Jacques-Cartier National Park – A Perfect Family Getaway Just Outside Quebec City
Located north of Quebec City, in Canada’s the Laurentian Mountain chain, lies the venerable Jacques-Cartier National Park. The boreal forest covered massif lines the tranquil Jacques-Cartier River, projecting itself as a deep gorge in the mountainous landscape. Come see why this nature preserve, a mere half hour from the provincial capital, is a favourite of Quebecers!
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A Brief History of the Park
The roots of this preserve date from the late 19th century when the area served as a major lumber producer. This activity continued but the American conservationist movement put pressure on the government to set aside land for conservation. Thus the Laurentian Wildlife Reserve was created in 1895. The Second World War improved road networks in the region and made it a recreational playground. Hydro-Québec proposed building a dam on the Jacques-Cartier river in 1972 , bringing the ire of both recreationalists and environmentalists. This project would have flooded the stunning valley you see today as such the dam project was abandoned in 1975, as well as the lumber industry. Finally In 1981, Jacques-Cartier National Park was carved out of the southern end of Wildlife reserve!
What to do in Jacques-Cartier Park!
After getting off Highway 175, heading north and paying your fare at the park gate, you will get to enjoy the stunning landscape of the park, as well as the many activities available to day tripper and campers.
Enjoy the On-Site Amenities and Recreation
The summer time is the park’s peak season, although the fall can be beautiful as well. During warm spells, the waters of the Jacques-Cartier river are perfect for swimming, fishing, canoeing and tubing. Other activities include hiking (100 kilometres (62 mi) of trails) and biking (30 kilometres (19 mi) trails). In the winter, some trails such as Les-Lous are open snowshoeing and some trails open to cross-country skiing.
For those seeking to stay the night at the park, there are cabins, yurts and campsites for rent.
Take in The Wildlife and Flora
The park includes a coniferous trees (ex: the black spruce) on the plateau, while the valley consists mainly of deciduous trees (ex: sugar maples or birch). As for wildlife you may find a mix of moose, caribou, white-tailed deer, gray wolf, red fox, the Canada lynx, the black bear, river otter, porcupine and the Canadian beaver, although you are less likely to see them at peak hours. Furthermore amateur ornithologists can observe one-hundred species of birds (not really my thing though). Finally, for the fisherman, Atlantic salmon, brook trout and the Arctic char can be found either in the Jacques-Cartier river or in the lakes nearby
Take in the View Hiking on the Les-Loups Trail (Among others).
Although there are plenty of trails available inside the park, one of these stands above all others in terms of difficulty and popularity – the Les Loups (The Wolves) trail. After you enter through the park gates, the road will lead you past several beaches and day use areas along the river. You can really appreciate the beauty of the river Valley at this level.
The road will eventually come across a triangular split in the river, overshadowed by a massive hill in the center. From here continue on the road until you hit the Les Loup parking lot where the trailhead begins. Make sure that you have filled your water bottles, especially on a warm day. The 9.5 kilometer out and back trail quickly heads up the hill on a steep incline for a total of a 486 meter elevation gain in today.
The first section of the path is approximately 2.5kilometers up (2.5 kilometes down for a today of 5), and lead to the first lookout. It offers the best view of the U-shaped valley and if you are pressed for time or just lazy I recommend stopping here as the second lookout is not as impressive. The massive rock valley is is 550 meters (1,804 ft) deep and was formed sometime during the last glacial period.
The second lookout offers a view from the peak. It is partially obstructed by trees and not nearly as impressive as the first lookout!
Conclusion
I hope you enjoy this scenic provincial park as much as I did! It is an easy day trip from Quebec city, but one should continue north from here to the wonderful Saguenay region, one of the most impressive natural areas in the province of Quebec.
