Pink Lake

Welcome to Pink Lake, the mistakenly-colored wonder of Gatineau Park! Unlike Australia’s Lake Hillier or Spain’s Lago Rosa, this body of water is not a rosy hue. The green-blue waters of this Canadian lake got their name from the Pink family who settled the land in 1826.

This tiny lake has a hilarious quirk called meromictic, where its water layers are like those awkward acquaintances at a party—they never mix! Talk about a lake with serious commitment issues.

The Pink Lake Trail stretches for approximately 2.3 kilometers, starting from the parking lot and looping back. Depending on your walking speed, the hike typically takes around 40 minutes to complete. Pink Lake is an easy and enjoyable hike.

This trail is open during three seasons and features a lookout point for you to enjoy. However, during the winter season, the Pink Lake Trail is temporarily closed, and instead, the parkway is transformed into a cross-country skiing paradise.

Attention, all water enthusiasts! Brace yourselves for a splash of disappointment. Due to the delicate ecosystem, swimming is strictly off-limits at Pink Lake. It’s all for the sake of keeping this delicate ecosystem in good health. So, keep your swimsuits dry and prepare for some land-based adventures instead!