The Quintessential Trail Run

By Dave McMahon

Wolf Trail, Gatineau Park, Chelsea, Que.

Type: Loop 
Dave’s Overall Rating: 10/10
Distance: 8.5K
Average group run time: 60 min.
Fastest run time:  41 min.
Scenery: 9/10
Topography:
43 per cent climb, 42 per cent descent, 15 per cent flat
Altitude Variation: 765m
Technical Difficulty: 8/10

Start Location: Blanchet Beach

Directions to trailhead: From Ottawa, drive 12K north on Highway 5 to Old Chelsea. Follow Old Chelsea Road through town, and continue to the end of Meech Lake and Blanchet Beach Parking lot P13. Wolf Trail is marked #16.

The Gatineau Park offers thousands of square kilometres of vast wilderness rooted to the solid granite of the Canadian Shield. The parkways and trails meander over the rolling geography, passing gardens, historical ruins, campgrounds, abandoned mines, and rocky outcrops that plunge into refreshing clean-water lakes bordered by sandy beaches. Beavers, deer, bear, timber wolf and outdoor enthusiasts populate forests of pine, birch, maple and beech. 

Wolf Trail is both technical and spectacular. The loop takes about an hour to run – just the right length to satisfy trail running aficionados. The trailhead starts from P13 Blanchet Beach at Meech Lake and begins a gradual climb up the north face of the mountain. The well-trodden path follows a small stream for the first section, where a cool breeze often blows down the shaded northern slope. Runners leave the lake behind as they ascend into deciduous forest echoing with woodland sounds. 

The route splits after three-quarters of a kilometre, marking the start of the trail loop. Turning left, a single-track path meanders in a gradual climb. Be prepared for a short pitch at 1.6K as the trail becomes more undulating, skirting a small lake before crossing a feeder brook. At 2.6K Wolf Trail intersects one of the primary routes of park – Ridge Road. Cross the gravel road, continuing along Wolf Trail #16 on the opposite side. The path flattens out briefly, punctuated by a series of tricky stepping stones, then crosses over a few streams and veers around two ponds, leading to another serious climb. 

There’s a short detour at the 3.7K point to a rock face looking out over the Ottawa Valley 300m below. Double back 20m and continue along the trail, which climbs steeper and steeper around every turn. There are three major hills over the next kilometre. The crux of the climb takes you up a 50-degree rock slab. 

Now for the reward: The middle section of the loop from 4.7K to 6.4K curves along an exposed ridge revealing a panorama of Gatineau Park. The trail rambles near the edge of the escarpment, but is entirely safe. At 6.5K, the route plunges 100m in a half a kilometre. As the descent runs straight down the fall line, you often have to share footing with running water, which bottoms out at a beaver pond. Cross a precarious old-growth log bridge and a complete a short climb up the bank to the 7K point. The root-covered dirt trail twists back to the initial intersection, where you can rejoin the main trail and descend back into Meech Lake for a swim, and a picnic on the beach.

Dave McMahon is a national biathlon and eastern Canadian mountain running champion. He and his partner Lise Meloche, a two-time Olympian and world champion biathlete, operate Natural Fitness Labs www.naturalfitnesslab.com  and xczone.tv, promoting organized trail-running and action cinematography.