read just up until the first trail split).
He’s choosing the perfect pieces of firewood for the fire.
What time does it close? We are thinking of doing an evening hike around 7:30pm
They are open all day!