Connect with animals in the Outaouais

Published on April 23, 2021

/ Updated on April 8, 2022

Spending time with animals, both wild and domesticated, is a magical recipe for opening your heart. Hang out with alpacas, horses, sled dogs (yes, even in summer!), and white-tail deer and their young fawns, as well as Canadian wild animals! Visit a wildlife park, a farm, a ranch or an interpretation centre to pet and observe these endearing creatures. But be warned: they just may steal your heart ...

Canadian wildlife in the spotlight

Photo: @G.Leroyer

Unique in Quebec, Omega Park offers a 12-km car trail from which to observe animals in their natural habitat. Moose, bison, elk, beavers—there are more than 400 wild animals to see in the 900-hectare park. The wolf observatory, the first of its kind in the world, will impress the whole family. For little ones, a visit to the farm animals is a must. Besides showcasing Canadian wildlife, Omega Park allows you to learn more about the history and culture of Quebec’s First Nations. Stay for a full day and explore the hiking trails, the suspended bridge among the trees, and the picnic areas.

Where

399 Route 323 North, Montebello

How much

See the park website for admission fees.

Soft as a cloud!

No wonder alpaca fleece is known as “the fibre of the gods”! This close relative of the llama is not only very gentle, but also very friendly and intelligent. Chelsea Alpacas has a herd of 20 alpacas in the Collines-de-l’Outaouais. In Bristol, in the Pontiac, Willow Lane’s 34 alpacas await you on a 50-hectare farm. Book a farm tour to meet these lively and playful animals, discover the products made from their famous fleece, and enjoy the peace and quiet of the countryside.

Willow Lane Alpacas

Where

44 Route 148, Bristol

When

Wednesday through Sunday. Visits are by appointment only.

How much

Suggested donation per visit: $5

Chelsea Alpacas

Where

1594 Route 105, Chelsea

When

Sundays. Visits are by appointment only.

How much

Adult $5, child (age 2–17) $3. Free for children under 2.

On horseback

Tour the Outaouais on horseback, thanks to our many equestrian centres! Captiva Farms, Equita Ranch and El Pequeno Ranch all offer impressive views of the region. Learn to mount a horse, introduce the little ones to a pony, saddle up and go exploring, or pet the farm animals: it’s all happening at our stables! A memorable experience for the whole family.

Among the white-tail deer

The White-Tail Deer Interpretation Centre invites you to view this elegant animal in its natural habitat, while enjoying a 14-kilometre network of walking trails. The whole family will love the little fawns being rehabilitated before being released in the fall. An interpretation section in the log pavilion provides lots of information about this abundant local species. While you’re here, you can go for a walk in the woods, discover Rouge Falls, and admire Thirty-One-Mile Lake from the lookout.

Where

6 Chemin du Barrage, Sainte-Thérèse-de-la-Gatineau

When

Open daily from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., May to October.

How much

Free, but donations are welcome as a contribution to the animals’ care.

From well-trained horses to black bears it’s best to admire from afar, the Outaouais’ diverse wildlife will amaze you. Bonus: contact with animals is known to be good for your health! Add to your outing the contemplation of the most beautiful waterfalls in our territory, and you have the perfect day to re-energize in nature!

Written by

Pascale de Montigny

Mother of two little ones, Alizée and Mélik. In love with a bearded Spartan cyclist. CEO of my comms agency to make local businesses shine. Love to travel, the Outaouais region and and its local businesses. Travelling in my region, then? A dream come true!

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