Just 15 minutes from Parliament Hill, Gatineau Park’s 360 square kilometres of lakes and forests offer an easily accessible wilderness. Warm weather brings hikers to the 165 kilometres of trails. Some are short but scenic, such as the two-and-a-half-kilometre King Mountain Trail (summer only), with its spectacular view of the Ottawa River Valley some 300 metres below, and the two-and-a-half-kilometre Pink Lake trail, which skirts a hauntingly blue meromictic lake. Others demand a more adventurous spirit, such as the 12-kilometre Lusk Cave Trail, which requires flashlights and water shoes for underground explorations—a change of clothes is also recommended. On summer Sundays the parkway road network is reserved for cyclists till 11 a.m. Autumn brings visitors to the Eardly Escarpment to watch migrating hawks, and to enjoy the colours at the Mackenzie King Estate, home to a collection of ruins salvaged from Westminster Abbey and Canada’s first Parliament Buildings. But winter brings out the best in the park, known as one of North America’s top cross-country skiing destinations, with more than 200 kilometres of ski trails. Casual skiers enjoy scenic routes at a leisurely pace; thrill-seekers challenge the steep, narrow trails of the backcountry. Eight day shelters located in the park, such as the 1930s log cabin, offer a chance to warm up in front of a wood stove; hardy long-distance skiers can even stay overnight in some of the larger cabins. Located at the north end of the park in the scenic village of Wakefield, the 1838 Wakefield Mill Inn (819-459-1838, 1-888-567-1838) offers a more comfortable alternative, featuring rooms with fireplaces and Jacuzzi tubs, as well as a new spa, and a dining room known for Québécois cuisine.