03 Sep, 2012
A family hike around Pink Lake in the Gatineau Hills
Posted by andrea tomkins in: - Ottawa for kids|Easy ways to make kids happy|Ottawa
September is my favourite time of year. The days are a little cooler but just as sunny and welcoming. Darkness starts to fall a little earlier, and throwing open the windows to let in the cool air makes for excellent sleeping. I wrap myself in a sweaters again and breathe deeply, freely.
I feel so much more energized in September, don’t you? It’s the best time to start new projects, recommit to old ones, and kick-start those familiar routines again.
September is also the best time for a family hike. Pink Lake in the Gatineau Hills is, in my esteem, pretty close to perfection. Let us count the ways:
1) It’s not a far drive from Ottawa.
2) It’s a relatively easy walk that is almost entirely groomed (and by that I mean there are man-made stairs instead of rocks to scamper up)…
3) The trail goes in a tidy circle around the lake. It’s a comfort for those of us who fear getting lost in the wilderness. Not that anyone is nervous, nope, not here.
4) There is some cool science going on here too (if you’re the kind of family who takes advantage of this kind of thing). The geology and er, lakeology (okay I made that word up) is pretty interesting. There are signs, stop and read them! I don’t think I’ll be giving anyway away by revealing it’s a meromictic lake. (Go look that up.) You will also find evidence of an old mica mine on site too:
5) The views are stunning.
Would you look at that riot of colour? Here’s an experimental panorama too (it’s best seen full screen).
We walked, we looked, we picnicked, and then we went home, happy to have rediscovered this little treasure.
Have you ever been to Pink Lake?
