Treat yourself to massages, body treatments, Nordic baths and other sensory delights.
THINGS TO DO
Your Townships adventure starts here.
Spa & Wellness
Treat yourself to massages, body treatments, Nordic baths and other sensory delights.
Arts, Culture & Heritage
Let your imagination run free at galleries, theatres, museums and workshops.
Shopping
Scour our markets, boutiques and other hidden gems to score incredible finds.
Restaurants
All are sure to please even the most discerning of palates. Bon appétit!
Events
Discover our cultural vitality with a wide range of special events.
Skiing
To each mountain its experience! Skiing or snowboarding, you will love hitting the slopes, whichever the ski resort you will vote for!
Snowshoeing
Explore our great outdoor spaces at your own beat. Let yourself be charmed by our landscapes. And breathe!
Cross-country Skiing
Cross-country skiing in the Townships … at your pace and your level!
Fatbike
Discover our numerous trails as you enjoy pedalling on the snow.
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
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.
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.
Restaurants Saveurs Cantons-de-l’Est
These restaurants prioritize local producers and offer dishes made with regional ingredients, providing an authentic experience of the Eastern Township terroir.
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
Snowshoeing, skiing, fatbiking, tube sliding... Without a doubt, all outdoor enthusiasts are sure to find something to do here!
Wellness Experiences and Spas
Let us help you take care of yourself.
Slow Travel
Take the time to take your time in the Townships
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.
Hiking
Published on Aug 27, 2020
We recently wanted to go on a long trek in the region and, after some research, the idea of hiking across the Sentiers de l’Estrie seemed like an ideal choice for us. We just had to determine which route would please us most.
By Ian Roberge
At first, we thought about doing the entire route, from the southern end all the way to the north, covering 156 km, but then we realized than several portions of the trail were presently closed off, and that we wouldn’t have enough time to complete the whole route!
We must admit, our search wasn’t an easy one, but we finally were able to plan an accessible and interesting formula. By hiking about thirty kilometres spread over two days, it’s possible to explore different sectors of the Réserve naturelle des montagnes vertes, the Appalachian Corridor and the Parc d’environnement naturel de Sutton. Overall, the best of what the Sentiers de l’Estrie have to offer, plus as a bonus, uncrowded trails.
We started out from the S06 parking area located on Baker Talc Road in South Bolton. The match plan: to reach Mount Sutton before the following day evening, and to ask a kind volunteer to come get us at the other end of the trail and eventually take us back to our car. We could also leave a car at each end of the route. We hiked 11 kilometres on the first day, notably across the summit of Mount Singer which is always as pretty and especially accessible even with our heavy backpacks.
We finally put up our tent in the early evening at Mount Singer’s campground, near the beaver pond. A well worth overnight stop for sleeping on one of the four platforms here. We took advantage of the beautiful views by the water and all these peaceful surroundings. It’s so wonderful to be able to be off the grid once in a while and to find ourselves deep in the heart of nature.
The next morning, we took off towards the chemin de la Falaise by way of Mount Echo. This was definitely one of the trip’s most beautiful discoveries. The unobstructed view from the summit on the edge of this impressive cliff is really worth taking the 400-meter detour!
After this invigorating break, we continued our journey on the trail leading to Mount Sutton. Up until now, the trail is wide and well maintained. However, the section between Mount Echo and Mount Sutton sees very little hikers, it’s therefore less open and more demanding. By taking our time, it’s still quite pleasant to walk here as we trace our route. Note that more than half of the elevation is completed here. In fact, there are very few flat sections throughout the trek, we’re either always going up or going down!
Finally, the “cherry on the cake” as they say, is, without a doubt, our arrival on Mount Sutton, which was well worth climbing some fairly technical sections! This mountain overflows with viewpoints and trails that will totally charm you! However, you might feel a bit agoraphobic when you find yourself at the top surrounded by many other hikers. The feeling is very different from what is felt over the last 24 hours spent almost always alone in the woods! The contrast is striking!
If you wish to prolong the experience, you can also sleep very close to the summit of Mount Sutton; An exceptional overnight stay at more than 800 metres in altitude! Then, at the end of the trek, why not drop in for a bite to eat in one of the restaurants you’ll find in the magnificent town of Sutton?
In all, we covered a distance of 30 km and more than a 2000-foot height difference. It was, a truly great experience, but one that needs to be well prepared. In fact, some rights of way for sections of the route were lost over time; therefore these trails are no longer accessible.
It just goes to show how important it is to hike responsibly and to comply with trail regulations. Also, it’s essential to pay your access fees and to reserve your camping platform with the agencies who manage the territory because this is what sustains the region’s hiking trails!
Day 1
Departure from the parking S06 on Baker Talc Road (Bolton-Ouest) and hike to reach Mount Singer. It is required to reserve a camping platform here. To do this you must contact the Sentiers de l’Estrie organization.
Day 2
Head to the Chemin de la Falaise by way of Mount Echo until you arrive at Mount Sutton. There you have the possibility to sleep near the top of the mountain. Reservations are made by contacting Mont Sutton.
Total number of kilometres: 30
Height gain: 2000 metres
Please note that if you begin your hike on the Sentiers de l'Estrie and that you plan to sleep here, just as our collaborator did, you can exit the trail on the next day by the Parc d'environnement naturel de Sutton, without paying any access fees. An agreement has been established between connecting networks (Parc d'environnement naturel de Sutton and the Appalachian Corridor) so that hikers pay the trail management fees at their entrance point and can exit elsewhere on the same day.
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