Treetop Trail | Above the trees without much effort

(Mont-Blanc) Brushing the tops of the trees and rising 40 m above the ground without too much effort to admire the Laurentian panorama: this is the experience offered by the Sentier des cimes, recently inaugurated, in the small municipality of Mont-Blanc.

Valerie Simard
The Press

“Do you have your Mont Blanc too? asks a French tourist to a Quebec woman at the top of the observation tower from which we have a direct view of the mountain and its ski resort. If the mountain that gave its name to this neighboring municipality of Mont-Tremblant (formerly Saint-Faustin–Lac-Carré) is more modest than its French cousin, the structure of the Sentier des cimes has the scale of those found in other European countries.

After France, Slovakia, the Czech Republic and Germany in particular, this concept of a raised walkway accompanied by a high observation tower is settling in eastern North America for the first time. There is another of its kind in Canada, on Vancouver Island, the Malahat SkyWalk.

It was designed by the German company EAK in collaboration with the MRC des Laurentides, which was looking for a way to revitalize the land of a former fish farm, sitting on public land, a place well known to residents of the region.

It is a magnificent redevelopment work that has been carried out on this land in order to preserve the historical and natural heritage of the place. Closed since 1992, the stone buildings have been restored, a pretty terrace has been laid out and, above all, a large structure of wood and steel has been installed there.

Long course

The course, which extends over 1350 m, begins with a small tower that can be climbed on foot or by lift. Then, a long footbridge that crosses the forest, at the height of the treetops, leads to the highlight of the show: a 40 m high tower in the shape of a corner offering a breathtaking view of the surroundings. This whole is designed to be accessible to people with reduced mobility, in wheelchairs or strollers. You do not get there by climbing a succession of stairs, but a rather gentle ramp whose inclination does not exceed 6%.

At the top, a large, custom-made netting laid down the center of the tower almost steals the show in sight. Will you have the courage to set foot there or, better, to cross it? The hesitation of some and the fearlessness of others have this sudden effect of encouraging conversations and challenges between strangers. Quickly, the ice is broken, but not the net, fortunately.

Contemplators will be able to appreciate the view of the surrounding mountains and their deciduous and coniferous forests which are at the zenith of their splendour. A special visit, at sunrise, should also be organized this fall. You can also admire the twilight there, as the place is currently open until 7 p.m. on weekends (5 p.m. Monday to Thursday).

In addition to nature, there is also to admire the architectural challenge represented by the erection, in a few months, of this structure made of Douglas fir from Western Canada and steel.

“The trail is integrated into nature with as little deforestation as possible,” says Kathy Poulin. For the sake of education, interpretation panels on the Laurentian forest and wildlife are dotted along the trail. A quiz on the surrounding nature and the history of the old fish farm is also given to visitors.

22 million invested

A large sum of money was invested by the MRC des Laurentides, on the one hand ($4 million), and by the EAK company, on the other hand ($18 million). This is what, according to Kathy Poulin, explains that it costs $29 per adult and $19 per child to access the place which should be open all year round. Added to this is a $5 fee for parking, an income used by the MRC for maintenance.

It’s a high price for a visit that lasts about an hour, and it’s the main criticism made by many visitors who wrote a review on Google since the opening of the trail on July 24th.

Note that an annual card is offered at a cost of $46.

It is possible to extend the visit by taking a seat on the terrace of the restaurant Chez Émile, which serves a basic cafeteria-style menu, but also somewhat expensive, or by discovering the amazing products of the forest of Gourmet Sauvage, which has its shop nearby. Or by walking on the hiking trails that are on the ground. They are not maintained for the moment, therefore not publicized, but the MRC des Laurentides plans to do so in a next phase.

It should be noted that the Sentier des cimes is not intended for seasoned hikers, accustomed to reaching the top of a mountain at the cost of great effort. The target clientele is precisely the one who generally does not have access to such points of view. “We start from the principle that when people have access to nature, when they discover its beauty, they are more inclined to protect it,” emphasizes Kathy Poulin.

This concept could make others small, since EAK plans to build other trails of its kind in North America.