Take your pick: adrenaline packed or slow and contemplative?
THINGS TO DO
Your Townships adventure starts here.
Sports, Nature & Outdoor Activities
Take your pick: adrenaline packed or slow and contemplative?
Arts, Culture & Heritage
Let your imagination run free at galleries, theatres, museums and workshops.
Spa & Wellness
Treat yourself to massages, body treatments, Nordic baths and other sensory delights.
Shopping
Scour our markets, boutiques and other hidden gems to score incredible finds.
Events
Discover our cultural vitality with a wide range of special events.
The Colour evolution
The tree-covered leaves change hues presenting different warmer and warmer and more luminous colours
Cycling
The Townships is a great cycling destination, because it’s designed for pedal power - slow, contemplative, challenging or sporty.
Hiking Trails
Fill your pack with local flavours before setting off to explore the natural beauties that make our region so stunning.
Restaurants
All are sure to please even the most discerning of palates. Bon appétit!
Orchards
Our orchards are overflowing with fruit, all ripe for the picking! Won’t you join us?
Where to stay
Lodging options to suit any taste and budget.
Hotels & Country Inns
Stunning locations and outstanding service come together for a bliss-inducing stay.
Bed & Breakfasts
Get up close and personal with life in the Townships.
Off the Beaten Path
Think outside the box with out of the ordinary accommodations.
Cottages & Condos
Custom comfort near the city or in nature.
Campgrounds / RV Rentals
Abundant amenities in the heart of nature.
Vacation Centres
Kick back and relax as a family with all-inclusive vacation options.
Other Types of Lodging
Experience something different by choosing unique lodging.
Lodgings with Spa Options
Plan a stay in an accommodation with a private spa or a treatment center. Relaxation guaranteed!
Hikers Welcome
If you, like thousands of visitors annually, plan on hiking in the region, know that your efforts will be rewarded by our world-class hospitality.
Bienvenue Cyclistes
Explore the region on two wheels and stay in one of the many accommodation options bearing the Bienvenue cyclistes icon.
Pet Friendly
Don’t want to leave your four-legged friend behind? Book a stay in some of the region’s many dog-friendly digs and you won’t have to.
The Townships
The Townships possess a rich heritage that you will discover everywhere on its nine territories, in its towns and villages, its Coeurs villageois, etc.
Not to be missed
What is it that draws visitors to the region, year after year? Find out here :
Cœurs villageois
Visit our Cœurs villageois – charming communities that truly characterize the spirit of our region.
Towns and villages
Explore our lively, welcoming towns and villages with their heritage architecture and fascinating histories.
Nine territories to discover
Each territory has a distinct personality and a wealth of hidden treasures just waiting to be discovered!
The Townships at a glance
Here’s a glimpse of the region, a few historical notions, and numbers.
Tourist routes
Hit the road! The region has several tourist routes designed around different themes – heritage, scenic landscapes, wine….
National and regional parks
Four national and two regional parks – an outdoor paradise in the fresh air, each and every one!
Taste the townships
Here, in so many ways, you’ll enjoy all kinds of gastronomical experiences! When you discover our unique products and our highly renowned tables, you’ll love us forever!
Restaurants
Every time you sit down at one of our tables, you’ll experience a truly special moment. Savour it!
Cafés de village
Visit our Cafés de Village and discover each one’s specialties while meeting the most welcoming and friendly people.
Créateurs de Saveurs Products
You can rely on our food producers who put as much love as delicious flavours into everything they plant and produce.
Vineyards
The Route des vins de Brome-Missisquoi, the Route des vins de l’Estrie, and about twenty other vineyards… The Townships region proudly honours its title of being the first wine region of Quebec.
Microbreweries
The region counts more than twenty microbreweries! Just like the people who run them, each one has established their own strong, unique personality and … extremely inviting character!
Cheese Factories & Dairy Producers
goat’s milk… Here you’ll savour rich artisanal cheeses. Some you already know, many others you’ll enjoy discovering.
Public Markets
Purple peppers, fir honey, pineapple tomatoes … besides all the products you love, sometimes you also discover new, amazingly surprising ones!
Orchards
Our orchards are overflowing with fruit, all ripe for the picking! Won’t you join us?
Restaurants Complices
These restaurants take to heart working with local producers and to offer dishes that integrate certified Créateurs de saveurs products.
