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Hiking Trails In and Around Forillon National Park

February 6, 2017 by Marie-Claude 1 Comment

The area sure has a lot to offer to hiking enthusiasts, the meeting of the sea and mountains forming striking landscapes. Here are some suggestions of trails to head to, from the easiest loop to the most arduous mountain hike.

Hiking Trails in Forillon National Park

Tour du Mont St-Alban

The view is the reward on the hike to Mont St-Alban.

The class favorite is usually the Mont-St-Alban trail (departure point at Cap-Bon-Ami, about 2 hrs return, intermediate). The 2km climb is constant but the views from many lookouts along the way will reward your physical effort. The high point, literally, is a 15-meter tower built in the 90s on top of one of Forillon’s highest mountain, offering a 360 degree view. The trail continues on a 9 km loop but note that it is mostly a forest walk. Read more info on our blog.

If you go by the Interpretation Centre, do not miss the cute but short  Prélude à Forillon (600 m, 15 minutes). This boardwalk takes you closer to the Gulf and is wheelchair-accessible.

Prélude à Forillon

Prélude à Forillon

Les Graves trail is another popular option, mostly the portion between the end of the paved road in the south area and the Cap-Gaspé lighthouse (8 km, 3 hours return, intermediate). You may reach ‘land’s end’ either by the walking trail or the old road now a cycling path (unpaved). Keep your eyes and ears opened as whales regularly approach the shore and probabilities increase as you get closer to the end. The final reward will be the Cap-Gaspé lighthouse, perch atop the cliff looking out to the Percé sector. Most will start the trail at  l’Anse-aux-Amérindiens but it in fact start in Grande-Grave (16 km return).

phare de Cap-Gaspé

Cap-Gaspé, known as Land’s End.

La Chute trail (1km loop, constant climb for half the trail). Go in the morning when the light will be better. Along the trail, you will encounter a maple forest, cascades and a 15m waterfall.

La Chute, Forillon

Many interesting viewpoints along the La Chute trail.

The Penouille peninsula (1 hour return, easy hike). Penouille is a unique and mysterious environment. A sandy spit covered by lichens and black spruce, a type of vegetation more typical of high altitudes or latitudes. A phenomenon for which we have little explanation. Be mindful of staying within marked trails, for the protection of this especially fragile habitat. Forillon undertook major investments in this area in 2015 and we may now enjoy a beautiful boardwalk, a kiosk offering segways, bikes, stand-up paddleboard as well as an electric transport service to the tip of the peninsula.

Trottoir à Penouille

Penouille. Always beautiful but particularly stunning in the Fall.

Une tournée dans les parages (3 km loop, intermediate) takes you through the historic area of Grande-Grave.

La Vallée and Le Portage are the two trails closest to Camping Griffon. You may hike or bike these trails. Check out our blog post on that subject.

La Vallée

Nick, the site creator loves jogging in La Vallée.

More hardcore hikers will find a tougher challenge on Les Crètes and les Lacs, 2 trails of 18 km (one-way). Joined to Les Graves, they constitute the park’s portion of the International Appalachian Trail. This is actually the final portion of the trail after winding 6000km throughout North America.

More information about Park Forillon hiking trails is here.

Trails Outside the Park

Start with the trails we have at Camping Griffon. We have a short loop (about 600m, 15 minutes) and another portion that goes to our seashore. You could walk for quite a ways on the beach, independant of the tide, either direction.

Ruisseau des enfants trail at Camping Griffon

Ruisseau des enfants trail at Camping Griffon

4 km away from the campground, you will find the Maison aux Lilas walking trail. Access is free and the 2 km trail also links to the park’s boundary trail. The highlight is a lookout with a view on L’Anse-au-Griffon.

From the train station in Gaspé, you may hop on the Sentier des Pionniers, paved on 13 km all the way to Haldimand beach. This trail is also a cycling trail.

Halfway on the Sentier des Pionniers is the Boom Defense sandspit, a place where solitude comes easy. Access by Sandy Beach.

The Pointe-à-la-Renommée sector has some beautiful portions of the International Appalachian Trail. Here is more (in French only) info.

Most will declare the Mont-Alban or Les Graves their favorite. What about you?

Filed Under: Activities and Sights, Forillon National Park, L'Anse-au-Griffon, Nature, Town of Gaspé, Wildlife Tagged With: Hiking, La Chute, La Vallée, Le Portage, Les Graves, Mont St-Alban, North Sector, Penouille, Pointe-à-la-Renommée, Prélude à Forillon, Sentier des Pionniers, South Sector, Whales

Things to Visit in the Area

February 4, 2017 by Marie-Claude Leave a Comment

Guide of Cultural and Historical Attractions

Here is a list of attractions you may find within 40 km of Camping Griffon. Please note that many of these would be good options in case of a rainy day as they are interior exhibits.

Manoir LeBoutillier vu du centre culturel de l'Anse-au-Griffon

Manoir Le Boutillier seen from the Cultural centre in l’Anse-au-Griffon.

Centre culturel de l’Anse-au-Griffon

For most, this Cultural centre is the home of a small café, a nice souvenir/local craft shop, exhibits and a meeting hall. For us, citizens of L’Anse-au-Griffon, the centre is proof that if people stick together, great things can happen, like the preservation of built heritage.

