Winter activities to enjoy during your stay
Winter is a great time to visit Ciel et Bois. There are lots of activities to enjoy during the day or you can hang out and enjoy the peaceful and cozy property. Below we have compiled a list of some of our favourite winter activities and the best places to enjoy them.
If you happen to be visiting in the summer be sure to check our nearby trails article! Also if you find yourself getting hungry before or after these activities, we’ve also put together a list of our favourite places to eat organized by location. We just want to ensure you have all the information you need! If you aren’t finding what your looking for, be sure to reach out and we would be happy to help you.
Skating
Skating is a great way to get outside with the family. There are lots of options for skating when the weather is on your side, but as these are all outdoors, you should always check ahead of time to ensure the skating conditions are good. Below we have some of our favourite options!
1. Rideau Canal Skateway
The Rideau Canal is a UNESCO World Heritage Site that freezes sometime around late December and is frozen until late February. There are 7.8 kilometers of canal to skate with views of downtown Ottawa. The best part, there is no cost to skate if you have your own skates. There are places to rent skates, helmets, sleights and skating trainers. Find the rental link below! As this is an outdoor rink built on a canal, it’s best to check the website to ensure it is open for skating.
Website: https://rideaucanalskateway.com/
Rentals: Rentals are available on the Capital Skates site
Address: There are two different locations to consider. Check here for more details.
2. The Little Penguin Trail
The Little Penguin Trail is an awesome 5.5 km outdoor skating trail located on the Touraine Golf Club. It isn’t free but it also isn’t very expensive for daily passes. As of January 27, 2024 they will have rentals available as well. Make sure to contact in advance of arriving to ensure they have equipment. Similar to the canal this is another outdoor rink. Make sure to check that the trail is open before arriving.
Website: https://lesentierdupetitpingouin.com/accueil
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/lesentierdupetitpingouin/
Rentals: Contact The Little Penguin Trail to enquire about rental availability and prices.
Address: 312, Taché Rd., Gatineau (Québec), Canada
3. Lac-des-Loups
A 3 km ice skaing train through the forest. Do we really need to say any more? The forest offers a beautiful landscape to skate through and also keeps you more sheltered from the wind. A bit of a further drive from Ciel et Bois but still under an hour! Day passes are $14 for kids and $18 for adults. Skate, helmet and learning stabilizers available to rent on site.
Website: https://www.patinageenforet.com/
Rentals: https://www.patinageenforet.com/en/pricing-and-hours/
Address: 9, Montée Beausoleil,Lac-des-Loups, Québec
Downhill skiing
There are lots of skiing options within a short drive from Ciel et Bois. We always recommend you take a look at the website to check conditions and to book equipment rentals in advance. Most hills have night skiing available and we highlighted those in the comments below.
1. Mont Cascade
Mont Cascade is your closest option only 16 minutes away. There are 21 runs, with 16 open for night skiing. 5 chair lifts with 2 quad lifts. 2024 day passes are $52 during peak times like the weekend. Discounts available for seniors (over 55), children (under 17), family pass (x3), night pass and 4 hour pass. Ski and snowboard rentals available with both day and night rates.
Website: https://montcascades.ca/ski/
Lift tickets: https://montcascades.ca/ski/season-passes-and-tickets/tickets/
Rentals: https://montcascades.ca/ski/services-and-facilities/rental-and-repair/
Address: 448 Mont-des-Cascades Road, Cantley (Québec) J8V 3B2
2. Camp Fortune
Located in Gatineau Park and only a 25 minute drive from Ciel et Bois is Camp Fortune. A total of 27 runs with 13 available for night skiing. Peak pricing in 2024 is $68 for full day pass but they also have a $58 pass for 9am-4pm. They also offer discounts for youth (under 17), child (under 6), young at heart (70-79), and seniors (80+), 4 hour block and night skiing.
Website: https://campfortune.com/
Lift tickets: https://campfortune.com/lift-tickets/
Rentals: https://campfortune.com/rentals/
Address: 300 chemin Dunlop Chelsea, QC J9B 2N3
3. Centre Vorlage
Located under 30 minutes from Ciel et Bois is Centre Vorlage. 18 runs during the day and 13 available at night. There are rentals available, and they recommend booking the rentals 24 hours in advance to ensure you get some. 2024 day passes in peak weekend times are $51 with discounts for junior (7-17), child (under 6), seniors (over 65), weekday, and night skiing.
