The Philippe Lake campground is an important attraction in Gatineau Park. It was built in the late 1950s and, apart from a few renovations, the campground facilities are now quite dated.
The NCC is working to modernize the campground. The project will improve the quality of the experience and reduce the area’s overall environmental impact.
The latest on the project
The work is paused for the winter and should resume in the spring.
Although construction is ongoing, 30 campsites and two yurts will be available at Taylor Lake in summer 2025. In addition, two group sites and a cabin will open up in the Renaud Lake sector. Starting on May 16, both sectors will be open.
The work has no impact on camping at La Pêche Lake.
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 and drinking water
- animal-proof food lockers
- new amphitheatre, multi-use pavilion, kitchen shelter and camp store
- renovations to existing buildings
- more accessible campground
- improved signage
Process and timeline
Winter 2021–2022: Design phase
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 to fall 2023: Excavation work for construction of the new buildings
Spring 2024 to fall 2025: Construction of the new buildings
- kitchen shelter
- ready-to-camp units
- multi-use pavilion with an exterior amphitheater and store
About the site
The campground at Philippe Lake offers basic amenities: campsites with picnic tables, washroom facilities, a camp store, nature interpretation sites, and boat and bike rental services. The NCC is renewing the campground’s facilities and amenities to improve the visitor experience and reduce the area’s environmental impact.
The Philippe Lake campground rehabilitation project has a forecasted cost of $20,100,000. Between 2018 and 2023, the NCC received $228.6 million in federal funding for critical repairs of high-impact and high-value assets.