Duration: 18 days, 17 nights

Type of trip: Road trip

Budget: $2000

Km travelled: 2,500

Located on the East coast of Quebec Canada, Gaspésie is well known for its stunning landscapes, wildlife animals and fishing villages. It’s a region that offers a multitude of activities that can certainly win everyone’s heart. Ranging from hiking to fishing, from the beach to microbreweries, there is something for everyone.

For our part, we had the chance to do a road trip of 18 days in this region. We began our trip in the Lower Saint-Lawrence and went south to do a full road trip to witness everything Gaspésie has to offer. Then, on our way back home, we made a detour to Lake Baker (N-B) and rented a mind-blowing dome which you have to stop by too. As you can see, most of the time, we slept in campings, but sometimes went for luxury. Here, we’ll show you the best places you must visit during your trip in Gaspésie as well as the places to stay and our recommendations. So be ready to dive in and plan your next road trip!

Itinerary by days

• Day 1 : Montreal / Bic National Park
• Day 2-3 : Bic National Park 
• Day 4 : Bic National Park / Bonaventure
• Day 5-6 : Bonaventure
• Day 7 : Bonaventure / Percé
• Day 8 : Percé
• Day 9 : Percé / Gaspé
• Day 10 : Gaspé / Forillon National Park
• Day 11 : Forillon National Park
• Day 12 : Forillon National Park / Gaspésie National Park
• Day 13-15 : Gaspésie National Park + Chic-Chocs wildlife reserve
• Day 16 : Gaspésie National Park / Lake Baker (N-B)
• Day 17 : Lake Baker (N-B)
• Day 18 : Lake Baker (N-B) / Montreal

Itinerary on a map

Bic National Park (3 nights)

From Montreal to Bic National Park : 5h15

Our first stop was at Bic National Park located in the Lower Saint-Lawrence near Rimouski. This Sepaq park offers amazing views on the Saint-Lawrence river and you can even see some seals. We stayed at the southwest river campground and were lucky to have a clear view on the river from our campsite.

Where to stay at Bic national park

What to do in Bic national park

This is our favorite hike we did at Bic National Park. The rocks and beaches are really unique and reveal the greatness of nature. If the elevation gain is about 200 meters, you probably wonder like us why it’s rated so hard. Well, it’s not because you’ll do some cardio, but because you’ll have to walk steep stretches of coastline. 

Sometimes, the rocks are abrupt so it’s a mix of walking and climbing.We didn’t really know what to expect, but afterwards, yes you have to watch and be careful where you go, but it wasn’t that hard. That said, you truly have to do it. It’s really different from other hikes with these gigantic rocks and you still have some parts of beaches and forests.

Note that, since the trail goes through beaches, the Grand tour is only accessible at low tide. The last departure has to be 2 hours before the lowest tide scheduled time at the discovery and services center (Ferme Rioux). You should ask a Sepaq employee to have the right time. Overall, this hike is a Bic’s must do with its unique coastline landscape.

SUP in the Baie des cochons

Since we have our own paddle boards, we asked for the best place to go in the park. We were told that we should go to the Baie des cochons. Near the Tombolo campground, this bay is perfect for relaxing on a paddle board. You can enjoy an amazing view with little current. If you want more action and see seals, you’ll have to go to other places (Baie du Ha! Ha! or Have-du-Bic). But it was recommended to us to go to these places in a kayak and that’s why we went to Baie des cochons instead. Another thing to consider if you plan to paddle boarding there is the tides. You have to wait for the high tide since it’s empty during low tide.

Bonaventure (3 nights)

From Bic National Park to Bonaventure : 4h

After Bic National Park, we drove to Bonaventure which is a 4 hour drive. Located in the Baie des Chaleur (Chaleur Bay), Bonaventure hides a beautiful treasure; the emerald Bonaventure river. Well known for its crystal clear water, it’s definitely a Gaspesian bucketlist for your road trip.

Where to stay in Bonaventure

Cime Aventures

We stayed at Cime Aventures campground which offers direct tours of the Bonaventure river. You can choose from the famous tour, the family tour, the intrepid tour (canoe-camping) and the “have your own craft tour”. They offer canoes or kayaks, but not paddle boards. Since it’s a really popular activity, you should book your place in advance.

