Chic-Chocs Mountains

A Sea of Mountains at the Heart of Gaspésie

Do you love hiking in the mountains or skiing in fresh powder snow? The Chic-Chocs are a dream come true! These are Québec’s “real” mountains, a full-scale playground open year-round. Running parallel with the St. Lawrence and featuring flattened tops and steep slopes, these mountains are anything but ordinary.

Located inland of Sainte-Anne-des-Monts, Parc national de la Gaspésie protects most of the Chic-Choc mountain range, including 25 peaks over 1000 metres high. The International Appalachian Trail (IAT) is another way to access the mountain ridges, black spruce forests and open landscapes found in this range. You can also enjoy fishing and wildlife observation in the Matane and Chic-Chocs wildlife reserves.

The most popular backcountry skiing destination east of the Rockies, the Chic-Chocs are just as impressive in the summer. And more importantly, each season offers unique opportunities for discovery.

How do you get to see the Chic-Chocs? It’s easy! Just follow Route 299, which will take you through these mountains from one side of the Gaspé Peninsula to the other. Along the way, you will drive through Parc national de la Gaspésie, a protected area of over 800 km² managed by Sépaq.

First and foremost, the Chic-Chocs are known as a hiking destination. Trails range from easy to strenuous, all leading to breathtaking views. Mont Albert and Mont Jacques-Cartier, the second highest peak in Québec, are the most famous and the toughest to ascend. On these high peaks, the vegetation changes dramatically from dense forest to alpine tundra.

If you are looking for an easier hike, Mont Ernest-Laforce and Lac-aux-Américains offer family-friendly routes. For those seeking wilder trails, the nearby wildlife reserves are the places to visit. And if you are hearing the call to adventure, you can trek for several days through these mountains on the International Appalachian Trail (IAT).

When winter sets in, the Chic-Chocs change their appearance completely. Snowshoeing, cross-country skiing and backcountry skiing are all ways to explore these mountains in the cold season when they are under metres of snow.

Enjoy the Great Outdoors in the Chic-Chocs

To truly experience the Chic-Chocs, nothing beats spending the night in these mountains. Parc national de la Gaspésie offers several lodging options: campgrounds, cabins, glamping options or a luxurious stay at the Gîte du Mont-Albert. This well-known hotel offers cozy rooms, gourmet regional cuisine, a sauna and direct access to the trails.

Wanting to try something different? Just a few kilometres away, the Mont Lyall agate mine invites you to hunt for geodes in an ancient volcano. This surprising activity involves breaking rocks to discover treasures inside such as agates, quartz or amethyst. After that, you will never look at the ground in quite the same way again.