With a perimeter of 179.2 kilometres (111.3 mi), the park includes parts of the municipalities of Chelsea, Pontiac, La Pêche, and the City of Gatineau.

Its more recent pre-park history includes various forms of human exploitation such as farming, logging, hunting, and industrial activity.

During debate, however, Conservative MP John Edwards accused Prime Minister King of wanting to create a park around his Kingsmere property and ease access to it by building a parkway.

[5][9] It would take another eleven years for the park to be created in embryonic form on July 1, 1938,[5] as a result of efforts by Percy Sparks of the Federal Woodlands Preservation League.

[26] Its report concluded that garbage spread along the trail was within acceptable standards, a conclusion that park advocates met with scepticism.

The Conservatives argued that the bill (C-565) was too restrictive, since it applied only to Gatineau Park and not to other green space in the National Capital Region.

[31][32][33][34][35] Gatineau Park is a recreational destination offering public facilities including beaches, campgrounds, picnic areas, trails, and parkways.

[38] During the summer months, Camp Fortune offers an aerial experience including ziplines and treetop obstacles.

The cottages, including Kingswood and the primary residence, Moorside, were recently restored and now feature interactive exhibits about Mackenzie King's era.

Located at Kingsmere, the official residence of the Speaker of the House of Commons of Canada since 1955, and known as The Farm, was part of William Lyon Mackenzie King's estate.

[46] Also located inside the park is the Prime Minister of Canada's country retreat and official summer residence Harrington Lake, also called Lac Mousseau.

[47] At the end of the Gatineau Parkway, Champlain lookout provides views of the Ottawa Valley from high atop the Eardley Escarpment.

When leaves change colour in fall, tourists and locals are drawn to the park's lookouts, roads, and pathways to enjoy the autumn scenery.

The mountain's unique positioning provides an interesting spectrum of vegetation ranging from evergreen and deciduous forests to windswept savannas.

The park is also home to a large population of beavers and white-tailed deer, as well as black bears and two wolf packs in the more remote sections.