Published on Jun 29, 2023
by Tourism Eastern Townships
Sherbrooke, Wednesday, June 28, 2023 – The Eastern Townships is a veritable playground for outdoor lovers! With its myriad of natural attractions, it could hardly be otherwise – 1,300 kilometres of hiking trails (of various lengths), four national parks, two regional parks, 20 accessible mountain peaks… the list goes on. This season, visitors will find that many of the outdoor attractions are either brand new, expanded or upgraded – from the land to the water to the mountain tops!
Time to set off on an adventure!
Zenderfell – photograph the stars….
Zenderfull (a portmanteau of “zen” and “wonderful”) is a company that offers regular package tours on a variety of subjects themed around the heavens – astrophotography, light painting, astronomy etc. Run by Same Hobeika, it is offering a Discovery of the Cosmos package during the weekend of April 21-23. Another weekend getaway will be offered during the period of the Perseids (August 11-13). Overnight accommodation is at the Zenderfull Chalet.
One year to go before the total eclipse of the sun!
ASTROLab, an astronomy activity centre in Lac Megantic, will be one of the best places on Earth to watch what is one of the most wondrous (and rarest) spectacles known to man – a total eclipse of the sun! This rare, cosmic alignment, which will take place on April 8, 2024, will be visible from the Eastern Townships and at the ASTROLab, a new presentation documents this extraordinary phenomenon.
The wonders of the night sky – real and virtual!
Au Diable vert, a breathtaking mountain resort in Glen Sutton, has recently been certified as a Dark Sky Reserve and this summer it is running an attraction called Observétoiles. Visitors can gaze at the night sky through an augmented reality headset, allowing them to both observe the actual heavens and a digital overlay, showing the constellations and the names of stars and planets.
Evening walks in the Sutton Natural Environment Park
On summer evenings, outdoor lovers can take guided hikes along the trails of the Parc d’environnement naturel de Sutton (PENS) wearing headlamps to light the way. The hikes cover the four peaks that lie within this beautiful nature reserve in the Green Mountains and they run every Saturday.
New hiking trails at Parc de Sommets in Bromont
Five new loops have been added to the network of hiking trails at Bromont’s Parc des Sommets. Designed for hikers from intermediate to expert level, they vary in length, but each trail offers great views over a variety of landscapes. Detailed trail maps are available by downloading the Onpiste app.
“Rabaska” outings in Yamaska National Park
A rabaska is a large, bark canoe, favoured by Canada’s First Nations. It’s able to hold a large number of people and is stable in the water, so once again this traditional craft is going to be part of the outdoor activities offered in Yamaska National Park at Roxton Pond.
Destination Owl’s Head gets a makeover
Destination Owl’s Head is investing more than CAD $500,000 in its golf infrastructure, to enhance the “customer experience”. Upgrades and repair work are already under way and are expected to be finished in three years’ time. The paths leading to holes number 1, 2, 9, 10 and 18 will be paved with recycled asphalt. As well, a pergola will be built on the site and a glass railing installed around the terrace of the Club Haus, allowing patrons to enjoy unimpeded views of the golf course and surrounding mountains.
Kayaking excursions themed around history and the environment
Following the success of its pilot project last fall, Sherb-Histoire en kayak is addiing guided kayak tours across the turquoise waters of the former Jeffrey Mine (Val-des-Sources). During the course of their trip, paddlers learn something about minerology (in general) and the Jeffrey Mine (in particular).
In Sherbrooke, Sherb-Histoire en kayak, has started to cater to coach tour operators with 55 kayaks available for groups. Paddlers are led across Lac de Nations and the Magog River by a guide who explains the history and culture of the city and its environs.
Navigo – a boat-sharing service
Navigo, a start-up company incubated through Magog Technopole, has just launched a boat-sharing service for all kinds of watercraft (fishing boats, pontoons, yachts, sailboats, kayaks etc.) The idea behind the service is to cater to enthusiasts who don’t want to fork out a lot of money to buy and maintain a boat. Navigo is run like a club and members have access to Lake Massawippi (from North Hatley) and Lake Memphremagog (Magog).
Sailboat rentals at Arc-en-voile
Sail amid the mountain scenery of Piopolis! If you don’t have your own sailboat, you can rent one from Arc-en-voile. Safe and comfortable, they’re the ideal craft for enjoying the spectacular views from the water. (Rentals available up until September 24.)
A second electric van for Bromont Campervan
Bromont Campervan has added a second electric vehicle to its fleet – the Sonic 4 E-Transit. It can travel for 200 kilometres on one charge and its two Volthium batteries push out enough power to operate the van’s accessories. Because it is insulated, the van can be driven year-round and it is not too big – 22 feet long – thus making it easy to drive. The e-van is ideally suited to a road trip with your family or friends, while doing your bit for the environment!
A new parking area for RVs in downtown Granby
Offered by Terego, a network of agritourism enterprises, this urban overnight stop for recreational vehicles is only the second one in Quebec (after Trois-Rivières). Terego promotes the regional terroir and attractions by organizing encounters between tourists who are members of the network and local artisans.
The Abbey Circuit
The Circuit de l'Abbaye opened again on April 1. Hikers (who are up for a challenge!) can follow a 149-km hiking route (self-guided) that starts at the iconic Abbaye Saint-Benoît-du-Lac Benedictine monastery, then crosses seven municipalities in the Memphremagog region - Austin, Bolton-Est, Canton d'Orford, Canton de Potton, Eastman, Saint-Étienne-de-Bolton and Saint-Benoît-du-Lac. Accommodation can be found along the route, not to mention spectacular scenery!
Meditate along the trails of the Mini Compostelle Mégantic
Along the Baie des Sables section of this Townships’ version of a “mini” St-James Way, hikers can listen to the amplified sounds of nature from five wooden megaphones along the route through the Mini Compostelle Mégantic. These are installed at rest areas where walkers can tune in to the “music” that surrounds them – from birdsong to the whispering of wind in the trees – allowing them to meditate or recharge their batteries before continuing on their way.
A ”peak” experience for hikers!
Do you love hiking in the mountains? In that case, the Défi de la Route des Sommets is for you! Organized in partnership with 4000 Hikes, it challenges hikers to scale 12 peaks during the course of a calendar year across the regions of Megantic, Haut-Saint-François and Des Source. The trails start operating in June 2023.
A choice of guided hikes at Parc des Sommets
Throughout the summer season, at Parc des Sommets in Bromont, hikers can choose between guided hikes lasting either half a day or the entire day. The full-day option includes lunch and a glass of wine.
About Tourism Eastern Townships
Tourisme Cantons-de-l’Est (Tourism Eastern Townships) is one of 22 tourism associations (ATRs) in Quebec and the official representative of Quebec's Ministry of Tourism in the Eastern Townships. Since 1978, the TCE’s mission has been to promote tourism development, marketing the region within Quebec and internationally. TCE brings together more than 500 members throughout the 9 regional county municipalities (MRCs) and in all sectors of the tourism industry: accommodation, restaurants, attractions, activities and events.
The Eastern Townships is the fourth most popular tourist destination in Quebec. The region attracts some 10 million visitors every year, accounting for 6.5 million overnight stays and spending more than $900 million annually. The tourism sector is also the region’s fourth largest employer, accounting for 17,000 jobs.
