💦 Pink Lake 🌊 Lookout 🔍 Trails 🌴 In Quebec 🅾️

🫑 Healthy4Life -
Pink Lake is one of Gatineau Park’s most remarkable natural wonders. Despite its name, the lake is actually green. Here are some interesting facts about Pink Lake:

Unusual Makeup: Pink Lake stands out due to its unique composition. It’s a meromictic lake, meaning its upper and lower layers of water never mix. Unlike most lakes, where water layers mix during spring and fall, Pink Lake’s waters remain separate due to its small surface area, bowl-like shape, and steep cliffs that protect it from wind1.
Algae and Color: The magnificent greenish tint of Pink Lake’s waters comes from microscopic algae. These algae, while beautiful, are harmful because they gradually take over oxygen, suffocating the lake. This process, called “eutrophication,” would have taken thousands of years naturally, but visitor activity accelerated it. To preserve the lake, platforms and a trail limit erosion, and volunteers planted 10,000 small trees1.
Access: You can visit Pink Lake from the Pink Lake parking lot, accessible via the Gatineau Parkway. In summer, the parkway is open to motor vehicles, cyclists, and pedestrians. During winter, it becomes a cross-country ski trail, and the Pink Lake Trail is closed1.
Trail and Lookout: The Pink Lake Trail is a 2.3-km loop around the lake, featuring stairs and interpretation panels. The Pink Lake Lookout provides a unique view of the lake. Both spots are accessible, and there are free parking lots at the lookout and the Pink Lake Trail1.
Next time you’re in Gatineau Park, make sure to explore this natural gem
Get to know this 1.4-mile loop trail near Gatineau, Quebec. Generally considered an easy route, it takes an average of 36 min to complete. This is a very popular area for birding, hiking, and snowshoeing, so you'll likely encounter other people while exploring. The best times to visit this trail are April through October. You'll need to leave pups at home — dogs aren't allowed on this trail.