Summer is going to be long, hot, hazy, and full of lazy afternoons spent fighting off lethargy and the muggy heat while staring into space and listening to thunderstorms. And, of course, it’s the best time to cool off by taking a stroll beneath the heavy branches of the trees lining Pink Lake.
It’s a 2.5-hour drive from downtown Montreal, nestled in the heart of Gatineau Park—the “green lung” of the Outaouais and one of Canada’s most beautiful parks. Pink Lake, which is actually more turquoise or jade green and not pink at all, is one of the most beautiful places to visit this summer.
A stroll at Pink Lake
Lake Pink was named not for its color, but for the Irish Pink family—who settled on the lake’s shore in 1826.
To see it, take the Lac Pink Trail, which circles the lake and is 2.3 km long. There’s also a very pretty lookout point from which to view the lake. To explore the area via the trails of Gatineau Park, you can take a long hike passing through:
- A 9.2 km (round-trip) hike from P6 ($; Mackenzie-King Estate):Take trails 15, then 35, which lead to the Pink Lake loop (the distance of which is included in this route).
- A 14.4 km (round-trip) hike from P2 (Relais plein air): Takethe Ruisseau-Leamy Trail (Trail 27). Then follow the Gatineau Park Trail (Trail 5) to Trail 25. Continue on Trail 25, then turn left onto Trail 15, then left again onto Trail 35, which leads to the Pink Lake loop (the distance of which is included in this route).
- or you can just park at the Lake Pink parking lot and take the 2.3-km walk
The lake is unique, very fragile, and you can’t swim in it because it’s a meromictic lake. That means the bottom waters and the surface waters never mix. In the bottom layer, there’s no oxygen, and microscopic green algae thrive there. It’s actually quite harmful, but it gives the lake a very beautiful turquoise color.
That’s why you need to be careful and respectful when visiting Pink Lake. Don’t forget your sunscreen and insect repellent—eco-friendly, of course.
Practical Information
Where? PinkLake , Gatineau Park, Outaouais
When? The Lake Pink trail is open from May 2 to September 20, 2026
What? Swimming , dogs, and watercraft prohibited / nature to be seriously preserved
Admission to Gatineau Park is free, but some parking lots require a fee.
Let’s head to Pink Lake;
Onfoot orbymountain bike:
- From the P2 parking lot (Relais plein air), take the Ruisseau-Leamy Trail (Trail 27). Then follow the Gatineau Park Trail (Trail 5) to the Gatineau Promenade, which leads to Pink Lake. Estimated distance: 8.6 km (round trip)
- From the P6 parking lot (Mackenzie-King Estate), take trails 15 and 35. Estimated length of the hike: 7.2 km (round trip)
- From the P2 parking lot (Relais plein air), take the Ruisseau-Leamy Trail (Trail 27). Then follow the Gatineau Park Trail (Trail 5) to Trail 25. Turn left onto Trail 15, then left again onto Trail 35. Estimated trip length: approximately 10.6 km (round trip)
By bike: From parking lot P6, take Mackenzie-King Road, then Champlain Parkway, followed by Gatineau Parkway (8.6 km round trip)