Take your pick: adrenaline packed or slow and contemplative?
Updated on Oct 26, 2023
With hundreds of kilometres of trails, countless mountains, some with elevations higher than 1,000 metres and enchanting landscapes, the Eastern Townships region is an extraordinary playground for snowshoeing enthusiasts. We’re introducing you here to twelve trails you must (re) discover this winter.
You’ll discover a very unique winter landscape as you head out surrounded by small, tall and somewhat scraggly conifers that will accompany you all along a trail set inside a vast snow-covered bog. It’s the perfect place for a quiet 2.8 km family outing!
Dogs are admitted on a leash.
Those smaller legs will be delighted to take on the 2.5 km on the Sentier de la Gorge which runs along the Coaticook River all the way to the observation tower. Notably, from there, you can admire the suspended bridge (closed in winter) as well as Coaticook’s Hydroelectricity plant.
Dogs are admitted on a leash.
With their fairly even relief, the Parc National de la Yamaska’s four snowshoeing trails are all very accessible. However, the Rivière trail is the best choice for an outing with very young children. Covering a distance of 2.5 km, it was designed to be able to pull a sled as well. Keep your eyes open, this park is well known for its surprising wildlife!
Dogs are admitted on a leash.
One of the classic Parc National du Mont-Orford outings will take you up Mont-Chauve. When you start out at the Parc municipal L’Érablière, you can take the Ruisseau-David trail (9 km up and back) which leads to this magnificent summit. And, if you feel like taking on a bigger challenge, you can continue to complete the entire 14 km Mont-Chauve loop. On the program? Incredible views!
Dogs are admitted on a leash.
The Intrépide is a bee line, although quite demanding, route to the top of Mont-Ham. To complete this 365 m elevation over a 1.7 km ascent, you’ll need to put in quite the effort! But, happily, you’ll be rewarded with the superb panoramic view you’ll find on the summit. There are also several options for the route back down. We suggest taking a 2.1 km trail, aptly called the Panoramique!
Dogs are accepted one weekend per month. Consult the calendar for all the details.
A route that starts out smoothly, but then turns into a heart-pounding workout hiking up. The ridge, once you reach the top, will have you enjoy three belvederes offering superb points of view. Finally, a steep descent will take you back to the trail head. This is how we can best describe the Dos d’Orignal loop, in Sutton. It’s also an interesting alternative to taking the (sometimes too) popular Round Top trail!
Dogs are not allowed.
When you head out on the 14.2 km Boucle des Sommets loop, you’ll reach the summit of Mount Singer, the highest point of the Réserve Naturelle des Montagnes-Vertes. Surprise! Here, you won’t find an open summit with panoramic views! You’ll need to walk a bit further to be able to appreciate a view of the horizon! Even though, there are few points of view, you’ll be charmed by the snow-covered forest and the rarity of hikers on this trail.
Dogs are not allowed.
Ready to tackle two of the highest summits of Quebec? With altitudes of 1,193 and 1,154 metres, Mount Gosford and the Cap-Frontière offer some impressive panoramas. To reach the top, you’ll need to take the Sentier Frontalier Principal trail (SF1). This will take you over the summit of Mount Gosford all the way to the Canada-U.S. border, where you’ll find the Cap-Frontière outlook. This route offers an itinerary of 18 km. You can extend your outing by stopping for the night in one of the sector’s shelters.
Dogs are admitted on a leash.
In order to better explore this national park, we suggest you take the Traversée trail which links the Observatory sector (on Mont-Mégantic and Mont-St. Joseph) and the Franceville sector near Scotstown. You’ll offer yourself a 14 km hike, one way, surrounded by a superb snow-covered landscape. Shelters and rustic camps are available to allow you to complete your route in two days. Consult our collaborator Jessica Belisle’s blog, where you’ll learn about her experience on this trail last winter.
Dogs are not allowed.
This 8.4 km trail (up and back) starts out in the village of Marston in the Mégantic region. The main attractions on your way? The bright red suspended footbridge crossing over the Victoria River, the special geomorphology of this area, and the belvedere overlooking the Lac à Jos-Gilbert at the end of the trail.
Dogs are not allowed.
This hike starts out under a canopy of tall conifers and alongside the Ruisseau Ély brook. After a few hundred metres surrounded by this magnificent decor, you’ll access the main trail of the Sentiers de l’Estrie towards the south and reach the top of Mont-Cathédrale. From the top you can admire the view overlooking Lake Brompton. A relatively easy hike covering a distance of 8 km up and back.
Dogs are not allowed.
To reach the top of Mont-Bernard, many routes (and starting points) are possible. A tip: bring a map of the Parc des Sommets or a GPS to avoid getting lost on the many trails you’ll see while hiking across this network. When you reach the top of this 467 m high mountain, you’ll be rewarded with a panorama overlooking the Mount Gale Valley and the Bromont Equestrian Olympic Park.
Dogs are admitted on a leash.
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