At that time Pink Lake wasn’t a lake at all but rather a big pothole in the sea floor. Drive to the Pink Lake parking lot in Gatineau Park. The full ring around the lake will take between a 45 minutes to an hour depending on your pace. Sian Reynolds", Pink Lake, an Important Paleoclimatic Record, Pink Lake in Gatineau Park's photo gallery, https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Pink_Lake_(Canada)&oldid=989507462, Articles using infobox body of water without alt, Articles using infobox body of water without pushpin map alt, Articles using infobox body of water without alt bathymetry, Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License, This page was last edited on 19 November 2020, at 11:16. Pink Lake plays a symbolic role in the novel Wash This Blood Clean From My Hand by Fred Vargas. So serene. Pink Lake, Promenade de la Gatineau, Le Plateau, Hull, Chelsea, Les Collines-de-l'Outaouais, Outaouais, Quebec, J9J 1G8, Canada (45.46846-75.80801). Pink Lake in Gatineau Park, located less than a half hour drive from downtown Ottawa, is not what you think it might be. A well maintained trail makes its way along the shores of the lake and a number of lookouts and other photo opportunities await. Crazy eh! Not Pink Lake right away because the Pinks still had not emigrated to Canada. Park management forbids swimming in the lake, walking domestic animals near it, straying from the wooden boardwalk for sight-seers, and throwing stones into the lake. Pink Lake in Gatineau Park, located less than a half hour drive from downtown Ottawa, is not what you think it might be. Because so little new water flows into the lake and the high rims protect it from the wind there is very little mixing of water in the lake, in fact so little that the lake is one of the few meromictic lakes in the world. Gatineau Park provides habitat to many mammals typical of Canada’s wilderness, such as river otter, snowshoe hare, red fox, moose, coyote, wolf, beaver, raccoon, white-tailed deer and black bear. These bacteria form a layer about 7 metres from the bottom to avoid the oxygenated water and maximize sunlight exposure. The surface of the water dark green in August and September due to the abundance of algae in the water. Wolverine and Eastern Cougar occur here, but are rarely seen. A family-friendly outing in Gatineau Park. The park includes many other lakes. There is a hiking trail surrounding the lake. This small (one km long) rising lake is special because it has a high rim not much bigger than the lake itself so its catchment area is small and no rivers or creeks flow into it. It can be a bit tricky to figure out where you’re going, because when you type Pink Lake into Google Maps, there are a few different spots that pop up (like the lake itself, and a lookout off of the Gatineau Parkway). In 2006, research was in progress to identify the patterns of atmospheric conditions over the past 10,000 years by examining the annual deposits of sediment in Pink Lake. Pink Lake – it actually isn’t a pink lake but it is named after the Pink Family who settled here in the early 1800’s. The largest, furthermost lake from downtown Ottawa in Gatineau Park, but it's certainly worth the mission. It may be called Pink Lake but its water is the most beautiful shade of turquoise you have ever seen. The Westin Ottawa – just a stone’s throw from the Rideau Canal is also a very good choice. Gatineau Park is the outdoor playground for Canada's National Capital Region (Ottawa and Gatineau).It offers amazing possibilities for outdoor recreation, within a 20 minutes drive of either city. It all started about 9,000 years ago when the continental ice sheet which was over 1.6 km thick had retreated from the Ottawa-Gatineau area. The lake is in danger of eutrophication due to human activities. Due to the meromictic properties of Pink Lake there are ancient forms of bacteria which use sulfur instead of oxygen to perform photosynthesis. Park management forbids swimming in the lake, walking domestic animals near it, straying from the wooden boardwalk for sight-seers, and throwing stones into the lake. Gatineau Park: Pink Lake - See 1,036 traveler reviews, 608 candid photos, and great deals for Gatineau, Canada, at Tripadvisor. My target was Pink Lake, about 8km inside the park boundary and that made for a 30km round trip. The trail is primarily used for hiking, walking, and nature trips and is best used from April until October. That much weight actually sinks the earth’s crust about 175 metres. A few weeks ago I cycled up into Gatineau Park, just outside of Ottawa in Quebec. The trail is primarily used for hiking, walking, nature trips, and bird watching. The lake is an ecological treasure of the Park. My store contains affiliate links. It is a rare meromictic lake, … First off, the only thing pink about it are the colourful visitors ambling around