Autumn in Quebec: Exploring the great outdoors of the Outaouais

Autumn color in the Outaouais. Photos by Sue Frause.

The Outaouais (pronounced utawa) is a region in western Quebec, located on the north side of the Ottawa River across from Canada's capital of Ottawa. Gatineau is the main city, the fourth largest in Quebec. I first visited the Outaouais in autumn, a beautiful time of year to experience the area. 

Omega Park is home to buffalo, wapiti, black bears, red deer, wolves, Alpine ibex and wild boar.

This fellow was particularly curious and seemed to know where the food was located.

Plenty of room to roam on the park's walking path and hiking trails. 

Lunch in nearby Papineauville at La table de Pierre Delahaye, in a house built in 1880.

Overnight at Fairmont Le Chateau Montebello, a log chateau built in 1930.

A hike in Gatineau Park on the Mount King trail with views out to Ottawa-Gatineau.

Before heading off to Ottawa, lunch at the Moorside Tea Room, located in the heart of Gatineau Park at the Mackenzie King Estate. The estate was the summer house of Canada's 10th Prime Minister, William Lyon Mackenzie King.

Mackenzie King Estate includes 231 hectares of landscaped green space, along with gardens and ruins such as this.

Colorful heritage gardens were still in bloom at the end of September.

Anniversaries abound in the Outaouais region of Quebec

This year marks the 30th anniversary of Outaouais Tourism. There are other milestones in the region, too. Here are just a few reasons to celebrate in this region of Quebec:

• 130 - LeDroit
• 100 - Parks Canada
• 80 - Fairmont Le Château Montebello Golf Club
• 30 - Universite du Quebec en Outaouais
• 20 - Park Omega
• 15 - Casino du Lac-Leamy
• 10 - Wakefield Mill Inn & Spa

Casino du Lac-Leamy in Gatineau, Quebec celebrates 15 years

Stay and play year-round in the Outaouias of Quebec

Great Hall in the Canadian Museum of Civilisation in Gatineau, Quebec. Photo by Sue Frause.

In the autumn of 2004, I spent five days in Quebec's Outaouias region. Pronounced OOT-a-way, it's located in the southeast corner of Quebec and is beautiful year-round.

The Fairmont Le Chateau Montebello is a destination unto itself. Photo by Sue Frause.

The grounds at The Fairmont Le Chateau Montebello are lovely. Photo by Sue Frause.

The Wakefield Covered Bridge had to be rebuilt after a 1984 fire. Photo by Sue Frause.

Le Moulin Inn & Spa in Wakefield was at one time a working mill. Photo by Sue Frause.

You can feed and talk to the animals at Parc Omega. Photo by Sue Frause.

Locals and visitors enjoy Gatineau Park, created 70 years ago. Photo by Sue Frause.