The Philippe Lake campground is an important attraction in Gatineau Park. The campground was built in the late 1950s and, apart from a few renovations, the campground facilities are now quite dated.
Over the next few years, the NCC will be working to modernize the campground. The project will improve the quality of the experience, and reduce the area’s overall environmental impact.
Planned improvements
The modernization of the Philippe Lake campground includes the following improvements:
- new ready-to-camp units
- improved campsite quality, safety and privacy
- better access to electricity, as well as drinking water, with the addition of communal taps
- animal-proof food lockers
- a new amphitheatre, multi-use pavilion, kitchen shelter and camp store
- more accessible campground and signage
Impact of the work
The NCC will undertake preliminary general infrastructure work beginning in September 2022.
Summer–fall 2023
Campsites and ready-to-camp units in the Philippe, Taylor and Renaud lakes sectors are not accessible. These sectors will also be closed overnight to the general public from 9:30 pm to 6:30 am from May 19 to early October 2023.
Trail 50 is partially closed. A detour via Trail 73 is in place.
Please note that a section of the trail is steep, and a rope has been installed
to facilitate passage. Bikes and dogs may have difficulty getting through.
The work has no impact on camping at La Pêche Lake.
Process and timeline
Winter 2021–2022: Design phase
Summer–fall 2022: Demolition and removal of some infrastructure
- Demolition of buildings, such as the old camp store, wood shed, amphitheatre and Woodsia Yurt.
- Removal of trees to prepare for work in spring 2023.
Spring–fall 2023: Resumption of work
- Excavation work for the construction of the new buildings.
About the site
The campground at Philippe Lake offers basic amenities: campsites with picnic tables, washroom facilities, camp store, nature interpretation sites, as well as boat and bike rental services. The national trend in terms of camping services has led the NCC to renew its facilities and amenities.
The implementation of this project is part of the NCC’s major infrastructure projects made possible with the Government of Canada’s $52.4-million investment from the 2020 federal budget.