L’Acropole-des-Draveurs Summit – Exploring the Hautes-Gorges-de-la-Rivière-Malbaie

October 5, 2023 by admin

Located inland from the St. Lawrence, following the Malbaie river is an incredible natural area, possibly the most scenic in the province of Québec. Here the hills give way to high peaks, rounded by erosion but still standing tall above the flowing waters and the beautiful maple valley stretching out below.

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Geography
What you Should Know Before you go!
Facilities
Heading into the Mountains from the Coast
Heading Into the park
L’Acropole-des-Draveurs Summit (Acropolis of the Raftmen) Summit)
Additional Galleries
Barrage Des Érables (Dam of the Maples)
Conclusion

Geography

As previously mentioned the park encompasses a deep valley surrounded by steep walled mountains measuring over 800 meters (2,600 ft) in height. Following the park, via the valley is the Malbaie river, home to Sea Lamprey and Atlantic Salmon.

It also happens to be part of the Grands-Ormes Ecological Reserve, and is home to many mamals such as the marten and the Boreal caribou.

What you Should Know Before you go!

You should absolutely BOOK IN ADVANCE!!! The park fills up quick, especially if just going for a day and with the purchase the day pass. This is due to the limited parking along the narrow roadway along the river. Since the park is managed by the Société des établissements de plein air du Québec (Quebec Outdoor Establishments Society) , the SÉPAQ it would be wise to consult their website here. This is the provincial part system, although in Québec they are called national parks.

Furthermore this park is subject to seasonal closure, due to weather conditions. This means that it opens relatively late in the year. For more information, please visit: https://www.sepaq.com/pq/hgo/index.dot?language_id=1

Facilities

For those seeking to spend the night in the park, you will find several campgrounds with either traditional camping or pre-constructed shed. For more information you can check out the provincial parks website here.

Heading into the Mountains from the Coast

Although much of this interior land is unpopulated, the occasional village such as the pretty Saint-Aimé-des-Lacs is home to stunning churches ans quiet lakes.

Heading Into the park

Once you reach the gate, a park worker will check your pass. Once through you will be flagged down the main road, along the river, towards the back of the park where an attendant will help you find parking. This road takes you though the back to the visitors center at the very northern extent of the park (more on this later).

L’Acropole-des-Draveurs Summit (Acropolis of the Raftmen) Summit)

The legendary L’Acropole-des-Draveurs trail is the reason most come to the park and parking is limited. Attendants will help you park on the side of the narrow roadway and you may have to walk a few kilometres to the trail-head on busy fall days where the park is usually at capacity. The name of the hike is a throwback to Quebec’s lumbermen/raftman that once roamed these lands (more on this later). The 10.6-km out-and-back trail in a gruelling one, but is rewarding once you get to the top.

You start the hike near the riverlevel, and pass streams as they cascade down the mountain to their destination. This first section of the hike will take you to the vertical incline.

From here the hike starts to pick up incline and you will soon be privy to the landscape as it unfolds before your eyes.

This section of the hike will take you up steep cliff faces via a narrow pathway, so make sure you you have the proper footwear, especially on a rain day.

You will also be privy to views of alpine lakes, the first of which you will notice upon your ascent.

Once you finally reach the top you will have grand views of the maple valley below and its river.

Be careful along the edge it is a precipice. While sitting down I had a chipmunk run up my pant leg and surprise me! I was close to the ledge so its a good thing I am not squeamish!

From the lookout there are only a few hundred meters to cover, to reach the final elevation. To do so you will cross a high alpine tundra plain in which you will notice that the vegetation has shifted into its own new flora.

Please do not walk on this vegetation, it is very sensitive. Instead follow the rock path delineated by a rope on either side.

Once last hump and you will have the final view!

Here you will find a last series of two alpine lakes, with their dark blue tint matching that of the sky!

Enjoy the long walk down for some more views!

Additional Galleries

Here are a few extra pictures from the hike!

Barrage Des Érables (Dam of the Maples)

On the northern edge of the park, where the road come to an end, you will find the visitors centers. Inside you will find the confronts of a fireplace and modern amenities such as clean indoor washrooms as well as a small museum detailing the history of the area. This includes a section on the history of the raftmen who once dominated the river. These hardy lumberman would float logs down the river where they would be processes. This was hard, dangerous work, many even more impressive by the fact that many these crazy French Canadians diffident even know how to swim! They would walk 40-60km from the surrounding villages such as La Malbaie and Saint-Aimé-des-Lacs just to work. When someone makes a comment about the French being effeminate, just remind them that French Canadians built (and explored)this country on fur trapping and lumber – these were real men borne of the wild-lands that only an untamed country such as Canada could provide. You had to be tough to succeeded out here, especially in the early years French or English.

From the visitors center a bridge crosses over the Malbaie river. The view of the visitors center from here has the cliff face as a backdrop and is spectacular in fall. It is a actually the backdrop to many Charlevoix tourism websites.