Lac Beauchamp Foot-O + MTB-O Fall Series

Map: Lac Beauchamp

Location: Lac Beauchamp, Centre de plein air Hélène-Larochelle, 745 Boulevard Maloney E, Gatineau, QC J8P 1G5

Welcome to Lac Beauchamp! This beautiful forest, dressed in vibrant fall colours, is the perfect backdrop for both foot-orienteering and MTB-O. Whether you’re new to the sport or a seasoned navigator, you’ll find a course that challenges and inspires.

Parking & Access

Park at P2 (the first large parking lot) — plenty of spaces available.

Important: There is a private function at the centre using P1 and the top floor of the recreation centre. We have access only to the lower part of the building. Registration will be set up outside under the balcony overhang overlooking the lake.

Registration & Event Times

Registration: 10:00 AM – 11:00 AM
(Closes at 11:00 AM so volunteer registrars can get out on course!)

Starts: 10:15 AM – 11:30 AM (near Centre de plein air)
Finish: Courses close and controls are collected at 2:00 PM. All participants must report to finish by 2:00 PM.

Washrooms: Available inside the Centre de plein air

Courses Available

* These boards mount easily on bike handlebars and allow the map to be rotated to match the rider’s direction of travel.

• Novice, Intermediate, and Short Advanced courses run mainly on the west side of the map.

• Medium Advanced, Long Advanced, and MTB-O cover the entire map.

• Long Advanced and MTB-O include a map flip.

Terrain Overview

The terrain at Lac Beauchamp offers diverse orienteering challenges:

• Mixed forest, including hardwoods and conifers

• Generally flat, with subtle elevation changes and small rock features that add complexity.

• East side of the map has large open slabs of rock — great for navigation challenges.

• Trails are a mix of wider paths, double tracks, and single tracks, some harder to see under fall leaves.

• Deer trails may appear but are not mapped.

• You may notice a few new encampments in the area, many of which are abandoned and may not appear on the map. Don’t worry — the courses have been planned to avoid these areas as much as possible.

• Some routes may cross a road or parking area, so please take extra care when crossing.

Map details:

• Scale 1:10,000, contours 2.5 m (Novice & Short Advanced 1:7,500)

• Updated by Eric Kemp, September 2025 to reflect new trails

Safety & Ethics

We encourage all participants to read our Safety and Ethics page for a safe and enjoyable experience.

Rain or shine: The event runs regardless of weather, but check our site for last-minute updates if needed.

Mini-Intro to Orienteering

New or returning to orienteering? Join a 15-minute Mini-Intro at 10:30 AM to review map reading, route planning, and event procedures (SI stick, Clear & Check, finish process, and safety).
Please register first to have your map in hand. Look for the sign near registration.

Water & Other Info

• If you have never attended an Orienteering Ottawa event before, you can complete a pre-registration form at home 36 hours in advance . By providing your personal information here in advance of the event, we can include you in our on-site database, give you a better chance to read the waiver before online acceptance, make the registration process faster for you and speed up registration for all. There is no charge at this point - the final registration and payment will be on-site on the day of the event.
• Bring your own water bottles — we provide water at the finish but limit disposable cups.

• Water will be available at the map flip control on Long Advanced Course only.

• Ticks: Perform a careful tick check after your run.

Visit our Route Gadget page the following day to enter your route, compare with others, and learn new strategies — a great way to improve your skills!

Have fun!

Marketa Graham, Course Planner
Paul Dubois, Controller
Eric Kemp, Map Updates

Location