You'll Feel Like You're Flying Above Quebec At The End Of This Bucket-List Hike (PHOTOS)
You'd be hard-pressed to find more dramatic views than those from the summit of the Mont du Dôme in Quebec's Charlevoix region.
From the mountaintop, hikers can peer down into the cliff-lined valley below and feel like they're soaring above the landscape.
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.
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Trace the winding ribbon of Quebec Highway 381 to the horizon to spot a glimpse of the Saint Lawrence River.
An administrator for the Sentiers Québec Charlevoix, the group responsible for the Mont du Dôme trail, tells MTL Blog that though it's open, the trail becomes particularly fragile as the snow begins to melt.
Visitors are therefore advised to avoid the hike during the melting season and check the Sentiers Québec Charlevoix website and Facebook page for the latest updates on trail conditions.
Moreover, spring and fall visitors need to be prepared for wet and muddy conditions that could make the hike difficult (think mud up to your ankles), the administrator says.
They further warn that the Dôme is especially vulnerable right now thanks to a 300% increase in traffic in 2020.
Finally, the administrator advises against camping or making fires on the mountaintop, where the alpine vegetation is "extremely fragile."
Get all the details below.
Mont du Dôme
Price: $5
When: Information on trail conditions is available online and on Facebook. Hikers are advised to avoid the melting season when the environment is particularly vulnerable.
Address:
Admission and information centre: 135, rang St-François (kilometre 10.6 on Highway 381)
Start of hike: kilometre 23 on Highway 381, unorganized territory of Lac-Pikauba, Quebec
Trail maps are available online.
Reason To Go: For a challenging hike with a rewarding conclusion: views across the mountains to the Saint Lawrence River.