This text is part of the special book Plaisirs
We know well the astronomical vocation of the park nestled in the hollow of the Appalachians. But in winter, it is in the sector of Franceville that it is necessary to go to admire and climb impressive mountains.
Look at it in all directions: from the summit of Mont Mégantic or that of Mont Saint-Joseph, and with your eyes raised towards the International Dark Sky Reserve, Parc national du Mont-Mégantic, located in the south-east of the Townships -de-l’Est, is nestled in the heart of a vast sea of mountains which multiplies the vertiginous points of view. Everywhere on the territory, shelters and rustic camps allow you to extend your immersion for several days, in particular by hiking or Nordic skiing.
For nearly 30 years, the Observatory sector has been showcasing the sky, notably with winter astronomy evenings at the ASTROLab, unique in the province. But it is the most recent sector of Franceville, inaugurated in 2012, which shows the mountains from another perspective. It is hardly necessary to drive more than 20 km to connect the two sectors; we can therefore pass from one to the other without difficulty.
Hiking in Franceville
You will find a large number of hiking trails in this part of the park, which are regularly explored with crampons rather than snowshoes. One of the most beautiful is undoubtedly the Sentier des escarpments, so named because it runs along superb rock faces from which cascades of ice escape. To reach this 6.4 km trail, one must first take the Creek Promenade, which undulates peacefully through a hardwood forest, including yellow birch. At an altitude of more than 600 m, the path leads to Les Coös and Vertige des escarpments, two exceptional natural viewpoints from which you can observe the ASTROLab, a small white dot that stands out in an ocean of mountain peaks.
For an even more sustained challenge, the experienced hiker will not fail to do the Sentier des cimes, a good loop of 11.4 km which borrows the rocky ridge of the sector of Franceville passing by the striking points of view of the Porte du Ciel. (765 m) and the Pic de l’Aurore (840 m), along a drop of 390 m. For a truly immersive experience, we spend the night in the Ruisseau-de-la-montagne refuge (650 m) before finishing the loop by the Piste de la vallée. The refuges, open during the day to hikers who want to stop there, can be rented for the night by reservation. A simply unique experience.
Projects all over the park
The Franceville sector offers a wide variety of activities, like most national parks open in winter. “Since the opening of the sector, the attendance curve has been exponential,” says Dany Gareau, director of Parc national du Mont-Mégantic. Currently, we are working to optimize the routes by interconnecting the hiking trails leading to Mont Mégantic or Pain de sucre. [où passe le Sentier des escarpements]. »
Even better: one of the establishment’s projects is to enter into a partnership aimed at extending its pedestrian and cycling networks with the Marécage-des-Scots regional park, located in Scotstown. Moreover, partnership seems to be in the DNA of Parc national du Mont-Mégantic, which collaborates with “a constellation of partners”, in the words of Dany Gareau, particularly with regard to the Dark Sky Reserve. .
starry nights
To spend one or more nights there, you are spoiled for choice: this park offers a wide variety of accommodation, especially in the Observatory sector. For a rustic experience, we opt for winter camping, the assurance of being at the forefront of wildlife activity, whose traces are visible on the snow. Rustic camps and refuges complete the offer in the heart of the action for nomadic hikers. If you prefer a little onion treatment, choose the Echo cabins instead, a feat of practical comfort in an incredible space saving.