the lake on the Pink Lake Trail. Pink Lake is a popular photo spot in Gatineau Park and features a number of picture ready lookouts along its shores. And in Old Chelsea, Auberge Old Chelsea would be a great choice, especially if you have plans to visit the Nordik Spa. Distance: 4.4 km | Time: 1 hour | Difficulty: Easy | Parking Lot 11. Tiny algae in the lake give it a bright green colour. The unusual makeup of the lake makes it one of the most famous spots in the reserve in the Canadian capital region. Pink Lake is named after a family of Irish settlers who in 1826 cleared a farm in the area. First off, the only thing pink about it are the colourful visitors ambling around the lake on the Pink Lake Trail. Your email address will not be published. And if you’ve never been to Ottawa these are 10 things you must do on a visit to the city. There is more geology that is interesting but that would be pushing my luck especially after I snuck in the mica mine in the previous paragraph. Walk until you see big openings in the ground (Approx 1KM IN). Pink Lake is Gatineau Park’s most outstanding lake, because of its unusual makeup. Thank you very much. Leigh McAdam is an award-winning, Calgary-based writer, photographer and social media enthusiast with over 61,000 followers. Pink Lake is a typical shield lake. It has a three-season trail and a lookout. In fact, there is algae in this oxygen poor zone that photosynthesizes with sulfur not CO2. Well, this means the original saltwater trapped in the lake took a very long time to be diluted with fresh water…. This is a short loop trail that wraps around Pink Lake in Gatineau Park. So what you might say. Ottawa, Old Chelsea and even the town of Wakefield are both close by. however it must be reported that not all patrons were equally excited. Pink Lake is a meromictic lake located in Gatineau Park, Quebec, Canada. The Pink Lake Trail is in Gatineau Park. Length 1.4 miElevation gain 209 ftRoute type Loop It's nice having wilderness this close to the city, even if I don't use it enough! I love the Moulin Wakefield Mill Hotel & Spa – great food, lovely hot tub and a pretty setting. The bottom seven metres of this 20 metre deep lake have virtually no oxygen. Yet, only one lake in a thousand is meromictic. Pink Lake Lookout Gatineau, Quebec Short and sweet hiking trail Pink Lake Trail Gatineau, Quebec One of the lookouts over Pink Lake, in Gatineau Park near Ottawa, Canada. Pink Lake is a beautiful trail in the Gatineau Park, in Canada, with a fascinating history and unique ecosystem. Pink Lake is a meromictic lake found in the park. Thank you to my geologist husband John for penning this blog and to Ottawa Tourism for hosting us. The surface of the waters are a deep green during the month of August and September due to the abundance of algae in the water. Birders keep your eyes and ears open. Her blog: HikeBikeTravel is frequently cited as one of the top travel and outdoor adventure blogs in Canada. At the top of this hill is an outdoor interpretative centre about the ecology of Pink Lake. Its rare beauty makes it one of the most popular sites in the Park. © 2019 Hike Bike Travel | All Rights Reserved. OK enough science let’s talk about the Pinks. The surface of the waters are a deep green during the month of August and September due to the abundance of algae in the water. The parking lot for Pink Lake lookout remains open. This pothole which was  filled with seawater rose above sea level and has now become a lake. Dick Bell Park 5 Parks, Boating. The lake's name comes from the Pink family who originally owned property in the area. Skiing and snowshoeing in winter. No description for Pink Lake trail has been added yet! To facilitate climbing and descending the steep little bluffs on the trail there are several well constructed stairways. In Ottawa I have enjoyed a stay at the Andaz Hotel perfectly located in the Byward Market area. I’ve lived in the National Capital Region for most of my life, so I get to hike beautiful trails like this one whenever I want to. Thanks for reading! It's hard work getting… If you make a purchase via one of these links, I will receive a small commission at no extra cost to you. A few weeks ago I cycled up into Gatineau Park, just outside of Ottawa in Quebec. Leigh McAdam is a Calgary based writer, author, photographer and social media enthusiast with over 61,000 followers. Submit one here. My target was Pink Lake, about 8km inside the park boundary and that made for a 30km round trip. Gatineau Park has so much to offer just minutes from downtown Ottawa. The trail is wrapped in Mother Nature’s arms so it is peaceful and soothing. From the lookouts, you can explore connecting hiking trails, such as the path that surrounds Pink Lake, another popular lookout spot in the park. Click on the photo to bookmark to your Pinterest board. Well we didn’t really