Friday, November 9, 2018

Champlain Lookout In Autumn

My first stop during my excursion into the Gatineau Hills was the Champlain Lookout, one of three lookouts in close proximity along the Champlain Parkway beyond the Mackenzie King Estate. This and the other two, the Etienne Brule and Huron Lookouts, offer different vantage points looking out over the steep slopes leading down to the valley floor. This flank of the Hills is referred to as the Eardsley Escarpment. To give you an idea of altitude, the cities of Ottawa and Gatineau are at an average of 70 metres above sea level. The highest spot in the park, King Mountain, between here and the Mackenzie King Estate, rises to 345 metres. The lookouts are not that much lower in altitude- 335 metres- so there are well over two hundred metres of difference in altitude down to the valley floor.


A mix of farmland and forests on the valley floor leads towards the Quebec shore of the Ottawa River. The land on the opposite shore is rural as well, but still within the city limits of Ottawa. There is a staircase leading down to the lower area of the lookout, as well as a hiking trail descending down the slope. The view from here on a sunny fall day is particularly spectacular.


While I was up here, one of the other people present pointed towards the Ottawa side of the river and noted the locations of a couple of village areas over there- Constance Bay and Dunrobin; the latter of the two was the hardest hit spot in Ottawa by the September tornado.


A series of panels are placed here explaining the geology of the Hills and their current status.


I have more from this beautiful spot tomorrow. I have added this post into this week's Skywatch Friday.

39 comments:

  1. Wow! What fantastic vistas! And colors. Delightful post. Makes me want to hop on a plane, destination Ottawa!

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  2. That is some lookout indeed, amazing, wide views!

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  3. Fantastic views from the lookout William.

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  4. Great scenic view from the lookout!

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  5. It is heart-warming to visit a wonderful scene of magical vistas should as this, and especially so with all of these golden autumn colours.

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  6. OK, you win again. Your lookout is higher and the views are much wider and more colourful.
    But there is one thing our post have in common today. The watchtower I have climbed for today's Skywatch Friday is built on a 26 m high (no, don't laugh now) hill that's made by the same ice age. :-)

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  7. I feel like an explorer looking out over that expansive piece of land, trying to decide where to go next.

    Janis
    GDP

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  8. A visão é estupenda William
    Um abraço

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  9. Great photos giving a good geology lesson! The signs are beautiful. It is scary to think how big glaciers actually were. The valley is beautiful, but the higher elevations feel more comfortable to me.

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  10. Hello, gorgeous views from the overlook. Happy Friday, enjoy your weekend!

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  11. Oh William -- truly dazzling color and scenery. What a great view.

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  12. @Lowell: it's an incredible view. One of the best spots to get a real sense of the valley.

    @Iris: most definitely.

    @Sami: I certainly think so.

    @Nancy: I agree!

    @Rosemary: it is.

    @Tom: that's a good word for it.

    @Francisco: thank you.

    @Jan: I think I'll add this to the Skywatch post.

    @Janis: I can see that!

    @Gracita: thank you.

    @Maywyn: this whole area was massively influenced by the ice age.

    @Eileen: thanks!

    @Jeanie: it is!

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  13. Spectacular views William, shown so beautifully here ✨

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  14. You picked a great time of year to visit this area. Lots of great color.

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  15. Wow, such spectacular views from the lookout! Perfect spot for a sunny fall day!

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  16. Amazing views William, especially with the blue skies!

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  17. The lookout offers a stunning and spectacular views and it was a gorgeous day to be there.

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  18. These are fabulous views, William. Did you get there by the shuttle?

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  19. A spectacular place to lookout.

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  20. Glorious, William! What a great place for a hike.

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  21. Don't think I would have wanted to have been around when all that was happening.

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  22. @Grace: thanks!

    @Red: it's the best time of year to be in those hills when the fall colours are at their height.

    @MB: thank you!

    @Tamago: definitely.

    @Marleen: indeed.

    @Bill: it was!

    @RedPat: yes. The shuttle's turnaround was there- kind of has to be, as the Champlain Parkway ends at this lookout.

    @Spare Parts and Pics: it's a great vantage point.

    @Joyful: absolutely!

    @Marie: it is!

    @Revrunner: under a couple of kilometres of ice? That would be problematic.

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  23. So panoramic ~ another beautiful place ~ great photos too!

    Happy Day to you,
    A ShutterBug Explores,
    aka (A Creative Harbor)

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  24. Beautiful. And a beautiful vantage spot.

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  25. Beautiful views... nice place to stop by!

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  26. @Carol: thanks!

    @Sharon: definitely!

    @Happyone: very much so.

    @Lois: that they are.

    @Kay: that it is.

    @Italiafinlandia: it really is.

    @Klara: yes, it is.

    @Beth: thanks!

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  27. What a view! Great vista. I loved geography!!!

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  28. So many words come to mind to describe these views. They are awesome, majestic, spectacular...
    Loved seeing all of your photographs, thank you.

    All the best Jan

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