The one and only Upper Gaspé (Haute-Gaspésie)! This part of the Gaspésie peninsula was definitely the highlight of our road trip. Since we are mountain lovers, we already knew this part would be our favorite and that’s why we finished our trip there. And let’s say we weren’t deceived. Just the 192 road from Forillon National Park to Sainte-Anne-des-Monts was stunning. The view of the mountains along the coast with the ocean was a perfect road trip vibe.

 That said, it’s in Upper Gaspé that you find the Gaspésie National Park and Chic-Chocs Wildlife Reserve. These national parks are spectacular and there’s no wonder why this region is so gorgeous. Although these parks are well known for hiking, there are many other things to do. So if you’re looking for activities, you’ve come to the right place! Check our article to learn more about our top picks in Gaspésie National Park and Chic-Chocs Wildlife Reserve.

Best things to do in Gaspésie National Park

1. Hiking

Of course, if you’re going in this Park, the main activity to do is hiking. There are so many amazing hikes it’s hard to choose which one you will do! We originally wanted to do three hikes, but because of the weather, we only did two. We hiked Mont-Albert and Mont-Ernest-Laforce the morning we left. They are two remarkable hikes that we strongly suggest you do. Here’s more information :

Mont-Albert

This one the most unique hike of Gaspésie national park. Its particular vegetation is truly why it stands out from the others. You have two options for hiking Mont-Albert. You can either hike the northern slope only which is about 14,8 km or hike the total loop which is 20,3 km. For our part, we did the northern slope only.

Mont-Albert north face trail

The starting point of the trail is near the Discovery and Visitors center where you can park your car. The beginning of the trail is not that hard with a slow ascension. Then, once you pass a small open stream, the ascension is steeper. Overall, the trail is considered hard but it depends on everyone. Of course, once you arrive at the top the hard work is well rewarded.

What’s unique about Mont-Albert is that you have one part which is the typical beautiful green mountains, but on the other side, you have a totally different scenery. You can observe the Canadian tundra with brownish fields upon the mountains. It’s really special and you might have the chance to see caribous. There’s also a cabin where you can eat your lunch while being protected from the strong wind and an outhouse.

Mont-Albert loop

As said earlier, we didn’t do this one and only did the north face trail. But once we arrived at the top, we told ourselves that we maybe should have done it. It’s because the trail continues among the tundra which were pretty amazing. We also didn’t have the chance to observe caribou and maybe if we would have done the full loop we could have seen some. But we’ll never know! One thing is certain, if you have time and energy we suggest you do the full loop.

Mont-Ernest-Laforce

Another great hike less popular is Mont-Ernest-Laforce. This one might be less famous because it’s a shorter hike. The trail is only 4,5 km long and the elevation gain is about 187 m which makes it an easy hike. It’s a really good choice if you have childrens, but even if you don’t, we truly enjoyed this hike. We were told by a SEPAQ employee to do this hike early in the morning because we would have good chances to see moose. When you check all the photos on Alltrails, you’ll see that many people see some. Unfortunately, we weren’t lucky and didn’t see one.

That said, we still fully enjoyed hiking Mont-Ernest-Laforce. What’s special about this one is the 360° view on many mountains of Gaspesie national park. Located in the middle of these, Mont-Ernest-Laforce offers a view of Mont-Albert, Mont Xalibu, Mont-Jacques-Cartier and many more. Since we didn’t have much time, we did this hike the morning we left the park and it was a great decision. We really recommend it to you and hopefully you’ll see moose. We did the hike at 8 AM, but if you can do it earlier than that you might have better chances to see one since there’s nobody on the trail.

Mont-Xalibu

Another great hike we wanted to do was Mont-Xalibu, but because of the weather, we couldn’t do it. This one is about 11 km and has an elevation gain of 571 meters. Mont-Xalibu’s special attribute is its particular mountain shapes. They’re unique and the trail also brings you to a small lake with a viewpoint on the mountains. It’s a really popular hike that you should put on your list.