learn much about them so let’s talk about the experience. A couple of outlooks have seats and you may want to linger awhile. This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. The trail is well maintained and easy to follow. Required fields are marked *. One can walk 2.5 km around Pink Lake in Gatineau Park on a well-maintained trail but fair warning – it is not wheelchair friendly. Pink Lake Gatineau, Quebec Hiked around Pink Lake yesterday. The lake is in danger of eutrophication due to human activities. Take some time to read the educational signs that explain what type of lake it is and why it is so important that we help preserve it. This hike primary trail can be used both directions and has a moderate overall physical rating. Gatineau Park Trail 76 is a 2.5 mile loop trail located near Gatineau, Quebec, Canada that offers the chance to see wildlife and is good for all skill levels. You’ll walk by some old pits where they used to mine mica. WARNING: do not enter through the fenced holes. Once the glaciers melted and meltwater ran off, the earth’s crust started rising in a process known as (you’ll impress your friends with these words) isostatic rebound. As mentioned in the Mer Bleu blog, they have also found beluga whale bones and notably humpback whale bones near Smith Falls in the Leda clay as well. ★ Pink Lake (Canada) Pink lake is a meromictic lake located in Gatineau Park, Quebec, Canada. The Goat Lake Hike in Waterton Lakes National Park, Where to Go Snowshoeing in Banff National Park, Tonquin Valley Hiking Guide – What You Need to Know. so long in fact that a fish trapped in the seawater in the rising lake called a 3 spined stickleback has evolved from a saltwater fish into a freshwater fish. Located in the breathtaking Gatineau Park and surrounded by mountains and trees, this lake will exceed your expectations. Pink Lake is a poorly rated 2,148 m blue singletrack trail located near Chelsea Quebec. Her blog: HikeBikeTravel is frequently cited as one of the top travel and outdoor adventure blogs in Canada. We arrived at Gatineau Park, and proceeded to drive the extra 20 or so minutes from the entrance to the Pink Lake trail. Fall colors at their best around Pink Lake, Gatineau Park in Quebec. All in all it’s a very pleasant short hike, likely to be shared with a lot of young families like we did on a weekend. Pink Lake Review of Gatineau Park Reviewed August 10, 2019 via mobile Gatineau Park is a vast (139 square miles) recreational space to the north and west of Gatineau City Centre. One thing of note in the summer – or perhaps we just lucked into accidentally going at the wrong time – is that the road will be full of cyclists, most of whom seemed to have little interest in sharing the road. Lac Pink and a sweaty Englishman. Despite having the name “Pink,” the lake is actually green. If you make a purchase through these links, I will earn a commission at no extra cost to you. These commissions help reduce the ever-increasing costs of keeping this site active. Pink Lake Trail Loop is a 1.4 mile heavily trafficked loop trail located near Gatineau, Quebec, Canada that features a lake and is good for all skill levels. The trail goes up and down a lot but none of the climbs will pose any problems for anyone able to walk. 3259 Carling Ave. “A nice, scenic park along the Ottawa River, this … That sea called the Champlain Sea deposited sediments called the Leda clay in respect of the small marine clams it contains. It’s nice having wilderness this close to the city, even if I don’t use it enough! That secret I was talking about; everybody that walks around Pink Lake and reads the great information panels will know the secret too! The Pink part relates to the name of the family that settled nearby and “loaned” their name to the lake. Then hike on the Pink Lake hiking trail (LEFT SIDE TRAIL IS QUICKER). It used to be a salt water lake as a part of the oceans. Lots of hiking trails, Mackenzie King Estate, the scenic drive, picnic areas, etc. Pink Lake is a meromictic lake located in Gatineau Park, Quebec, Canada. It’s one of the most scenic trails, with stunning views of the lake at every turn. It’s the one leading up to Pink Lake, and it is fairly long and definitely one of the steeper hills on the Gatineau Parkway (a climb of 220 ft or 67 m). The Carbide Wilson Ruins is technically more of a… Here are a couple of suggestions, mostly based on personal experience. Gatineau Park is the National Capital Region’s conservation park. The holes should be all fenced in. Personally, we love going up and down stairs as that is awesome conditioning for our adventures…. These kind of lakes are very rare and it is the only one of its kind among Gatineau Park's 63 lakes. There are pretty steady views of the lake at water level and from some higher outlooks. 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