In Gatineau Park, you can swim at the public beaches in Meech, Philippe and La Pêche lakes.
Important
- Dogs and pets are not permitted at the beaches.
- There is no potable water at Gatineau Park public beaches. Be sure to bring enough for your needs.
Dates and times
From June 13 to September 1, 2025:
- lifeguards are on duty daily, from 10 am to 6 pm*
- water is tested every week
- swimming areas are marked by buoys
* For reasons beyond our control, some beaches may be unsupervised at certain times during the indicated supervision hours.
Beach status
| Beach | Status | Water Quality | Last Update |
|---|---|---|---|
| La Pêche Lake | A | Excellent | August 28, 2025 |
| Meech Lake (Blanchet) | A | Excellent | August 28, 2025 |
| Meech Lake (O'Brien) | A | Excellent | August 28, 2025 |
| Philippe Lake (Breton) | A | Excellent | August 28, 2025 |
| Philippe Lake (Parent) | A | Excellent | August 28, 2025 |
| Philippe Lake (Smith) | Closed for the Season | ||
Access fee
Access to the swimming areas is free. During the swimming season, there is a fee to park at Gatineau Park beach parking lots.
About the beaches
Public beach
- Amenities: Change rooms, outhouses and picnic tables
- Getting there: From parking lot P11 ($), follow dirt trail to beach, approximately 350 m.
- Accessibility: The site is not wheelchair accessible.
Public beach
- Amenities: Change rooms, outhouses and picnic tables
- Getting there: From parking lot P13 ($), cross Meech Lake road and follow dirt trail to beach, approximately 100 m.
- Accessibility: Beach is partially accessible to wheelchair users.
- From the parking lot, a boardwalk, a gravel path and a mat for wheelchairs lead to the beach.
- A beach wheelchair is available on request. Ask one of the lifeguards.
Public beach
- Amenities: Change rooms, washrooms, picnic tables, boat launch for non-motorized watercraft and playground
- Getting there: From Parent Beach parking lot ($), follow paved trail to beach, approximately 100 m.
- Accessibility: Beach is partially accessible to wheelchair users.
- The parking lot has five spaces reserved for people with disabilities.
- From the parking lot, a paved path and a mat for wheelchairs leads to the beach. The road to the beach has some steep slopes, so wheelchair users may need some assistance.
- A beach wheelchair is available on request. Ask one of the lifeguards.
Public beach
- Amenities: Change rooms, washrooms, charcoal BBQs, picnic tables and wheelchair access ramp
- Getting there: From parking lot P20 ($), follow dirt trail to beach, approximately 300 m.
- Accessibility: Beach is partially accessible to wheelchair users.
- From the parking lot, a pathway and a mat for wheelchairs lead to the beach.
Campers-only beach — closed in 2025
Public beach
- Amenities: Change rooms, washrooms, picnic tables, boat launch for non-motorized watercraft and rental service
- Getting there: From La Pêche Lake parking lot ($), the beach is steps away.
- Accessibility: Beach is partially accessible to wheelchair users.
- From the parking lot, a gravel path and a mat for wheelchairs lead to the beach.
Protect your health
Swimming waters may contain micro-organisms like blue-green algae and parasites. We test water quality every week during the swimming season, but there are some risks associated with swimming in lakes.
For your safety:
- Stay in the swimming areas marked by buoys.
- Swim only in waters that have fair, good or excellent water quality.
- Avoid all contact with the water if it appears green or cloudy.
- Towel dry vigorously or shower immediately after leaving the water.
Learn about some of the risks associated with swimming in lakes, below.
Swimmer’s itch is a skin rash caused by a microscopic parasite found in some lakes. It is not associated with polluted water. In recent years, cases of swimmer’s itch have been reported at Gatineau Park beaches and elsewhere in Quebec.
Signs and symptoms include small red spots that become swollen, like those of insect bites. The itching can last one to two weeks.
Do not feed birds, as they are part of the cycle, and bringing them closer to areas where people are swimming increases the risk of swimmer’s itch.
To know if cases of swimmer’s itch have been reported at Gatineau Park beaches this summer, please contact the Gatineau Park Visitor Centre. However, please note that the parasite may be present even if no cases have been reported.
Blue-green algae can be found in most natural water bodies, and generally cannot be seen with the naked eye. In small quantities, these microscopic bacteria present no risk.
However, blue-green algae can multiply and become a health risk, even in normally healthy lakes. In that case, they create visible blooms that make the water’s surface appear blue-green, green or turquoise.
Avoid all contact with the water if it appears green or cloudy, and report it to NCC client services.
Contact with or ingestion of an algae bloom can cause gastroenteritis symptoms or skin or throat irritation.
Learn more about blue-green algae and how to identify it.
