Mont Des Cascades: Why You Need This Cantley Hike in Your Life
With rocky paths, intense scrambling and unique outlooks, Mont des Cascades gives Ottawa-area residents a fun alternative to Gatineau Park.
Mont des Cascades is a ski hill near the small town of Cantley, along the Gatineau river. The private owners also maintain a hiking trail that circles and climbs the mountain. It offers distinct, nuanced views of the river, Ottawa/Hull and surrounding forests.
Last weekend I was looking for an alternative to all the hiking I’d done in Gatineau Park, so I got into my car and made my way to this spot. However, none of the routes listed on AllTrails looked particularly difficult, so I plotted my own course to enhance the exercise. I wasn’t disappointed.
Although there were several cars in the parking lot, their occupants must have headed directly for the lookouts because I had this mountain to myself (until I got to the lookout). Hikers who navigate the steep, scrambling climb at the end are treated to a unique view of the city that I’ll come back for every year.
Mont des Cascades Enhanced Loop
Length: 7.7 km
Elevation: 335 m
Type: Loop
Time: 2.5 hours
Difficulty: Moderate
This trail is similar to a few others on AllTrails, but I took a custom route to enhance my hiking experience and make the most of this area. You can follow my steps on this map.
Why I Loved Hiking Mont des Cascades
Great scrambling as you hike to the mountain’s lookouts
Little-to-no traffic on the narrow sections of the trail
Unique views of Ottawa/Hull and the Gatineau River
Picturesque rocky sections of trail that were fun to navigate
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Key Hiking Gear
I enjoy my 100% Merino base layer on courses with high temperature range
I keep an inexpensive set of boots around for muddy trails
Don’t Miss This Cantley Hike
I wasn’t expecting much from this hike, but I was pleased. The first half follows a coastal type of trail along the river, providing occasional views upstream before bringing you back up into the forest.
Be wary of some difficult scrambling on the sections of trail that climb and descend the mountain (my enhanced trail does it twice), but there isn’t much to worry about except other people. I didn’t see anybody else until the main lookout, where there is plenty of space.
The top of the mountain looks down into the valley, forests and city surrounding the Gatineau River from a perspective you won’t find anywhere in the Gatineau Hills. For this reason alone (yet among many), I recommend my custom Mont des Cascades trail at any time of the year.