Good to know

• The majority of the campground sites have a cover already installed to protect you from rain. You can either place your tent beneath it or your picnic table. It didn’t rain during our stay but let us tell you that we would have been happy to have this other times during our trip. Way much easier than a tarp setup.
• You have to pay for the showers with $1 cash. You can ask for change at the reception and there’s also an ATM. The showers and sinks are exterior, but the water was pretty hot and about 5 minutes for $1.

What to do in Bonaventure

Bonaventure river descent

Because we had a couple of friends meeting us at Bonaventure, we finally didn’t have to book a tour with Cime Aventures since we had two cars and we did it with paddle boards. Overall, it was an amazing adventure that we strongly recommend you do. There’s enough rapids to make it thrilling, but not too much since you can still enjoy a drink.

Good to know

• Because there’s a lot of heavy rocks in the river, it’s recommended to remove your paddle board’s fins. Some people told us they broked theirs during this descent. So, everyone took off theirs but I had to keep them since I can’t take them off. For having done it with fins, it’s possible and the fins didn’t break. You just have to be careful where you go and watch out for the rocks.
• During the descent, you’re going to cross R-I and R-II so it’s not that heavy rapids, but watch out where you go and always be prepared.
• If you plan on booking Cime Aventures’s tours, you can book some waterproof barrels to put your stock in it. If you don’t want these, we still recommend you bring your own waterproof bags which are very useful.
• If you booked the shuttle, be sure to be at the arrival point before the last departure and most importantly, don’t forget your keys!

Always wear a lifejacket or at least bring one in case of emergency. You should also bring a safety kit (rope, whistle, etc.)

Microbreweries in Bonaventure

• La belle aventure
• Resto-Pub St-Joseph
• Jack crusoé bistro
• Le nik de Corneille (specialized store)

Percé (2 nights)

From Bonaventure to Percé : 1h45

Our next road trip stop was a 1h45 drive from Bonaventure. We went to the one and only Percé village. Well known for its unique Rocher Percé and Bonaventure Island, this one is truly a must when you travel in Gaspesie. The village itself has a lot of characters with its unique architecture. Percé is teeming with life from restaurants, coffee shops, stores to its outdoor playground. There’s so much to see, you might struggle to sacrifice some things due to the length of your stay. Let us give you a preview of all that Percé has to offer.

Where to stay in Percé

Since Percé is really touristy, there are many campgrounds and hotels nearby. Some campsites are near the shore and have a view on the Rocher Percé. Be warned, if you plan a roadtrip by tent, be careful because the wind is really strong near the shore. For that reason, we chose a campsite further from shore. We stayed at Nature Ocean camping which is about 5 min from the town center.

Many campings in Percé offer open areas which have less privacy. Because we wanted more intimacy and to be more protected from the wind, we chose a campsite more isolated. Let us tell you that even if our campsite was surrounded by trees, we had some difficulties sleeping due to the wind. There was a small storm with winds over 60 km/h. It was one of our worst nights of the trip, but hey it’s part of the adventure!

Good to know – Nature Ocean camping

• Although we didn’t have a view of the Rocher Percé from our campsite, there’s still a viewpoint in the campground and there are chairs to enjoy the view.
• You have to pay $1 for the showers and you can ask for change at the front desk.
• If you need to do your laundry, there are washers and dryers available, but you need cash.

Other great campings/hotels to stay

• Camping du Phare
• Camping Côte Surprise
• La Normandie hotel
• Bellevue hotel
• Riôtel

What to do in Percé

Percé offers a wide range of activities suitable for everyone. From Rocher Percé and Bonaventure Island park to the Emerald River, there’s something for everyone. Percé is a must-visit when exploring the Gaspé Peninsula. Check out our full article on what activities to do in Percé here:

Gaspé and Forillon National Park (4 nights)

From Percé to Gaspé : 50 min

After Percé, we drove about 45 minutes to Gaspé. Located at the end of the Gaspesian Peninsula, Gaspé is the main town of this region. The Forillon National Park is 25 minutes away from it and contains many treasures. It’s the best place to observe whales in Quebec and you can certainly see other wild animals like seals and mooses. This national park was one of our favorites. So here we’ll share our experience and what are the musts in this area.

Where to stay in Gaspé and Forillon national park

Gaspé, Québec (1 night)

Plante hotel

For our night in Gaspé, we stayed one night at Plante hotel. We wanted to spend a night at a hotel after about a week of camping to do some laundry. We truly enjoyed our time at his hotel, especially because we had one of our worst nights camping the night before. There was a small storm at Percé with wind over 60 km/h so we didn’t sleep well. Let’s just say we were happy to sleep in a warm room the next night.