Website: https://centrevorlage.ca
Lift tickets: https://boutique.centrevorlage.ca/fr/catalogue/categories/
Rentals: https://centrevorlage.ca/hiver/location-dequipement/
Address: 65 Chem. Burnside, Wakefield, QC J0X 3G0
4. Sommet Edelweiss
Sommet Edelweiss is located in Wakefield just 20 minutes North of Ciel et Bois. This mountain in the Gatineau Hills features 20 runs, 13 of which are open for night skiing. The hill has a 200m vertical drop and operates with 3 chairlifts and a magic carpet. 2024 rates are $64.99 for a day pass and $48.99 for evening. They do have other rates for kids under 13 and under 6. Rentals are available and should be booked in advance. If you aren’t interested in skiing, they do also offer snow tubing.
Website: https://www.sommets.com/en/
Lift tickets: https://www.sommets.com/en/ski-resorts/rate/?sommet=edelweiss-5622#rate
Rentals: https://www.sommets.com/en/ski-resorts/rentals/?sommet=edelweiss-5622#rate
Address: 538 Ch Edelweiss, Wakefield, QC J0X 3G0
Cross-country skiing and snowshoeing
There are two very good options for cross-country skiing and snowshoeing both very close to Ciel et Bois. Nakkertok is the closer of the two with an option to even access the trail system from our property. Nakkertok is great for those that have their own equipment as the places to rent are a little closer to Gatineau Park. Gatineau Park is only 25 minute drive and has a few options for rentals very close by! It is worth mentioning that we do have a small trail system around the Ciel et Bois property that is great for snowshoeing or just going for a hike in the snow!
1. Gatineau Park
Gatineau Park has one of the largest maintained networks of trails. With over 200KM of trails available for classic cross-country skiing, skate and back-country ski trails, ranging in skill from easy to very difficult. The website has a cool interactive map you can use to plan your trip. Make sure you check the trail conditions before you head out! The 2024 day passes are $22 with discounts for youth, student, senior and families. For rentals we recommend Nomades du Park but you can also find rentals at Relais Plein Air.
Snowshoeing: Gatineau Park has over 90 kilometres of snowshoe trails with a variety of skill levels from easy to very difficult. About half of these trails are shared with snow bikers. There are 11 parking lots to choose from to start your adventure. You can find snowshoe rentals at the Gatineau Park Visitor Centre or Relais Plein Air. Make sure to call in advance to ensure they have availability.
Website: https://ncc-ccn.gc.ca/places/cross-country-skiing
Passes: https://ncc-ccn.gc.ca/places/gatineau-park-winter-passes
Rentals: nomadesduparc.com https://boutique.relaispleinair.ca/en
Address: There are 16 different parking lot access points. Make sure to check before arriving to see which has spots available because they do fill up. https://ncc-ccn.gc.ca/places/gatineau-park-winter-parking
2. Nakkertok Nordic
Nakkertok Nordic is essentially in the backyard of Ciel et Bois! It also happens to be Eastern Canada’s largest cross country ski club. This is a great option for those that have their own gear since you can access the Nakkertok South trails right from our property. Not much further is Nakkertok Val-des-Monts which is just a short drive away and offers classic skiers a more rugged terrain. Val-des-Monts’ trails are considered more challenging than those in the South. Nakkertok South also has 2 trails that are illuminated for evening skiing. The 2024 rate for a day pass is $18 to non-members. If you need rentals you can contact Nomades du Park and you may also consider skiing in Gatineau Park instead since it is so close to the rentals for picking up and returning gear.
Snowshoeing: There is snowshoeing specific trails at both Nakkertok South and Nakkertok Val-des-Monts. The South you can access right from the Ciel et Bois property. Make sure you are staying on the paths meant for snowshoes and not taking them on the groomed trails for cross-country skiing.
Website: https://nakkertok.ca/?lang=en
Passes: https://nakkertok.myshopify.com/collections/nakkertrak-day-passes
Rentals: nomadesduparc.com https://boutique.relaispleinair.ca/en
Address: 900, Avenue Gatineau, Gatineau QC J8V 4A6
Fat Biking/Snow Biking
1. Gatineau Park
Gatineau Park has over 60 kilometers of fat biking trails that range in difficulty. All the winter biking trails are shared with snowshoers so you just need to be mindful of that when riding. This interactive map will show you the different trails and access points to explore. Like all other winter activities it’s advised to check trail conditions before heading out. Don’t forget to purchase a day pass before heading into the park. In 2024 the price for snow biking is $12 with discounts for youth (13-17), student (18+), seniors (Over 60) and families.
Website: https://ncc-ccn.gc.ca/places/snow-biking-in-gatineau-park
Day Pass: https://ncc-ccn.gc.ca/places/gatineau-park-winter-passes
Rentals: nomadesduparc.com https://boutique.relaispleinair.ca/en
Address: There are 6 parking lots with access to the biking trails. https://ncc-ccn.gc.ca/places/winter-parking-lots
2. Domaine Kanawe
About:
Website:
Cost:
Rentals:
Address: