Hiking

First hike of the spring season 2021!

Brienne was my hiking buddy today as we got out the city for some time in the woods.

This is my first visit to Parc Régional des Chutes Monte-à-Peine-et-des-Dalles

The #lanaudiere is full of beautiful treasures like this. What is so surprising about this area is that these falls are nestled into the terrain where the rolling farmland meets the piedmont (foothills) of the Laurentian mountain range.

You wouldn't expect such beautiful falls.

The park is accessed by three different village entrances - St-Jean-de-Matha, Ste-Mélanie & Ste-Béatrix and has 17 km of trail with 3 chutes. This photo is of chute Monte-à-Peine.

You could easily spend a whole afternoon walking/hiking most of the park or come for just a couple hours and see the highlights. There are sections with some elevation gain/loss but a lot of the hiking trail loops and sections are on the wooded plateau above the falls and wind through lovely and easy walking forested sections.

Highly recommend a visit for the falls and the woods. If you go in late winter/early spring bring crampons/something spiky for your boots. The climbs up and down from the plateau area are very icy this time of year.

The area is 1 hour away from Montreal and there is a fee to access.

There is camping also.

http://parcdeschutes.com/

#parcsregionauxmatawinie #riviereassomption

Our first trip to the Charlevoix did not disappoint. Organized rather hastily and taking advantage of a cheap motel prices (not sure if that’s pandemic related or just low-season rates) we did a one night stay in Charlevoix this past weekend. Highly recommend the Auberge de Nos Aieux for basic & clean accommodations.

I’ve wanted to visit the area for ages but it’s too far from Montreal for one day. It’s a 2 day trip for sure. More if possible. The region is 4 hours from our Montreal home and I can’t wait to return.

Next to the Gaspesie, it’s the most beautiful region in Quebec I’ve seen. There’s just something about water, mountains, rolling farm country and little villages that I especially love and feels uniquely Quebec to me.

This is the view from the ~9 km hike we did into the hills/mountains behind the village of Les Éboulements. Officially it’s called Sentier du Paysan and it’s north of the route 362.

Maintained by the MRC de Charlevoix, the trail goes through private land, it’s an easy trail with great views of the region including views of the mountains of Parc national des Grands-Jardins to the north-west (not shown in this photo)

#charlevoix #leseboulements #sentierdupaysan

View of Mont Brassard from the yellow trail.

Nearing the end of our hike on the yellow Michel Sokolyk Trail.

On the La promenade de la falaise section. The light this time of year is so amazing. And to be hiking in shorts on Nov 8th!

One of the many rock ledge views along the trails. This view is of Lac Guy.

The first hiking trail called Voile de l mariée (which follows the waterfall) leads to this pretty little lake - Lac Guy. And in the fall - no bugs!

This would be a great destination for a beginner hike, and it's not exactly easy as there's an elevation gain so you'd feel like you overcame a challenge. Lots of pretty views along the way of the waterfall.

One of the less impressive sections of the falls, but easier to capture on camera.

Rivière Noire which runs between route 131 and the east border of the park. Very pretty river that you will see while driving to the park.

A Thanksgiving weekend getaway rich with nature's beauty and presence - topped off with a showstopper sunset within an hour of home. SO grateful!