Plante hotel offers a different range of rooms from budget friendly ones to more expensive ones. We booked a standard room with a kitchenette so it was perfect to cook our dinner and breakfast. We suggest you check their website when booking because they were offering an Internet discount when we booked our room.

Forillon National Park (3 nights)

From Gaspé to Forillon National Park : 25 min

When it comes to booking your stay at Forillon national park, there’s many options. From camping to different types of cabins, there’s choices for everyone. For our part, we booked a frontcountry campground. There are three of these in the park; Petit-Gaspé (South Area), Des-Rosiers (North Area) and Cap-Bon-Ami (North Area). We stayed at Petit-Gaspé campground which is about 30 minutes from Gaspé town center. We enjoyed our campsite and facilities were near enough. 

Although we liked Petit-Gaspé campground, Cap-Bon-Ami is a really nice area since it’s closer to the Mont-Saint-Alban and then to the breathtaking view on the famous land’s end. That’s why maybe we would choose Cap-Bon-Ami campground if we go back.

Good to know – Booking your stay at Forillon National Park

• The faster you book your dates, the more choices you have in terms of camping and accommodations.
• Check the Forillon National Park to know when the reservations dates are going to open. Set up an alarm and be ready when it’ll be time to book. A lot of people will be on the website at the same time so be the fastest you can to secure your stay.
• Unlike SEPAQ parks, you have to register at the front entrance before going to your campsite. The employee will give you your camping permit which you have to put in your car.

To see all information about the Forillon National Park, please visit their website.

What to do in Gaspé and Forillon National Park

From whales watching to hiking and fishing, there’s so much to do in Gaspé and Forillon National Park! if you want to know more and discover this beautiful area, check out our full article on the best things to do :

Gaspésie National Park and Chic-Chocs Wildlife Reserve

(4 nights)

From Forillon National Park to Gaspésie National Park (Sainte-Anne-des-Monts) : 3h14

These two parks are among our favorites from the trip because they are simply spectacular. As outdoor and mountain enthusiasts, we were amazed by the natural beauty they offer. Naturally, these stops are a must during a road trip in the Gaspé Peninsula.

Tips for the drive

There’s 2 options to drive from Forillon National Park to Gaspésie National Park. You can either take the 198 road which goes through Murdochville and takes about 2h30 drive. The other choice is to go along the coast on the 132 road which is a 3h15 drive. We weren’t sure which road to take because we really wanted to do a full road trip around Gaspesie but the road through Murdochville was shorter.

Then, we asked a local what he would suggest we do. He told us it would be better to take the 132 because the 198 road is mostly gravel and there’s not a lot of street lights. Therefore, we took the 132 and were so happy with our choice. The drive from Forillon National Park to Sainte-Anne-des-Monts was by far the most beautiful drive we did during our road trip. The huge mountains along the coast with the ocean was really gorgeous.

Where to stay – Gaspésie National Park

Traditional ready-to-camp

We originally booked 4 nights at Mont-Albert camping, but the weather was not on our side. When we left Forillon National Park, it predicted 50 mm of rain the first two days upon our arrival at Gaspesie National Park. Since we didn’t want to set up our tent in the rain, we called SEPAQ and changed our reservations. Then, we slept the first two nights in a traditional ready-to-camp and the last two nights at our campsite.

It was our first time in these types of accommodations and we were pretty happy to have booked it especially because of the weather. It really has everything you need; 4 beds, a large table, a small fridge, cooking utensils, plates, exterior BBQ, picnic table, firepit and even inside heating. Because of the rain and the cold weather, it was really perfect for us. The traditional ready-to-camp are located in the Mont-Albert campground and are close to water and bathrooms.

Mont-Albert Campground

The last two nights in Gaspésie national park, we slept at Mont-Albert campground. We enjoyed our stay there and if you plan on hiking Mont-Albert, it’s the perfect spot. It’s near the trail starting point and from the Discovery and Visitor center (1,5 km) where you can buy your ice and wood for fires. Depending on which hikes you want to do, you can check for other campgrounds like if you plan on hiking Mont-Jacques-Cartier, there’s the Mont-Jacques-Cartier campground which is closer to the trail.

