Satellite Depth Map
Click the map to enlarge. The deep water — about 27 m (90 ft) — sits in the central trench between the western arms; the broad northeast bay is shallow. The non-motorized launch is marked.
Depth shown in metres and feet (see on-map legend). Bathymetry digitized from a 1971 field survey (Lac la Pêche / Wilson, sheet D-3877) — approximate; shoreline © OpenStreetMap contributors. Satellite: Esri World Imagery.
About Lac la Pêche
Lac la Pêche is the largest lake in Gatineau Park, tucked into the park's quiet northwest corner in the municipality of La Pêche, Outaouais. It's about a 45-minute drive from downtown Ottawa, yet it feels remote: the whole lake is non-motorized, so the only traffic is canoes, kayaks and paddleboards.
The lake fans out into several arms around low forested hills. Our digitized 1971 survey shows the deep water — close to 27 m (90 ft) — concentrated in a narrow central trench between the western arms, while the big northeast bay is shallow, weedy flatwater. That mix of cold deep holes, rocky points and shallow bays is classic smallmouth bass country.
The National Capital Commission (NCC) runs the park's only dedicated canoe-camping operation here: a non-motorized boat launch and beach at the northeast end (with canoe and kayak rentals), and backcountry sites a 30- to 90-minute paddle across the lake. It's a popular weekend trip, so book ahead in summer.
- RegionGatineau Park, Outaouais (Zone 10)
- MunicipalityLa Pêche, QC (Pontiac)
- From Ottawa~45 min drive
- Surface area~7.25 km² (1936 survey)
- Max depth~27 m (90 ft), 1971 survey
- BoatsNon-motorized only (no gas or electric)
- LaunchLa Pêche Lake beach (45.622, −76.178)
- CampingNCC canoe-in sites (reserve ahead)
- Fish speciesSmallmouth bass, yellow perch, panfish
Photos
Lac la Pêche in early fall — open water, forested ridges and the marshy shallows that ring the quieter bays.
Photos: Ryan Hodnett, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons.
Fishing Regulations
Québec Zone 10 · Source: Sport fishing in Québec — Zone 10. Seasons and limits changed for the season starting April 1, 2026 — always confirm the current Zone 10 rules before you fish.
⚠️ Park rules add to the provincial ones. In Gatineau Park, live bait is prohibited and there is no fishing from beaches. You need a Québec fishing licence — buy it before you arrive, as permits are not sold in the park.
| Species | Season (Zone 10) | Daily Limit | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Smallmouth Bass (achigan à petite bouche) | Jun 15 – Mar 31 | 6 | Introduced to the lake in 1908; the main sport fish today. Combined limit for bass species. |
| Yellow Perch (perchaude) | Apr 1 – Mar 31 | 50 | Common; with pumpkinseed and bullhead in the shallow bays. |
| Largemouth Bass / Northern Pike | Bass Jun 15 – Mar 31 · Pike May 15 – Mar 31 | 6 | Reported by anglers but not confirmed by survey — treat as anecdotal. Pike: 6 in all. |
Limits are daily catch & possession under the general Zone 10 rules for the 2026–27 season (Apr 1, 2026 – Mar 31, 2027); no separate exception is listed for Lac la Pêche. A general Québec fishing licence is required. Note that lake trout and brook trout, present here in the 1800s, were lost from the lake around 1940 — Lac la Pêche is a warm-water fishery today. Seasons and limits change year to year — confirm them in the official summary before keeping fish.
Paddle & Camp
How the NCC canoe-camping operation on Lac la Pêche works.
Lac la Pêche is the only lake in Gatineau Park set up for canoe camping, and it's the farthest sector from Ottawa–Gatineau. You launch from the La Pêche Lake beach at the northeast end — the put-in for non-motorized boats — and paddle to backcountry sites grouped in clusters along the shore, a 30- to 90-minute paddle from the launch. If you don't have a boat, the NCC rents canoes and kayaks by the hour or the day.
The sector is generally open from mid-May to Thanksgiving Monday, with the 2026 camping season running June 12 – October 12. Sites and rentals are booked through the NCC's reservation system, and they fill up on summer weekends — reserve ahead. Fees apply for camping and parking; check current rates when you book.
Because the whole lake is motor-free and live bait is banned, the water stays clean and quiet — part of why it's such a good paddle. Pack out everything you bring in, and plan around the wind: the long open arms can build a real chop by afternoon. See the NCC's La Pêche Lake page for current hours, rentals and reservations.
Lac la Pêche on Video
See the lake and the canoe-camping area before you make the trip.
Trip Tips
🎣 Work the western half
The deep central trench (~90 ft) and the rocky points, islands and shoals of the western arms are the best smallmouth-bass water. The northeast bay is shallow — good for perch and panfish.
🛶 No motors, no live bait
The whole lake is non-motorized — canoe, kayak or paddleboard only. Live bait is banned park-wide, so bring lures and flies, and don't fish from the beaches.
⛺ Reserve your site
Canoe-in sites and boat rentals go through the NCC reservation system and sell out on summer weekends. The 2026 camping season runs June 12 – October 12.
📋 Check Zone 10 regs
Lac la Pêche is in Québec fishing Zone 10. Buy your licence before you arrive and verify the 2026 seasons and limits.
Getting There
From Gatineau, take Autoroute 5 North to Exit 28, then Route 366 West through Sainte-Cécile-de-Masham, the Eardley–Masham Road, and finally Sincennes Road (chemin Sincennes) to the La Pêche Lake parking and boat launch (≈ 45.622, −76.178) at the northeast end of the lake — about 45 minutes from downtown Ottawa. Buy a Québec fishing licence on the way; they aren't sold in the park.