Take your pick: adrenaline packed or slow and contemplative?
Updated on Apr 9, 2024
Come together in the heart of these huge playgrounds you’ll discover as you visit our region’s four national parks, and choose among a panoply of summer activities. Guaranteed great outdoor spaces and an amazing time!
NB: Before you leave home, check the schedules and activities offered for the present moment. Purchase your daily access rights online, before you head out for a visit.
The perfect destination for hiking enthusiasts, the Parc National du Mont-Orford offers you more than 89 kilometres of trails for all levels: the Trois-Étangs loop for an outing with your children, the Sentier des Crêtes for very long hikes, Mont-Chauve with Fido, the Escalier-du-Nord for some spectacular points of view… There’s something for everyone!
Nautical Activities are also highlighted here. Whether you prefer paddleboards, canoes, kayaks pedal boats or rowboats, lakes Stukely and Fraser as well as l’Étang aux Cerises welcome you for a pleasant ballad on the water. And, if the heat is too intense, just head to one of the two park’s beaches for a cool dip in the lake.
Looking for an adrenaline rush? The mountain bike trails promise to offer you a memorable riding experience through both deciduous and conifer forests. You can also cycle on the bike path by taking the Cavalière trail, in the middle of the forest linking the two entrances of the park.
Did you know you can practise climbing at the Parc National du Mont-Orford? Well, yes! This activity isn’t very well known here yet, and climbing up the wall of the Pic aux Corbeaux is designed for the more intermediate and expert climbers.
At the Parc National de la Yamaska, climb onboard one of the watercraft options (canoes, kayaks, pedal boats, rowboats, paddleboards are all available to rent), then head out to explore the nooks and crannies of the Choinière Reservoir. As you move ahead along the shoreline, you’ll discover a very diversified aquatic flora and wildlife. You can even do a bit of fishing. Perch, bass and carp are among the most commonly found fish species in this area.
Perfect for relaxing and to have fun with your kids, the supervised and well-equipped reservoir beach section will please many sun lovers on hot summer days. The children will appreciate the nearby water games and game module. Don’t forget to bring everything you need for a family picnic as well.
Feel like a nice bike ride? Take the 19 km long reservoir loop trail. You’ll note that bicycle rentals are also available onsite.
Here, whether it’s on the top of Mont-Mégantic or Mont-Saint-Joseph, you’ll have access to exceptional points of view. But be warned! To reach them you’ll have to make an effort because both summits are at an altitude of more than 1000 m. For a less demanding but just as satisfying hike, you can opt for the Escarpements trail, or the Cimes trail in the Franceville sector.
Because the Parc national du Mont-Mégantic is located in the first International Dark Sky Reserve, it’s also the perfect place for star gazing. Thanks to the ASTROLab and the Observatory, many activities are offered; among these, guided visits and astronomy evenings. These are even more magical, when you discover them during the not-to-be-missed Perseid season!
What is it that makes the Parc national de Frontenac stand out from its congeners in the region? First, here you’ll find a vast bog, which you can discover peacefully on foot with your family. A 5 km loop set on wooden walkways allows you to explore this exceptional area. Pay close attention because many different wildlife species thrive inside these wetlands.
For those looking for a quiet space, seven canoe-camping sites in a forest setting or on the shores of the lake are available. Isolated sites in the middle of nature and accessible only by water … Perfect for escaping from the daily grind! Psst! Our content coordinator tested the experience and tells you all about it in right here.
And finally, it’s here, at the Parc national de Frontenac that fishing amateurs will be totally satisfied. Grand lac Saint-François, Lac des Îles, Lac à la barbue, and Lac des Ours, all overflow with pike, walleye, perch, bass, and landlocked salmon. Who’ll catch the biggest fish? Place your bets!
Overall, whether you wish to challenge yourself physically, or enjoy memorable family experiences, admire grandiose decors or quietly escape inside nature, definitely, this summer, our Eastern Townships’ national parks are your perfect destination.
Do you wish to make the fun last longer and extend your stay over several days, check our article Perfect Cabins for a Nature Getaway. You’ll find many lodging options inside our national parks.
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