Discover the most exciting whitewater adventures on the Ottawa River! Horizon X offers Canada’s only full moon rafting trips! Experience the thrill of rafting by day or under the moonlight sky. Looking for more excitement? Try our riverboarding, the most fun you can have in a bathing suit!
CAMPING AND CABINS IN GATINEAU PARK
Hiking Trail that passes through different forests and ancient rock formations onto a cliff outlook. Mountain bikers can travel on well-groomed seven-km or 12-km trails that are moderately challenging, or take the more strenuous 19-km route. Motorboats are banned from this lake, but canoes and kayaks are welcome. In fact, the rocky shoreline is best explored by kayak. Traverse the small islands and marshes to see the many birds, otter, mink and beaver frolicking along the shoreline. For more information on facilities, fees, weather and directions, check out ontarioparks.com/english/sile.html
Prolong your adventure in Gatineau Park by staying the night! There are three campgrounds located at Philippe Lake, Taylor Lake and La Pêche Lake. Reserve one of the Gatineau Park’s cabins or yurts! Take part in a range of outdoor activities, such as hiking, swimming, boating, cycling and more! 819-827-2020 1-866-456-3016 Reservations.gatineaupark.ca
WAKEFIELD MILL HOTEL & SPA
819-648-2727 // 1-866-695-2925 horizonx.ca
NCC-CCN
SILENT LAKE
HORIZON X RAFTING AND KAYAK
HORIZON X
BEST FEATURES: A rare opportunity to spot some whales. Water babies will enjoy the Parc marin du Saguenay–SaintLaurent, where the waters of the St. Lawrence Estuary and the Saguenay Fjord join to foster an area of immense biological diversity. This is one of the few places on the planet where you can observe the blue whale. The 1,245-sq-km marine park is subdivided into three zones: the St. Lawrence River Estuary, the Saguenay River Fjord, and the Confluence where their waters meet. The St. Lawrence Estuary follows the steep cliffs of the shore, and its long tidal flats are shelter for a variety of seabirds. You can meander along the shore here watching osprey, geese and other wildlife. This area is also becoming a northern scuba diving mecca because of the wide variety of sea life fostered by its cold waters and rocky floor. Tadoussac holds the heart of the marine park – the Confluence – where the turquoise waters of the St. Lawrence River Estuary mix with the deeper salt waters of the Saguenay River. This powerful collision creates a hypnotic effect of effervescent standing waves and plumes of white lines across the entire fjord. Fish, whales and seals are drawn to feed on the abundant plankton and other marine life. For your best view of the whales in the area, try a sea cruise. The Saguenay Fjord was once a glacial valley. Today, massive cliffs rise up along the shore, covered with birds resting after feeding on the abundant fish. Each time the tide comes in, the salt water sinks below the less dense fresh water of the Saguenay River before making its way upstream. Tides, winds and currents are constantly shifting in this area, so sailing and kayaking are challenging; if you want to test the waters, hiring a guide is strongly recommended, and novice kayakers should opt for a sea cruise or take one of the ferries to see the wildlife instead. For information on weather, links to tide tables and directions, check out sepaq.com.
NATIONAL CAPITAL COMMISSION
PARC MARIN DU SAGUENAY– SAINT-LAURENT Québec
WAKEFIELD MILL HOTEL & SPA Just step outside our front door and embrace the spectacular natural beauty of Gatineau Park – 36,100 hectares of unspoiled forests, lakes, and rivers, only 25 minutes from Gatineau-Ottawa. 819-459-1838 1-888-567-1838 wakefieldmill.com
VISIT OUTAOUAISTOURISM.COM/OUTDOOR TO PLAN YOUR SUMMER GETAWAY! // 1-800-595-2103
adventuramag.ca SUMMER 2012 19