Gîte du Mont-Albert

If you’re looking for something more luxurious, Gîte du Mont-Albert is a hotel located in the national park. It offers 60 rooms which all have a view of Mont-Albert.

There is also a variety of private cabins. Check here for more information.

Where to stay – Chic-Chocs wildlife reserve

Chic-Chocs wildlife reserve has many cabins around its territory. During summer, the booking includes a rowboat, pedal boat, kayak and BBQ. You can check their website here to have more details about the cabins they offer. Although the reserve offers cabin accommodations, it doesn’t have campgrounds. If that’s what you want to do, you might want to do like us and stay at Gaspésie National Park. The drive between the two parks is about 45 minutes.

What to do – Gaspésie National Park/Chic-Chocs wildlife reserve

As these parks boast breathtaking viewpoints, the most popular activity is hiking. There are several options available, and be sure to check out our article to learn more. In addition to hiking, you can also enjoy fishing, paddleboarding, and more. Dive into our article to learn on the activities to explore these magnificent national parks.

Lake Baker, New Brunswick (2 nights)

From Gaspésie National Park to Lake Baker (Ekö Glamping) : 4h30

Obviously, we are aware that New Brunswick isn’t part of the Gaspesian region. But, we were looking for a nice place to stay other than camping to end our road trip and that wasn’t a too long drive from Gaspésie national park. That way, it would cut our ride back home in half.

Then, we found something really interesting : a fully equipped dome with a private deck and spa with a view on a lake. Hell yeah! We really wanted to relax on our final days of our trip and Ëko nature glamping was the perfect spot.

Price and inclusion (“Nature” dome)

The price for 2 nights was $517,50 taxes included. With everything that was included, the price is really cost-effective and competitive. There’s a kitchen almost fully equipped. There’s a fridge and freezer, mini oven, 2 induction rings and all the kitchenware you’ll need. There’s also a full bathroom, 2 queen beds, a private deck with a spa and BBQ and, of course, there’s this beautiful view on lake Baker. Either you’re laying in the bed or sitting in the spa, the view is lovely from both places.

Location

Located close to lake Baker, Ëko nature glamping is close to many activities. From relaxing on the beach to paddle boarding or fishing, there’s something for everyone. There’s also some trails around the lake where you can hike or bike. During winter, you can also snowshoe or access the trails by snowmobile. Every season has something interesting. For our part, we did some SUP with our own crafts. We parked our car at the camping Rest-O-Lac restaurant which is 2 minutes from the domes. Although lake Baker isn’t as quiet as a lake inside a national park, we still enjoyed our time there. If you want more peace, you can also go to Lac-Témiscouata national park which is a 1h10 drive frome Ëko nature glamping. Since it’s a SEPAQ park, you’ll have to buy your daily access.

We truly enjoyed our time here and even though it’s not in the Gaspésie region, we really suggest you stop by too. After two weeks of camping, it was a really nice and cozy way to end our road trip.

Road back home (1 day)

From Lake Baker to Montreal : 5h30

Sadly, after all these amazing experiences and memories we did, it was time to head back home. We left our dome at 11 AM and went back straight to Montreal with a stop for lunch. 5h30 was a long drive, but our time at Ëko nature glamping was totally worth it.

Recommendations

Length of our trip (18 days)

Some people might think that our 18 day road trip was too long for the Gapsésie region. In fact, the majority of articles on the Internet are about 7 or 10 days for this type of trip. Although it’s possible to do this trip in a shorter time, we are pretty happy we did ours in 18 days.

We truly feel like we did almost everything there is to go when you visit Gaspésie. The best part was also that we didn’t feel rushed and that was perfect for us, especially because of camping. We didn’t have to rush to set up our tent or undo it. If you have time and opportunity, we suggest you travel at least 2 weeks. Then, you’ll increase your chances to feel more in vacation, less stressed and more easy going.

Which direction first : north vs south

If you’re planning your road trip, you’re probably wondering which direction to start. If you start through the south, you’ll always be on the right side of the road along the coast. That’s great if you think you’ll stop many times at viewpoints to take shots. Another thing to consider if you go south first is that you’ll start with more flat landscapes along the coast and to Baie-des-Chaleurs. That goes with the coast, beaches, Percé and Gaspé. Then, if you start your trip through the north with Haute-Gaspésie, you’ll start with mountains. You’ll go to Gaspésie national park and Chic-Chocs wildlife reserve to Forillon national park and then to Gaspé, Percé, etc. That said, you should ask yourself if you prefer to start your trip by doing a lot of hiking and then relax on beaches or the opposite. Of course, it really depends on each of us and what plans you have for your trip.

