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We got super lucky this year, and were able to rent the Taylor Yurt for Valentine’s Day! If you’ve tried to rent a yurt in Gatineau Park, you know this is a small miracle… Huzzah!
Originally, we had planned to hike in via Trail 74 to Trail 75, because we don’t ski. We had called ahead to make sure it was okay for us to snowshoe between the Ohomisi Yurt and the Taylor Yurt. Even though Trail 75 ends at the Ohomisi Yurt and there is only a ski trail between the two, park staff said it was okay. Phew. Our plan was still a go!
On our way to the Taylor Yurt.
When we arrived to check in, we talked with the staff at the aid station (drive in and turn right when you reach the parking lot to get there). That conversation changed our whole game plan. Having done Trail 74 before, I knew that it was hilly, and it would be a pain pulling the sled in via that route. But, I thought that with our snowshoes we didn’t have any other option.
The staff said that we were actually allowed to snowshoe BESIDE the cross country ski trails all the way to the yurt. They mentioned that right beside ski trails 50 and 55 were snowmobile trails. That sounded WAY easier than hauling our sled up and down Trail 74.
A section of the NCC’s map of winter trails in Gatineau Park.
So, we grabbed our trail passes from the trailhead of 74, and then headed back down to p19, where we were going to park for the night. You can use these coordinates to get there: 45.624599, -76.010189.
Parking was free, and we grabbed our sled and gear out of the trunk, ready to hit the trails.
The Route
We started out at the shared trailhead for Trail 73 (a snowshoe trail), and Trail 50 (a cross country ski trail groomed for both skate and classic skiing). As promised, there was a snowmobile track running alongside Trail 50, and we struck out on that, pulling our sled behind us.
We started here (you should too).
Trail 50 is actually just Chemin du Lac-Philippe. The road is shut down in the winter in order to make these awesome skiing trails. The first part of the trail traveled uphill pretty steadily. Nonetheless, it was easy snowshoeing because the trail was so wide, and the snowmobile had made it so flat.
Trail 50, with the snowmobile trail to the left.
We reached the split in the trail for the Wanakiwin Yurt after hiking for 0.8 kilometres. We decided that we’d have to keep it in mind and check it out another time! Moving forward, we came to Breton Beach after 1.5 kilometres of easy snowshoeing, and a few hundred metres after that there was a split in the trail for Trail 55.
We ALMOST turned right here, because we knew we had to turn onto Trail 55 to get to the Taylor Yurt. Fortunately, we took the time to consult our map and confirmed that Trail 75 (the snowshoe trail we were headed to) was further south.
When we arrived at the real turn we were supposed to take, it was really obvious. First we hiked past a park office/gatehouse, which was closed for the winter. Almost immediately after that was a big sign announcing that the Lac Renaud and Lac Taylor sections were to the right. At this point on the trail, we had been snowshoeing for 2.5 kilometres.
Gatehouse right before the split in the trail that would take us to Taylor Lake.
Can’t miss this turn…
Shelters and Cabins
The trail remained identical to every kilometre before it through this next section. It was still following a wide road and the snowshoeing was still easy along a snowmobile trail.
The beginning of Trail 55.
Approaching the Lac Renaud sector, we came to the split for the Philippe Cabin to our right at the 2.8 kilometre mark. This was followed almost immediately by a split in the trail to our left, heading off towards the Lusk Cabin. A few hundred more meters and the Renaud Shelter (which is free for day use) was to our left. There was a group campsite across the road that was being taken full advantage of by a bunch of high schoolers- awesome!
Trail 75 “started” after we had been hiking for 3.3 kilometres, although it was really just a continuation of the snowmobile trail we had been following alongside Trail 55. Trail 74 comes out of the forest right across from the Renaud shelter. This is where Trail 75 starts, and connects to 74.
The only difference before and after Trail 75 “starts” is this little marker.
Trail 75
Near the very beginning of Trail 75, we looped around Renaud Lake, which was quite beautiful.
We followed Trail 75 to its end, for a total of 5.1 kilometres of snowshoeing. Trail 75 ended right at the Ohomisi Yurt, which looked absolutely stunning nestled among the trees.
The Ohomisi Yurt at the “end” of Trail 75.
The Taylor Yurt was to the right of Ohomisi. We continued along Trail 55, trying to step lightly because the snowmobile track we had been following had ended. We had no choice but to walk on the ski trail.
The signs at Ohomisi had said that the Taylor Yurt was 700 metres away, and our GPS tracker read about the same. We were able to see the yurt, and the stunning Taylor Lake Peninsula for a little while before actually reaching them. We had been snowshoeing for 5.7 kilometres when we arrived at the Taylor Yurt.
View of the Taylor Lake Peninsula (taken on the way back).
We had brought a ton of stuff, so we set about exploring, getting organized and settled in for the night.
These trails were PERFECT for experimenting with a sled for the first time.
I’ve never paid too much attention to the cross-country ski trails in Gatineau Park. Just being honest. But, following Trail 50 to Trail 55, got me thinking. Seeing how well-groomed the trails were, and how much distance they cover throughout the park, had me feeling like I might want to try this whole skiing thing.
Trails this well groomed make me think I could like cross-country skiing.
Getting Back
In the morning, we debated completing Trail 55 by hiking the section we hadn’t done yet. Looking at the map, the section after Taylor Yurt was marked as being “difficult,” with a steep slope. We didn’t really know what that meant, and weren’t sure if it would prove to be a hassle with the sled.
We also didn’t know if there would be a snowmobile track alongside the trail like we had come in on, and didn’t want to be tromping along trails and ruining them for skiers. So, we chose to head back the way we came.
I hope this trip report has enough info to get you there too. Let me know in the comments, or share and tag a friend to start planning your next adventure!
Our final destination.
Map and Elevation Gain
Our map of the route from p19 to the Taylor Yurt.
Whenever I’m hiking somewhere new, I tend to wonder about who was on, and who took care of that land before me. Did you know that a lot of the names for places in Gatineau Park are from the indigenous languages of people who were there before us?
Elevation gain and loss on the way to Taylor Yurt.
Gear We Brought
Click here to check out our post about staying overnight at the Taylor Yurt! We included a complete gear list, and even mentioned the things we forgot!
thank you gorgeous x
MegK, thanks a lot for the post.Really thank you! Much obliged.