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8 Magical Quebec Hikes You Need To Add To Your Spring Bucket List (PHOTOS)
Person sitting in the sun on a river rock in Quebec's Parc Régional des Chutes Monte-à-Peine-et-des-Dalles (left); person with a dog atop Quebec's Mont-Mégantic (right).
Ready to stretch your legs and inhale some fresh air after a long winter of couch potatoing? Look no further than these eight spring hikes in Quebec.
Most of these hikes have an intermediate level of difficulty, but there are a few more challenging routes for the extra adventurous.
Le Ruisseau-David Trail
Price: $9/adult for a day pass; reservations mandatory
When: April 1 to November 30, weather permitting
Address: Parc national du Mont-Orford; trail begins at the Parc municipal de l’Érablière parking lot, Orford, QC
Reason To Add It To Your List: Sépaq describes the Ruisseau-David Trail as a "gentle climb to the top of Mont Chauve." Photos posted to Instagram show views across the rolling green hills of the Eastern Townships.
Desjardins Trail
Price: $10 for non-residents
Address: Parc Régional des Chutes Monte-à-Peine-et-des-Dalles; trail begins at the Sainte-Béatrix and Sainte-Mélanie entrances
Reason To Add It To Your List: The five-kilometre trail winds along the Rivière l'Assomption, passing the cascading Chute Monte-à-Peine.
Park administrators advise that visitors call ahead to check conditions before heading out.
Dos d'Orignal Loop
Price: $7/adult for a day pass; purchase tickets online
Address: Parc d'environnement naturel de Sutton, 900, chemin Réal (altitude 520), Sutton, QC
Reason To Add It To Your List: Park administrators recommend the Dos d'Orignal (Moose Back) trail for its views, but it could take some work to get to them.
The park website warns of steep climbs on unkempt trails. It also says the hike is impossible during periods of snowmelt or heavy rains.
La Roche
Price: $9/adult for a day pass
When: May "to the first snowfalls," according to Sépaq
Address: Parc national du Mont-Tremblant; trail begins at the Discovery Centre in the Secteur de Diable, 3824, chemin du Lac Supérieur, Lac Supérieur, QC
Reason To Add It To Your List: The La Roche trail leads to a lookout point that feels like it's floating above the mountains.
Avid hikers can also choose to extend their adventure along the La Coulée and La Corniche trails.
Petit Tour du Mont Kaaikop
Price: $9/adult
Address: 3565, chemin du Lac-Legault, Sainte-Lucie-des-Laurentides, QC
Reason To Add It To Your List: If you want sweeping, unobstructed views, this might be the place.
It's also a bit of a workout to get to the top — park administrators say the Petit Tour gets steep.
For that reason, they recommend boot clamps or snowshoes during the melting season. Things can get slippery.
Mont Brassard
Price: $7/adult
Address: Parc régional des Sept-Chutes, 4031, chemin Brassard Sud (Route 131), Saint-Zénon, QC
Reason To Add It To Your List: According to its website, the Parc régional des Sept-Chutes "offers the most beautiful viewpoints in Matawinie."
The hike up Mont Brassard takes you through red pine and black spruce forests to a "rocky peak overlooking route 131 and the cliffs of Lake Rémi."
Intrépide Trail
Price: $8/adult for a day pass; online reservation mandatory
Address: Parc régional du Mont-Ham, 103, route 257 O., Ham-Sud, QC
Reason To Add It To Your List: This short (1.9 kilometres) but challenging hike takes visitors to the top of Mont Ham with its 360-degree views into three different regions, according to the park website.
A giant cross marks the summit of the mountain.
Park administrators told MTL Blog in 2021 that access to the trail is "extremely limited" during the thaw period.
Le Mont-Mégantic Trail
Price: $9/adult for a day pass; online reservation mandatory
Address: Parc national du Mont-Mégantic; trail begins at the Observatoire sector Discovery Centre
Reason To Add It To Your List: This 11.2-kilometre loop takes visitors to the tip of the mountain with its famous observatory.
Before you get going, check our Responsible Travel Guide so you can be informed, be safe, be smart, and most of all, be respectful on your trip.