First, it’s important to know that Gatineau Park’s ready-to-camp sites are very popular, and spaces are limited! Booking usually opens around mid-November, although camping season runs from mid-December to the end of March. Please note that during winter, these accommodations are only accessible by cross-country skis or snowshoes.

The park hosts several lodging types during winter, whether four-season tents, yurts, cabins and winter camping tent sites.

It takes around 3 kilometers to reach the ready-to-camp trailer from the parking lot. If you don’t own snowshoes or cross-country skis, you can rent them at Relais plein air du Parc de la Gatineau and at other locations nearby at the camping registration office. Remember to book your equipment in advance to avoid unpleasant surprises. The trail itself is quite bumpy, so I recommend opting for snowshoes if you are carrying your luggage.

I believe it’s always best to make a short list of items you want to bring with you, to ensure you don’t forget anything at home. Here’s a list of the essentials I brought, or wish I had, during my stay in a four-season tent:

• Warm clothing

The weather can change fast within the park, so I recommend that you dress according to the three-layers system: the first one breathing, the second one insulating, and the third one waterproof. As a base layer, I love merino wool clothing, but if you have lightweight sweater with a fabric that breathes and dries quickly, it’s ideal. Next, for your insulating layer, consider a fleece jacket or a thin, compressible coat to keep you warm. And finally, your winter coat is perfect as a waterproof layer. There’s no such thing as bad weather, only poorly dressed people. With the right clothes, you can make the most of your stay.

• Comfortable, waterproof boots
• Waterproof snow pants
• Snowshoes or cross-country skis
• A backpack

You will require it to carry your personal belongings and your water bottle during the trip. If the weather forecasts are expecting snow, I strongly recommend that you purchase a bag cover or a waterproof cover to keep your backpack and its content dry.

• Headlamps and candles

Both are very useful at dusk. As there is very little light pollution in the park, it gets dark in the evening. Although the dry toilets are nearby, lighting is essential to get there. Headlamps becomes very useful to cook on the barbecue, for example. Candles, meanwhile, can provide a less harsh source of light for a pleasant evening in the ready-to camp.

• Cookware

There is some basic equipment for cooking in the ready-to-camp. I recommend that you plan your meals accordingly, or carry with you the basics like knives, forks, spoons, aluminum foil, a cutting board, plastic plates or bowls, etc.

• Dish soap, sponge and dishcloths

In the ready-to-camp, you will find a dishwasher and a drainer, but to wash your dishes or your hands properly, you will need to carry everything you need.

• Insulating cups or plastic glasses
• Sleeping bag

A three-season sleeping bag will do the trick, as ready-to-camps are equipped with a fireplace. If you feel chilly, simply add a few logs to the burning fire or open the air intake further. Within a few minutes, the cabin temperature will rise.

• Pillow
• First-aid kit
• Food in sufficient quantity
• Garbage bag

There are no garbage bins in the accommodation, so carry a bag where you can put your garbage during your stay. Before leaving, you can dispose of them in the large bin outside.

• Clean water in sufficient quantity

Carry yours or as mentioned above, ask for a delivery and get a 18L of water at your door upon your arrival.

• Sleigh

If you select the delivery service for your luggage, this won’t be required.

• Matches or lighter

Pretty handy to light a fire and your candles.

• A book or board games

Find a full description of the four-season tent and its amenities below. This will give you additional information on what is and isn’t included in the ready-to-camp. You can then adjust your packing list accordingly.

The Ready-to-camps are in the Philippe Lake, Renaud Lake and Taylor Lake area. Check-in is from parking lot P19B. You can enter the address below in your GPS to get there more easily.

You will pass a building on your right with a small parking lot, but don’t stop there as parking lot P19 is at the very end of the road. Once parked, head for parking log P19B to check in. The two parking lots are very close to each other, about 200 meters apart. You will find two buildings facing each other. The largest one, on your left, belongs to the administration and is used for vehicle maintenance. The smaller one, on your right, is the reception office desk. A clerk will be waiting for you at the top of the stairs for your registration. They will provide you with a trail map and answer any questions you may have. You can also purchase the Gatineau Park trail pass, if you didn’t get it while booking your accommodation. You must always carry it with you.

