In the print dialog pick “Save as PDF” to keep it on your phone. A5 makes a pocket booklet; A4 suits a desk printer.
Voykit pocket guide · Canada
Wakefield
Base yourself in the village for one night, two if you want a full Gatineau Park day: from Ottawa it is a 35–40 min drive, so a day trip also works.
Wakefield is a small English-speaking village in La Pêche on the Gatineau River, in the Gatineau Hills about 35–40 min north of Ottawa by car. It is a base for Gatineau Park trails, river swimming and paddling, a covered bridge, a live-music inn and a handful of good kitchens. One night covers the village; two nights let you add a park hike or a ski day.
- Country
- Canada
- Best months
- Jun–Oct for river and trails; late Sep–early Oct for fall colour; Jan–Mar for skiing
- Avoid
- Nov and early Apr (mud season, trails and lifts closed)
- Stay
- 1–2 nights
Checked 2026-09. Prices, hours and rules change; anything marked (check) is not confirmed.
Essentials
- Currency
- CAD
- Money
- Currency is the Canadian dollar (CAD, $). Cards and tap-to-pay are accepted almost everywhere.
- Daily spend
- Budget C$90–140 excl. bed · Mid C$150–230 excl. bed · High C$250+ excl. bed (estimate; check)
- SIM and data
- Rogers, Bell and Telus plus cheaper brands (Fido, Koodo, Public Mobile); prepaid SIMs in malls and stores. Canadian data is expensive — an eSIM is often cheaper.
- Emergency
- Police, fire, ambulance 911 · Sûreté du Québec (non-emergency) 310-4141 · Info-Santé (24 h) 811
- Plugs
- Types A, B · 120 V · 60 Hz · Same as the US.
- Tipping
- Restaurant: 15–20% of the pre-tax bill.; Bar: CAD 1–2 per drink.; Taxi: 10–15%.; Housekeeping: CAD 3–5 a night.; Guide: 10–20% of the tour price.
- Water
- Tap water is drinkable; treat water from lakes and streams (giardia).
- Toilets
- Free in malls, Tim Hortons, stations and park visitor centres.
What things cost
| Item | Price |
|---|---|
| Coffee and pastry at the bakery | C$5–9 |
| Bistro main course | C$20–32 |
| Table d'hôte dinner | C$32–45 |
| Live-music cover at the Black Sheep Inn | C$7–20 |
| Ski lift day ticket | C$41+ |
| Bicycle rental, half day | C$30–50 |
Desk estimates, checked 2026-09; check locally.
Get in
By air
- YOW · Ottawa Macdonald-Cartier International
- About 1 h by car to Wakefield; no direct bus, so rent a car or take a taxi/rideshare.
- YUL · Montréal-Trudeau
- About 2 h 45 min by car; train or bus to Ottawa first, then drive north.
Typical fares
- Ottawa → Wakefield, car
- about 35–40 min via Highway 5, exit 28 (check)
- Autobus Gatineau, Ottawa → Wakefield
- limited daily coach, about 1 h (check)
- Taxi or rideshare, Ottawa airport → Wakefield
- C$90–130 (check)
Get around
A car is the practical choice: the village is compact and walkable, but Gatineau Park trailheads, ski hills and the bungee site are spread along Highway 105 and Route 5. Autobus Gatineau runs a limited coach from Ottawa and Gatineau; bicycles can be rented in the village in summer. In winter, snow tires are required on Quebec roads.
See and do
Known for
- The Black Sheep Inn live music
- Wakefield covered bridge over the Gatineau River
- Gatineau Park trails and river swimming
- Fall leaves in the Gatineau Hills
Day trips
| Where | How | Time |
|---|---|---|
| Gatineau Park | Drive Route 5 or Highway 105 to a trailhead; park shuttles run in fall | 20–40 min |
| Chelsea | Drive south on Highway 5, about 15 min | 15 min |
| Gatineau | Highway 5 south to the city, about 30 min | 30–35 min |
| Montebello | Highway 105 north, about 1 h 15 min | 1 h 15 min |
Sleep
- Village centre (chemin Riverside)
- Walk to the bridge, bakery, shops and most restaurants; inns and B&Bs sit on the side streets a few minutes up the hill.
- Mill Road / La Pêche River
- Quieter, next to the old mill and waterfall; a 5–10 min walk to the main street.
- Highway 105 corridor
- Motels and larger inns with parking; you need a car for everything.
Phrase card
| English | Say or show |
|---|---|
| Hello | Bonjourbon-ZHOOR |
| Thank you | Mercimair-SEE |
| How much is it? | Combien ça coûte ?kom-BYEN sa KOOT |
| The bill, please | L'addition, s'il vous plaîtla-dee-SYON seel voo PLEH |
| Where is the trail? | Où est le sentier ?oo eh luh sen-TYAY |
| Can I pay by card? | Puis-je payer par carte ?pweezh pay-YAY par KART |
Etiquette, safety and scams
Etiquette
- Greeting: Handshake; 'Bonjour' first in Québec; avoid: Assuming everyone speaks English
- Queues: Line up and wait your turn; avoid: Pushing in
- Apologising: 'Sorry' is politeness, not admission of fault; avoid: Loud confrontation
- Canada vs US: Treat Canada as its own country; avoid: Calling Canadians American
- Indigenous culture: Buy from Indigenous-owned businesses and ask before photos at ceremonies; avoid: Wearing headdresses as costume
Scams and watch-outs
- Village restaurants and shops keep short hours and close some weekdays: check before you drive out for dinner.
- Gatineau Park parking lots fill on fall weekends; arrive before 10:00 or use the shuttle.
- The Gatineau River is cold and has current: swim near the covered bridge only where locals do.
- Cell coverage is patchy on the back roads north of the village.
Very safe for a village of this size; the real risks are winter driving on Highway 105, cold fast river water and unlit back roads after dark.
One and two days
No timed day plan for Wakefield yet. Suggested stay: 1–2 nights. Build a day from the list below, mornings for the big sight.
- The Black Sheep Inn live music
- Wakefield covered bridge over the Gatineau River
- Gatineau Park trails and river swimming
- Fall leaves in the Gatineau Hills
Sources
Written by Voykit; facts cross-checked against these sources, last desk check 2026-09. Prices, hours and rules change: check on the day.
- Tourisme Outaouais: www.tourismeoutaouais.com/en/
- Municipality of La Pêche: www.ville.la-peche.qc.ca/
- Gatineau Park (NCC): ncc-ccn.gc.ca/places/gatineau-park
- Wikivoyage: Wakefield (Quebec), revision 5294516 (CC BY-SA 4.0): en.wikivoyage.org/w/index.php?oldid=5294516
Pocket card
Cut along the border and keep it in your wallet. Show the local-script lines to a driver.
Wakefield
À cette adresse, s'il vous plaît
To this address, please
My hotel (write the name and address in the local script)
No embassies in Wakefield; the US embassy and most others are in Ottawa, about 40 min south.
Village is mainly English-speaking, but Quebec signage and services are in French.
Voykit · checked 2026-09
Printed from Voykit (/wakefield-quebec). Written by Voykit; checked 2026-09. Estimates only: confirm prices, hours and entry rules on the day.