Time required for a visit : 30 minutes
Distance from Camping Griffon: 4 minutes (4 km)

Manoir Le Boutillier and la Maison des Lilas

Located side-by-side, these two sites are respectively highlighting the history of local fishing companies and heirloom agriculture. The Manoir also has a very beautiful boutique, full of local crafts as well as a Tea Room offering the culinary creations of Pascale Malo, our most-talented local pastry chef. Great outing, right in the village.

Time required for a visit : 1 hour
Distance from Camping Griffon: 4 minutes (4 km)

La Griffonne Art Centre, Galerie Claude Côté

Our beautiful village of L’Anse-au-Griffon has inspired many and 2 of these talented artists have galleries showcasing their work.  The Centre d’art La Griffonne features the work of Pauline St-Arnaud while the Galerie Claude Côté has watercolors from the namesake as well as art from other local artists, such as the sculptures of Pierre Bougie.

Time required for a visit : 30 minutes
Distance du Camping Griffon: 5 minutes (4 km/6 km)

Cap-des-Rosiers Lighthouse

The tallest lighthouse in Canada is ready for your visit. Climb the 122 steps to the fog light that long safeguarded the maritime traffic.

Time required for a visit : 1 heure
Distance from Camping Griffon: 15 minutes (15 km)
Phare Cap-des-Rosiers

Cap-des-Rosiers lighthouse.

Forillon’s Interpretation Centre

A great way to start your park journey. Permanent exhibits and a lovely 600m-long boardwalk (Prélude à Forillon) with magnificient views on the cliffs of the North Area.

Time required for a visit : 1 hour
Distance from Camping Griffon: 15 minutes (17 km)

Grande-Grave Heritage Site

The Hyman store, the Blanchette homestead and the Dolbel house all illustrate facets of everyday life of inhabitants of the Forillon peninsula around 1920. The Hyman Store is the former general store now museum, the Blanchette homestead depicts family life and the Dolbel house hosts ethnographic exhibits. The walk between Grande-Grave and Anse-Blanchette is less than one km and particularly enjoyable.

Time required for a visit : 2 to 3 hours
Distance from Camping Griffon: 30 minutes (38 km)
Anse-Blanchette au coucher de soleil

Anse-Blanchette at sunset.

Fort-Péninsule

Tasked with protecting the Bay of Gaspé during the Second World War, Fort-Péninsule’s remaining cannon and underground chambers will give you a feel of war time in the peninsula. An interesting visit with beautiful vistas on the bay of Gaspé.

Time required for a visit : 30 minutes
Distance from Camping Griffon: 30 minutes (35 km)

Mic Mac Interpretation Centre

Discover the fascinating world of some of the peninsula’s first inhabitants. Their historical contribution to the area cannot be denied, they even named it! (Gespeg means ‘land’s end’ in Mic Mac).

Time required for a visit : 30 minutes
Distance from Camping Griffon: 30 minutes (35 km)

Fishing Harbour in Rivière-au-Renard

The village of Rivière-au-Renard boast the title of ‘Québec’s Fishing Capital’ and one cannot disagree when looking at the very impressive boat fleet in the harbour (or parked nearby). Go take a closer look at all the activity generated by this industry.

Time required for a visit : 30 minutes
Distance from Camping Griffon: 6 minutes (6 km)
Havre de Rivière-au-Renard

Rivière-au-Renard Harbour.

Moulin des Plourde

A window on another important aspect of our Gaspesian history: the forest and sawmill industry. This steam-operated sawmill was in operation for close to 80 years and is now a museum.

Time required for a visit : 1 hour
Distance from Camping Griffon: 7 minutes (7 km)

Pointe-à-la-Renommée Lighthouse

This lighthouse has been called the ‘traveling lighthouse’ as it was moved to the Old Port in Québec during the 70s to be returned to its original location 20 years later, following strong pressure from the local population. Pointe-à-la-Renommée was a fishing site and also the location of the first maritime radio station (Marconi station) in North America.

Time required for a visit : 1 hour
Distance from Camping Griffon: 30 minutes (32 km)

Gaspé Berceau du Canada

A site dedicated to the commemoration of the history of Gaspé.

Time required for a visit : 30 minutes
Distance from Camping Griffon: 35 minutes (38 km)

Musée de la Gaspésie

Recently made-over, the Gaspé museum offers exhibits geared towards the discovery of the rich cultural and historical heritage of the peninsula, including the passage of its emblematic visitor: Jacques Cartier.

Time required for a visit : 1 hour
Distance from Camping Griffon: 32 minutes (36 km)
Musée de la Gaspésie

Musée de la Gaspésie.

Did you fall in love with one of these attractions during your visit? Did we forget any? Please share with us in the comments section!

 

Filed Under: Activities and Sights, Camping Griffon, Cap-des-Rosiers, Forillon National Park, Gaspé, Gaspésie History and Heritage, L'Anse-au-Griffon, Rivière-au-Renard, Town of Gaspé, Towns and Villages Tagged With: Berceau du Canada, Cap-des-Rosiers lighthouse, Centre Culturel de l'Anse-au-Griffon, Forillon Interpretation Centre, Fort-Péninsule, Galerie Claude Coté, Grande-Grave Heritage Site, La Griffonne, Maison aux Lilas, Manoir LeBoutillier, MicMac Interpretation Centre, Musée de la Gaspésie, Pointe-à-la-Renommée

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