Philippe Lake

This large lake is a great place to spend the day outdoors and explore the natural beauty of Gatineau Park. The area stands out for its tranquillity and captivating views of scenic landscapes from the lakeshore.

With Philippe Lake’s three sandy beaches, large campground, boat rental facilities and plenty of hiking trails, your discovery options are nearly unlimited.

Important

• Philippe Lake is an ecosystem of great ecological importance. Please follow the principles of outdoor ethics.
• There is no potable water at Philippe Lake. Be sure to bring enough for your needs.
• Dogs and pets are not permitted at Gatineau Park beaches, picnic areas, day shelters and campgrounds.
• In winter, there is a fee to access the cross-country ski and snowshoe trails in Gatineau Park. Be sure to wear your pass in plain view.

From Gatineau, by car, take Highway 5 north to exit 28. By bike, take Highway 105. Then, take Highway 366 west to Philippe Lake Parkway. From spring to fall, take the free Transcollines bus to Breton Beach on weekends.

Parkway access

• The parkway is open from mid-May to the end of October.
• During the winter, it is open from Highway 366 to parking lot P19. From that point, the rest of the parkway becomes a cross-country ski trail.

• Parking: There are four parking lots. Schedule, geolocation and pricing.
• Washrooms: There are washrooms and change rooms available at the beaches. There are outhouses by the shelters.
• Picnic area: There are picnic tables at the beaches. Breton Beach picnic area has barbecues.
• Universal accessibility: There are universally accessible toilets and picnic tables at the beaches. At Breton Beach, there is a wheelchair-accessible ramp into the water and a beach wheelchair to assist people with reduced mobility.

Philippe Lake flows into Mousseau (Harrington) Lake, which in turn flows into Meech Lake. This chain of three lakes represents an important habitat for a variety of fish and water birds. The lakes are also home to a very rare species of snail found nowhere else in Canada: the Gatineau tadpole snail.