The park is designed to allow you to reach your accommodation in an eco-responsible way, so it’s time to strap on your snowshoes or cross-country skis and conquer the trails with or without your luggage! I strongly recommend that you download the Avenza Map application on you phone, and download the Gatineau Park winter trail network map for cross-country skiing and snowshoeing. This way, you will be able to find your way around easily if your paper map gets too wet or gets lost during your stay. The trails are well-groomed, but in the wilderness, it’s best to be well prepared, especially during winter. The park is home to a rich biodiversity. Keep your eyes peeled along the way! You may come across white-tailed deer, hares or red foxes. Respect their habitat by staying within the trails. If you feel like it, carry a pair of binoculars: it’ll be easier for you to observe the bird species and other wildlife that cross your path.

Four-season tents, also known as prospector tents, are for me the perfect combination between a camping tent and a cottage, as they offer the possibility of sleeping in more remote locations while having access to a fireplace and basic amenities providing more comfort. On each site you will find a four-season tent, a barbecue area and a huge wood supply for the fireplace. As I entered the tent, I was pleased with the warmth of the place and relaxed with the nice smell of wood burning gently in the fireplace. A few logs can be stored indoors in a special tray, to dry the wood out during the day and avoid the need to go outside in the middle of the night to replenish.

Facing me was a three-tiered bunk bed consisting of a double bed and two single beds. Under the bed was a double USB socket to recharge your electronic devices. To my right there was a small dining area with four chairs and a table. A little further into the tent, there was a kitchen area with a counter for meal preparation and a cooler. The area is surrounded by windows, which gave me an unobstructed view of the surrounding forest. The tent material is much better than I expected. The canvas used as a wall is flexible but thick, while the windows and doors are the same as a house. The crackling of the fire and the enveloping calm of the forest created a very soothing atmosphere and really allowed me to disconnect. It’s a peaceful place and there’s something special about dining by the candlelight. The dry toilet was located at about a hundred meters from our tent. There’s no lighting in this little hut, so carry your headlamp! However, you will find hand sanitizing gel and toilet paper. Don’t forget to leave the seat open to avoid ice forming during colder days. An outdoor fireplace is located center of the ready-to-camp, next to the dry toilets. This is the only place where you can light an outdoor fire. It is furnished with benches and a small grill to cook your food, and since it is communal to all accommodations, it is a great place to meet and greet with the other occupants.

Meal planning is essential for a successful ready-to-camp stay, since the accommodation is in the hearth of nature, far from grocery stores and restaurants. I suggest you plan for ready-to-eat or easy-to-prepare meals. You can always turn to instant soups or energy bars, but it is also possible to eat like royalty in this type of accommodation. Here are some easy-to-prepare, headache-free suggestions. For breakfast, enjoy a no-cook oatmeal with berries or make yourself a homemade omelet mix that only needs to cook. Your orange juice will already be cold thanks to the cooler, so make yourself a nice hot coffee or hot chocolate to start your day on the right foot. For lunch, use the fireplace! Simmer a hearty soup in a cauldron directly on the top of the fireplace before heading out for a snowshoe walk, or prepare gourmet sandwiches wrapped in aluminum foil and heat them up on the fireplace at one of the shelters along your route. For dinner, since you have access to a barbecue, carry your own grilling utensils. Fancy a piece of meat, a fish papillote, vegetables and tofu kebabs or a homemade pizza in a cast-iron skillet.

Gatineau Park is packed with activities! Put on your snowshoes or cross-country skis and explore the trails near your accommodation. Visit the Relais Renaud and appreciate its impressive architecture. Watch the birds, try to recognize the trees, make angels in the snow. Since light pollution is almost non-existent, the nights are clear and reveal a spectacular starry sky. Take a seat on the edge of the outdoor fireplace and watch the sky with a hot beverage. Relax with friends, play board games and make the prettiest snowman, take turns washing the dishes and enjoy each other’s company. Sit by the fire with a good book, continue that knit you started long ago, take a nap in the warmth of your sleeping bag. Allow yourself to simply take your time.

My stay in Gatineau Park was an enriching and revitalizing experience. Between the outdoor activities, the shared moments and the comfort of the ready-to-camp, every moment was conducive to disconnecting and rejuvenating. If you caress the idea to try this adventure, I only have one thing to say: go for it! I’ve put together this guide with great care, and I hope it will help you prepare for a successful stay! So, pack your bags, round up your friends and get set for an adventure in Gatineau Park. + Make the most of winter and discover the various activities available during winter in Gatineau Park to round off your stay in style.