Mont-Jacques-Cartier

If you really want to observe caribou, Mont-Jacques-Cartier is the place since it’s a protected area for them. You should visit the SEPAQ website to have all regulations about this hike. For example, you must use a shuttle ($) between the registration Center and the trail starting point. The trail is 8,9 km and is considered moderate. Along Mont-Albert, Mont-Jacques-Cartier is among the most popular hikes in Gaspesie national park.

2. Kayak or SUP

Looking for a nice spot for kayaking or SUP? Lake Cascapédia is the place. If you don’t have your own kayak, you can also rent one here. Surrounded by mountains, this lake is a beautiful place to relax and observe moose or other wild animals. If you have your own crafts, you can also go to Paul, Noir, Thibeault and Côté lakes in the western area. In the eastern area, there are the Syndicat and Claude lakes.

3. Cycling

If you want to do mountain biking or gravel biking, it’s possible to do it but only at certain locations. Check the SEPAQ website to have all information. Cycling on the other trails are prohibited.

4. Fishing

There are three lakes in the park where you can fish. From trout to salmon, anglers among you should have fun at Gaspésie National Park. Of course, you’ll need a provincial license and a fishing right of access. Check for the details on the SEPAQ website and ask for more information at the registration center.

5. Observe wild animals

As we told you, there are many wild animals at Gapésie national park from bears to caribou and moose. To increase your chance of seeing them, you should start your hike early in the morning. The fewer people there are, the more chances you have to see them. You can also ask Sepaq employees where the best places to see them are. Obviously, this can change depending on the type of animal you want to see, the season and other factors.

Best things to do in Chic-Chocs Wildlife Reserve

1. Vallières-de-Saint-Réal

This hike was one of our favorites because it has something special. Unlike the others, this trail crosses 7 summits so you practically always have a panoramic view of the other mountains. With its 11,9 km and its 968 m elevation gain, it’s considered a hard hike. 

The beginning of the trail is also very steep and you’ll be happy to have your hiking sticks.This part of the trail is covered by different sizes of rocks and they tend to slip on each other which makes it harder to hike. If you have hiking sticks, you’ll find it easier since you can have more control on these.

BUT, let us tell you that all of this is 150% worth it! Once you arrive at the first summit, all this ascension seems far away. The scenery is spectacular with a view on all the summits you’re going to. We truly enjoyed Vallières-de-Saint-Réal and if you plan on going to Chic-Chocs mountains, you should definitely put this one on your list!

2. Mount Hog’s Back

This one is shorter with a trail of 6 km and a smaller elevation gain of 442 m. Although it seems easier, Mount Hog’s Back is considered a hard hike. It’s another popular mountain in the Chic-Chocs wildlife reserve that you might want to check.

*To have more information about the different hikes in Chic-Chocs wildlife reserve, please check their website here.

3. Fishing

Chic-Chocs has about 12 lakes reserved only for day fishing. You can access these lakes with your own watercrafts. But only the ones that don’t require towing are permitted like kayak, SUP, canoe, etc. Of course, you’ll need a provincial license and a fishing right of access. Check for the details on the Chic-Chocs website and ask for more information at the registration center.

4. Hunting

This SEPAQ’s reserve has many different species which you can hunt. There’s the snowshoe hare, moose, bear, Ruffed and Spruce grouses. Check here to have more information about packages and regulations.

Where to eat

1. Gîte du Mont-Albert

We cannot talk about Gapésie national park and don’t talk about the Gîte du Mont-Albert. This unique hotel stands out because of its location. In the heart of the park, Gîte du Mont-Albert is surrounded by the impressive mountains. While you can stay at the hotel, you can eat at their restaurant or bistrot even if you stay at a campground. Their restaurant offers a fine cuisine menu while the bistrot offers a more pub menu. We ate at their bistrot and it was a nice dinner, especially because we didn’t have to cook under the rain at our campsite! Check here for their menu and for more information.

2. Microbrewery Le Malbord

If you plan on going out of Gaspésie national park, there’s a nice microbrewery in Sainte-Anne-des-Monts. Located about 30 minutes from the park, Le Malbord offers a nice variety of beers and snacks. We went there because there was heavy rain and were not deceived. Their beers are really good and they have a pool table, a soccer table and board games.

Planning a road trip in Gaspésie?

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