Motorcycling in Gaspésie

Follow Route 299, which crosses through the middle of the Gaspé Peninsula from Sainte-Anne-des-Monts to New Richmond. This 143-km paved road runs alongside the Cascapédia River, so keep an eye out for anglers and moose. It will also take you through Parc national de la Gaspésie, which is home to the Gîte du Mont-Albert hotel. There are no gas stations on this road, so fill up before you set out.

Along the north side of the peninsula, tucked around a bend, the roadside rest area in Grande-Vallée offers a postcard-worthy view. Typical of this area, villages tucked into coves add to the charm of the region. Take advantage of the network of roadside rest areas around the peninsula: they are perfect places to stop for a break and soak up the scenery.

Stop to visit Canada’s tallest lighthouse, which has been standing at the mouth of the Gulf of St. Lawrence since 1858. From this site, you can admire the golden cliffs of Forillon National Park plunging into the sea. This is one of the 14 lighthouses in Gaspésie, several of which are open to the public.

Located on the edge of a fishing harbour in L’Anse-à-Beaufils, La Vieille Usine occupies a former cod processing plant. Now transformed into a cultural centre, the building includes a show venue, a bar and a restaurant with a patio overlooking the wharf, which is the perfect spot to watching the lobster boats unloading their catch in the spring. Other restaurants in the area also feature seafood and other regional specialties on their menus.

Rue de la Montagne will take you to the top of Mont Saint-Joseph, 555 metres above sea level. The lookout overlooking Cap Ferré offers breathtaking views of the region, including the mountains, the coastal plain and sparkling waters of Chaleur Bay, Carleton-sur-Mer, the triangular Carleton Barachois and the Acadian coast of New Brunswick.