Popular Gatineau Park campsites to stay closed for another summer

Sandra Beaubienstopped making her annual "bikepacking" trip toGatineauPark last year afterher favourite campsite closed for renovations.

She's nowdisappointed to hear the National Capital Commission (NCC) won't be reopening the site at Lac Philippethissummer.

"I'll miss that little bit of peacefulness," she said Saturday.

"When I stay there overnight, it's different. You hear the owls, you hear the loons. There's just this peace in the park that you don't get when you go fora quick day trip."

Despite previous promises from the NCC that they would reopen in 2024, campsites at Philippe, Taylor and Renaud lakes will stay closed for a second consecutivesummer for renovations.

Lac Philippe is the largest of the three, having250 campsites, including 11 ready-to-camp units comprised of a mix of all-season tents, yurts and cabins.

The demolition of buildingsand tree removal started there in September 2022, with construction beginninglast spring, the NCC said in a statement.

But labour shortages and high inflation have both delayed work's completion, the commission said. The reopening is now scheduled for spring 2025.

Meanwhile, onlycanoe-camping will be available atLa Pche Lake this summer, the NCC added.

The mayor of the municipality of La Pche, Guillaume Lamoureux, isn't surprised by the delay.

"We were finally hoping that [the sites] would open this year, but given what's happening with construction, labour, supplies ... it's disappointing, but not surprising,"he told Radio-Canada in French.

'Going to be a good season'

While campers startthinking about the summer season, VickiSchouten, owner of ExpditionsWakefield, has been prepping for weeks.

"We should have a hot summer," she said."There'll be lots of opportunities for people to get outside, whether that's cycling or paddling, and hopefully throwing a bit of camping in there."

Schouten said she was disappointed to hear of the continued closures, but says there are plenty of other areas to explore.

"There's lots of places north of the municipality of La Pche. Alot of people go to Poisson Blanc, White Lake, 31 Mile Lake. There's some alternative options," she said.

Beaubien, however, thinksthe three sites'accessibility makethem a dream location for Ottawans looking for a quick getaway.

"It's super quiet at those campsites overnight, but you still have the convenience of a town close by," she said.

"It's like a reset.I'm going to miss it."