For our part, we decided to go from south to north and do not regret our decision. We left for our trip mi-august so going south first was perfect to maximize our warm days. We thought it was better to go to Baie-des-Chaleurs mid-august than in september. Another reason why we chose this direction is that we already knew there was more chance we would prefer Haute-Gaspésie than the other regions. We really like mountains and hiking so that way there was a build up of landscapes until we arrived there. The drive from Gaspé to Sainte-Anne-des-Monts was the prettiest one for us and we think we would have been deceived if we started with this and then arrived at Bonaventure. But again, this all depends on your preferences so ask yourself what you want to start with and maybe time yourself with weather forecasts.

Gaspésie region being located on the coast, there’s always strong wind. And it’s rarely warm, so your windbreaker becomes your best friend. We always had ours near and we put it at least once a day. What’s particular about the Gaspésian weather is that one time you can be in swim suits and the next time in a hoodie and windbreaker all in one day. Then our recommendation would be to always bring clothes for every weather that way you won’t get surprised.

Roads conditions

As you probably know, there’s no highways in Gaspésie, only the 132 road. Before our trip, we were wondering about the road conditions. Overall, they’re OK with no particular problems. Of course, they’re still Quebec’s roads so they could be better, but nothing unusual. If you don’t have a 4×4, you still can do this road trip, even if you plan on going to Sepaq’s parks.

Bear spray

If you plan on camping or hiking in national parks or in the backcountry, you should always bring bear spray. Bears are common in Gaspésie national park, Chic-Chocs wildlife reserve and Forillon national park. Like, when we hiked Mont-Vallières-de-Saint-Réal (Chic-Chocs), we were told there were a lot of bears in this area. So, you should always be prepared in case something happens.

Anecdotes

Strong wind and rain

We had two major anecdotes linked to wind. The first one was when we were at Bic national park. Since heavy rain was forecasted, we sat up our tarp over our tent. Our campsite was beside a river so we were missing trees in this area to tie our tarp. We decided to tie it to our screen house and everything was fine… Until we were woken up at 4 AM crushed by something on our tent. We struggled and finally managed to get out of our tent. Our screen room was upside down on our tent! While it wasn’t a nice experience, it was funny : Olivier in boxers in heavy rain and us trying to remove the screen room of our tent.

The second anecdote was in Percé. There was a small storm with winds over 60 km/h. Let’s say we didn’t really sleep since the tent was on party mode. It was moving all over and because of our first incident, our tent was broken. So, a pole was always hitting me and all of our pillows were wet. Then, my hair was wet when we woke up the next morning. We also had to pack our tent under the rain… What a nice moment!

Even though rain can be a pain in the ass when camping, we still laugh about it. That’s the joy about camping, you always have good anecdotes.

Always bring a swiss knife

For those who know me, you know I’m not a light traveler. The car was full when we left and we had a bin full of kitchenware. Then, at Forillon national park, we decided to picnic at Cap-Bon-Ami. We had a chickpeas can and we realized we didn’t have a can-opener. Olivier tried to open it with a hammer and a tent stake. We were making a lot of noises, but it didn’t work. A couple passed near us and Olivier was shy of his technique so he asked them if they had a can-opener. The woman said yes and took out of her bag a swiss knife. It had an opener part so we were lucky and could open our can for our lunch. BUT, the anecdote doesn’t stop there. 

Couple days later, we finished hiking Mont-Albert and were pretty tired. We were so excited to eat our soup we bought the day before since the weather was cold. We began our dinner and then realized how bad we were since we still didn’t have any can-opener haha! We managed to open it with tongs and scissors… Hallelujah! Then, the funniest thing is that we did it again…

Anyway, all that just to tell you to always bring a swiss knife. It can be useful in so many ways. It would have been helpful in many situations.

Conclusion of this wonderful road trip

We had such an amazing time in Gaspésie and made valuable memories. Mountains, coast, ocean, hiking, camping, microbreweries, fishing, crystal clear rivers… Gaspésie has been everything we wanted it to be. We truly hope this article helped you to seize the opportunity and plan your road trip. Gaspésie is waiting for you!

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