While you鈥檙e probably familiar with Canada鈥檚 capital city, Ottawa, you might not know as much聽about Outaouais, the part of Qu茅bec聽directly across the river. But if you鈥檙e into outdoor adventure and rich culture, it鈥檚 time to fix that. Known as 鈥渢he playground of Canada鈥檚 capital,鈥 the Outaouais region offers a complete experience: cross-country skiing, ice fishing, luxury hotels, and delicious meals are all on tap. Here are some of our favorite wintertime adventures.
Cross-Country Ski Gatineau Park鈥檚 Winding Trails
From downtown Ottawa, it takes only a few minutes to reach one of the region鈥檚 premier outdoor playgrounds, . In the winter, this 140-square-mile wedge of sugar maple, American beech, yellow birch, and black spruce forest is crisscrossed by seemingly endless ski trails: 125 miles for classic cross-country skiing, over 70 miles for skate skiing, and 30 miles for backcountry skiing. For a nice cross-country loop (skate or classic) with a city-view payoff, park at the P7 lot and follow trails 30, 1, and 2 to聽. Be sure to pop into one of the four warming huts along the route to thaw out by a woodstove.
Ice Fish at Kenauk Nature Center
A short drive from Montebello is , the largest privately owned nature reserve in Qu茅bec, where you can do everything from snowshoeing to dogsledding. But if you have time for just one, book a guide for an ice-fishing adventure. You鈥檒l reach the fishing hole in the middle of a frozen lake, which your guide will have bored through the thick ice, by 鈥渟kihawking鈥濃攁 winter travel technique somewhere between ski-touring and snowshoeing. There, the winter-starved fish will be drawn to your bait like magnets to steel.聽The chances of netting several fish? 100 percent. Then bask in the warmth of winter while your rainbow trout sears in lemon juice, salt, and pepper over the open fire.
Curl, Dogsled, and Dine at Fairmont Le Ch芒teau Montebello
The only thing cooler than staying in a spectacular century-old grand lodge is staying in one that鈥檚 been converted into a luxurious hotel and resort. Swim a few laps in 鈥檚 heated Olympic-size pool, try your hand at the oh-so-Canadian sport of curling, book a dogsledding tour, or ski out the door on the hotel鈥檚 vast network of cross-country trails after a decadent breakfast. Whichever adventure you choose, finish it next to the Ch芒teau鈥檚聽gigantic fireplace (the largest in North America) in the grand atrium. Then dine in the Ch芒teau鈥檚 Aux Chantignoles (winner of the 2019 Open Table Diner鈥檚 Choice Award for best view), which serves locally farmed rainbow trout prepared in the traditional French way and served over a bed of risotto and with seasonal grilled vegetables on the side.
Get Above and Below Ground at Arbraska
Ziplining and caving might not come to mind as typical wintertime activities, but you can do both in one day at , an adventure park 30 minutes north of Ottawa. Thanks to the insulating properties of the Earth鈥檚 crust, chances are good that the inside of the Lafl猫che Cave will actually be warmer than the air above鈥攖he Canadian Shield's largest visited聽cavern is a consistent 40 degrees Fahrenheit聽year-round. Your expert guide will lead you through the labyrinth, where you鈥檒l pay a visit to hibernating bats, discover formations of stalactite-like ice, and listen to the echo of water droplets falling into reflecting pools. Back outside, bundle up and head for Arbraska鈥檚 network of high ropes and ziplines.
From skating on Brewery Creek or the Rideau Canal, snowshoeing or cross-country skiing in Gatineau Park, gliding through the forest on a dog sled, tubing down a snow-covered hill, exploring the backcountry on horseback, or warming up in a wilderness yurt or a downtown museum, is the perfect playground to start your discovery of Qu茅bec's winter.