Adventures on the Summit Drive

St-Adrien is the gateway to the Summit Drive, close to the Parc régional du Mont-Ham. Start your tour in the region by climbing this mountain. At a height of 713 metres, several easy to difficult trails lead to the summit, which offers a 360-degree view of the other peaks you can climb on the following days.

You can take advantage of your visit to learn more about the Abenaki aboriginal culture thanks to a trail and an interpretation site at the foot of the mountain.

After this first hike, head for Aylmer Lake. The Aylmer Lake Park is a nice place to have a family picnic on the edge of the marsh, to lounge on the beach or to kayak on the Maskinongée River. A trail leads to two lookouts and an observation tower where you can admire the marsh’s flora and fauna. Spend the night at the Chanterelle Inn.

Leaving Lac-Aylmer, the Route des Sommets leads you to the entrance of Frontenac National Park. Several activities are possible including canoeing and bird watching. If time allows, an intermediate level hike of 10.2 km (about 4 hours) guides you through the undergrowth to the summit of the Massif de Winslow at an altitude of 430 metres.

Before arriving in Lac-Mégantic, you will pass the pretty village of Lambton, the Morne Saint-Sébastien and the Lac Drolet park. You can start your visit with a heritage walking tour of the village of Lambton. Twelve signs will help you discover its church, its presbytery, its art gallery, its small chapel, as well as various moments of its history.

Once in Lac-Mégantic, take the “Le Marcheur d’étoiles” tourist circuit through the heart of the town, with 15 stops including an exhibition on the tragic events of July 6, 2013. Take advantage of your visit to taste one or more of the beers from the Microbrasserie La Gare’nison and explore the flavours of the region in one of the town’s fine restaurants. You will have the possibility to sleep at the Domaine Sous un Ciel Étoilé.

Today you will travel to Marston Village. Visit the agri-tourism farm where a guided tour will teach you more about the animals and agricultural production. Don’t forget to buy some of the local produce on site before heading back on the road!

Then stop for a pleasant walk on the “Un lac un sommet” trail. This 8.4 km long trail crosses the Victoria River via a suspended footbridge and offers a view of Lac-Mégantic and Lac à Jos-Gilbert. Next stop: the Halte des Zouaves, a tourist stop featuring local artists and writers.

Now head to Parc national du Mont-Mégantic. You can climb the St-Joseph (1065 metres) and/or Mégantic (1105 metres) summits. It is also possible to sleep in a refuge or pitch a tent on a platform for those who wish to spend more than a day on the many trails.

In addition to its peaks, the must-see of Mont-Mégantic is without a doubt the ASTROLab. An astronomy activity centre, a visit to the exhibition “From the Starry Sky to the Infinite Universe” will fascinate young and old alike. After your visit, go to the Domaine de La Giroux-ette.

Start the day with a stop at Ferme Terre et Vent, an organic garlic producer, and then take a short diversions to see the famous Magnetic Coast. This optical illusion creates the effect of going up the hill while going down and vice versa. Visit the interpretation centre to understand the phenomenon.

Fill up on fresh air, because another hike awaits you: the 3rd highest summit in Quebec, Mount Gosford (1193 metres). In the heart of the Mount Gosford inhabited forest, there are 40 kilometres of trails, 47 kilometres of bike paths and a 360-degree view from the summit. It is possible to go on a multi-day expedition and take advantage of the huts or camping platforms.

Retrace your steps a bit to head for Mount Bélanger. Stop first for a picnic near the Chaudière River in Saint-Ludger to get enough energy for the hike to the top of the mountain at 960 metres. On one of the 8 trails you will come across lakes, spruce stems over 200 years old and lush flora. Climb the observation tower, the panorama is worth the climb!

A self-guided tour on the Summit Drive guarantees incredible panoramic photos and several hikes in only a few days! If you still have energy, many other summits are accessible: Cross Mountain, Scotch Cap Mountain, Saddle Mountain, Marble Mountain, Line Mountain and many others!