Free shuttle service to Gatineau Park now offered on weekdays

Expanded shuttle service free of charge to riders is operating, the National Capital Commission (NCC) said.

Shuttle service to Gatineau Park is now available on both weekends and weekdays, running Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday between 9:30 a.m. and 2 p.m. from the Gatineau Park Visitor Centre to Pink Lake and back.

On weekends, shuttles run from the Ottawa-Gatineau area to the Gatineau Park Visitor Centre in Chelsea between 9 a.m. and 6 p.m., said the National Capital Commission.

Shuttles run every 30 minutes six days a week, on a first come first serve basis.

According to NCC, the expanded service is in line with their conservation efforts, in order to provide convenient access to recreational sites along Gatineau Park’s three parkways.

“Gatineau Park is the largest protected natural green space in the National Capital Region. We’re pleased to offer visitors an accessible, free and convenient way to get to its most popular sites while reducing our carbon footprint and impact on wildlife,” Tobi Nussbaum, CEO of the National Capital Commission, said.

A free shuttle to Lac Philippe is also being offered — running on weekends and holidays from May 18 to October 27.

Cycling, walking and mobility aids are always permitted on the parkways, wrote NCC on their website, with visitors able to rent electrically assisted bikes at two locations: Relais Plein Air and the Visitor Centre in Chelsea through Nomades du Parc.

Three parkways that run through Gatineau Park are now open to private vehicles from 8 a.m. to dusk on Wednesdays and from noon to dusk on weekends.

“They provide direct access to some of the Park’s most popular attractions, such as Pink Lake, King Mountain and Champlain Lookout. To best protect nature and offer diverse recreational experiences, private vehicle access is limited,” said NCC.

Visit the NCC website for more details and schedule.