Improvements to the Carbide Wilson Ruins and trail 36, Gatineau Park

The National Capital Commission (NCC) plans to complete stabilization work at the Carbide Willson Ruins, as well as improvements to Trail 36. Trail 36 and the Carbide Willson Ruins are located in Chelsea, in Gatineau Park, approximately 1.5 km north of parking lot P11. The site is only accessible on foot via trail 36 in the park. Chelsea is part of the Collines-de-l'Outaouais municipalité régionale de comté (MRC), in the Outaouais administrative region. 

Work will begin in the end of summer 2024, and is scheduled to last four (4) weeks. The work will be carried out outside the bird nesting period, which ends on August 28. The project calls for minimal tree-cutting to accommodate the work and make the trail safer. As such, the project will include the installation of new information panels, new signage, soil levelling to make the trail more durable, structural stabilization of the ruins, a new observation deck, rehabilitation of the stairways through the site and the installation of safety fencing and gates for public safety.  

A characterization of the natural environment in the work and access zone was carried out. It described the terrestrial, wetland and riparian environments that will be affected by the redevelopment of the ruins and the trail. Mitigation measures such as erosion and sediment control measures and tree protection measures will be implemented by the contractor to protect terrestrial and aquatic wildlife and their habitat.

The proposed project would take place on National Capital Commission lands, and is subject to federal land use, design and transaction approval under the National Capital Act. Coordination with the Department of Fisheries and Oceans (DFO) is also required as DFO must issue a letter of advice under the Fisheries Act for planned work in fish habitat. 

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Latest update

[August 18, 2025] – The National Capital Commission issued its Notice of Determination and determined that the project is not likely to cause significant adverse environmental effects.

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Key documents

Key documents
Document number Document title File Date
2 Notice of Determination - National Capital Commission - August 18, 2025
1 Public Notice Improvements to the Carbide Wilson Ruins and trail 36, Gatineau Park - April 5, 2024

Contacts

National Capital Commission
Environmental Assessment
40 Elgin Street
Ottawa, Ontario K1P 5A8
Email: IA-EI@ncc-ccn.ca


Disclaimer

This map is for illustrative purposes. The markers represent the approximate locations based on available data. More than one marker may be identified for a given assessment.

  • Location

    • Gatineau Park (Quebec)

  • Nature of Activity

    • Recreation and Tourism

  • Assessment Status

    Completed

  • Start Date

    2024-04-05

  • Proponent

    National Capital Commission

  • Authorities

    • National Capital Commission

  • Assessment Type

    Project on federal lands

  • Reference Number

    88470

Nearby assessments

...within 200 kilometres
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