Foodie’s Maps
Brasseurs des Cantons and Têtes fromagères are two gastronomical circuits highlighting our microbreweries and cheese factories.
Gourmet Itineraries
Plan your stay by offering yourself a wealth of flavours. Consult our getaway ideas.
Weekend and Trip Ideas
Discover our activities suggestions, getaway ideas and itineraries in the Townships.
Family Outings
Find loads of ideas for memorable family outings!
Romantic Getaways
Outings, restaurants, spas, weekend ideas… Suggestions for spending some precious moments together.
Outdoor Activities
Hiking, kayaking, beaches, cycling… Without a doubt, all outdoor enthusiasts are sure to find something to do here!
Slow Travel
Take the time to take your time in the Townships
Tourist Routes
Vineyards, mountain peaks, heritage sites… Our designated routes make for the most beautiful road trips!
Itineraries
Whether for two, with your family or with friends, here you will find a ton of suggestions for planning perfect getaways!
Experiences to Try
Our collaborators have tested several different adventures … and have approved!
Coeur villageois
Visit our Cœurs villageois – charming communities that truly characterize the spirit of our region.
Towns and Villages
Explore our lively, welcoming towns and villages with their heritage architecture and fascinating histories.
Guide and Maps
View our guide and maps online or order your free copies.
Nature, sports and outdoor activities
Published on Feb 25, 2020
Imagine ski and snowshoe trails that have not been trampled on yet by hundreds of mountaineers and visitors, combined with breathtaking landscapes. Welcome to Ruiter Valley.
By Simon Diotte
I was becoming quite restless! Accessing the Ruiter Valley Land Trust trails is a challenge by itself. Starting out from the town of Mansonville, a small hamlet part of the Potton Township, we drove 7.5 km further on sinuous roads to reach the Ruiter Brook parking lot. As soon as I got out of my car, I just wanted to take off on my backcountry skis into this domain nestled inside the Mount Sutton massif.
In the parking lot, my two guides were waiting for me: France Lapointe and Julie-Anne Bellefleur. These two friends are passionate outdoor activity enthusiasts and act as volunteers for the Ruiter Valley Land Trust. For several years now, they’ve been devoting all their energy to the protection of this 300-hectare territory. It was given to the population in the 1990s by a psychiatrist, Dr. Robert Shepherd (deceased since), and his wife Stansje Plantenga (still very involved today). They spend most of their time clearing and maintaining these thirty-some kilometres of trails, accessible as much on skies as on snowshoes. “We never stop,” says France Lapointe, who sits on the governing board.
Skiing on the Ruiter Valley Land Trust trails, allows us to rediscover cross-country skiing as it was practised in the early days; a time when we only dreamt of groomed trails. Although it’s not an obligation, wider skis (65 mm and even wider for skating) are recommended more than classic ones, if only not to find yourself knee-deep in the snow, and also for having more control when heading down the hills. “You’ll find there’s little traffic on our trails. After a snowfall, skiers can take advantage of powder conditions for several days,” explained France Lapointe. Indeed, this is what I discovered underfoot. The snow was immaculate. Wow!
We headed out to explore the east sector; unfortunately, the west sector is closed since last fall when the bridge serving the area was taken out by the river’s rising waters. Right away, after only a few metres, we were astounded by the surroundings. The access trail, called l’Orignal, runs through a plain where we enjoyed breathtaking views of the Mount Sutton range, with all its frozen, snow-covered summits.
We then headed deep into a broad-leaved forest, where we skied while taking full advantage of the sun. The network offers a series of loops which make it easy to explore. Beginners and families can head out on the 2.2-km Proc-Épic trail without any problems. Those looking for an extra challenge can add the Chouette trail (1 km), which starts out with an uphill effort and ends with a lovely descent (made much safer just recently).
As for us, we headed further inside this untouched valley by taking the Raton-Laveur, the Coyote and the Buse trails, for a total excursion covering 10 km (including the return route). The entire outing took us four hours to complete. The distance might seem small for a cross-country skiing route, but this very rugged terrain has an important relief and the abundance of snow slowed us down quite a bit. Several contemplative pauses also took up a bit of our time. My favourite part of the route was certainly the Buse loop (2.7 km), which runs by some beaver ponds and then ends by offering us several pleasant descents, without ever being breakneck.
The Ruiter Valley is not easily accessed, but it’s well worth the trip. You can expect to see me here after the next snowfall for sure!
The trail map is accessible on the Ondago application
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