Hautes-Plaines Trail Upgrade

A new project is underway on the west side of Highway 5 to upgrade the Hautes-Plaines trail, connecting Chelsea’s centre-village to Gatineau city limits and the NCC trail network of Gatineau Park.  Parts of this 3.8 km trail are well used but other parts, crossing difficult terrain, are in need of significant improvements to the surface and to the crossings over two ravines as well as over Chelsea Creek. Designated as a Structural Corridor (AS2) in the Active Transport Master Plan, this trail, when completed, will offer year-round recreational and active transport commuting opportunities for Chelsea residents and visitors alike. 

For planning purposes, the trail is divided into North and South sections. 

The undeveloped northern section runs along municipal land acquired for the trail during the Hendrick Farm subdivision process. It extends from Old Chelsea Road to Chelsea creek where it meets the southern section, which is made up of traditional trails on old farm roads and fields now belonging to Quebec’s Ministry of Transport. This southern section of the trail is 2.7 km long and ends at Chelsea’s southern border with the city of Gatineau, where it meets the vast National Capital Commission network of trails. 

 The short term priority for the Hautes-Plaines trail is to improve trail accessibility by building culverts over two ravines in the southern section. This project is being led by a very active local trails committee of residents from the neighbourhoods bordering the Hautes-Plaines trail.