gaspe peninsula snowmobile tour

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Live your own Backcountry Snowmobile Adventure in La Gaspésie!

Who knew there was such GREAT BACKCOUNTRY sledding in our own little corner of the world?

Where is that, you ask? It's....Canada....Quebec....La Gaspésie....the Chic Choc Mountains.....

Where to start..... Where to stay .....

Well, let our Sled Den Guest House be your home away from home in Gaspésie while you explore the playground we've discovered.

The drive is definitely worth it.

Jack raved about his first backcountry snowmobile adventure to La Gaspésie. During my own visit, I just had to agree – so much so that we decided to make it our base for Quebec snowmobiling.

We had snowmobiled most of the trails in and around Montreal…all those within a day’s drive and with many overnight and weekend trips. Our sleds made tracks touring the Mont Valin backcountry – Valinouet – more than a few times – just beautiful…..!

The Sled Den Playground

At The Sled Den, everyone can star in their own pics....

.... and more....

But…….the Gaspésie “sea of mountains” is quite exceptional. The beautiful Chic Chocs provide a winter playground at our feet. We could snowmobile to our heart’s content….and still have plenty of areas to explore...

....and still more....

Are you a trail rider? Travel along the main Trans-Québec Snowmobile Trail # 5 - try some of our Regional trails – loop around the Local ones. Whether you plan to spend only a few hours on the trail or if a full day’s sledding is your goal – it’s all good. Access to fuel, food and lodging is fairly convenient.

What if back country riding is your thing? Or side hilling… or hill climbing….? Maybe you’ve always wanted to try but never had the opportunity. Well then, come play in a sledder’s paradise…..

From the fairly easy boondocking (who thought up that word anyway?) to the technical tree riding – pick your spot. You just have to discover where the best ones are! But don’t worry, there are plenty to go around……….

...just don't spend too much time trying to decide which one is next !!

You can take it easy or take on a challenge or something in between, whatever your preference, the Chic chocs are waiting for you…..

Come practice boondocking on powder covered meadows, fields and logging roads. Or, if you’re just learning to boondock, as Jack says, it doesn’t hurt to fall in the snow…….he should know, he’s done it often enough……..he’s still in one piece and he’s really good at it now..….the boondocking I mean!

There’s plenty of sidehilling available – just how adventurous are you?

Tree riding ? Let’s see just how good you are………and don’t forget your shovel. It’s not so easy to dig out your sled with your hands – I know, we’ve done that often enough too!

One more time.......1200 Etec - 136

How about high marking? How confident are you……in your machine? OK – it’s not the Big Iron Shootout in Revelstroke but still, you will be tested …….

If you’re looking for more than sledding on the groomed trails but don’t quite want the extreme of tree riding, then off trail snowmobiling is for you. Let curiosity lead you down miles and miles of logging roads and nooks …..

Cutting tracks in one of the many nooks..........

As always, safety first, and proper clothing with gear is a must, so as soon as you’re ready………

Let’s go on a snowmobile adventure………..

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01 – Gaspésie / Iles-de-la-Madeleine

General Information:

Sea and mountain landscape offered in the Gaspé is unique in Quebec. Pristine scenery and numerous easily accessible services—including lodging, snowmobile facilities and gas stations—ensure that your snowmobile vacation will be a success! Iles de la Madeleine landscape is composed of islands, and dunes which link together and extend out of sight. When you disembark on the island you feel you have changed countries, soft shapes, a harmony of colour and a freshness that seduces the visitor.

Practical Information:

• Regional network: Gaspésie : 17 clubs (3 134 Km of trails) Îles-de-la-Madeleine : 1 club (138 Km of trails)
• Regional network: Trans-Québec 5 : Tour of the Gaspé peninsula 597 : Grande-Rivière to Anse-Pleureuse, via Murdochville 595: New Richmond to Saint-Paulin 599: Grand Ruisseau to Cap Gridley (Îles de la Madeleine)
• Accommodation accessible from the trail: Gaspé: Numerous amenities all along the trails Îles-de-la-Madeleine: Not available
• Snow conditions: Gaspé: by the end of December until mid-April Îles-de-la-Madeleine: by the end of December until mid-March

Gaspe:  On the South Shore of the Saint-Lawrence river, East of Quebec City served mainly by Highway 132.

• Îles-de-la-Madeleine: The Îles-de-la-Madeleine archipelago is located in the heart of the Gulf of St-Lawrence, 215 kilometres from Gaspé. The islands form a crescent, stretching 65 km in a Southwest /Northeast orientation. The « Madelinots » live on Atlantic time, that is, one hour later than the rest of Quebec. Access by automobile is from Souris (Prince Edward Island) to Cap-aux-Meules, about a five hour ferry ride.
• Principal cities of Gaspe:  Mont-Joli – Matane – Amqui – Sainte-Anne-des-Monts – Rivière-au-Renard – Gaspé – Percé – Grande-Rivière – Chandler – Murdochville – Paspébiac – Bonaventure – New Richmond – Carleton
• Principal cities of the Iles-de-la-Madeleine:  Cap-aux-Meules – Havre Aubert – Grand-Ruisseau – L'Étang-du-Nord – Havre aux Maisons – Grosse-Île

Attractions:

• Percé Rock (Trans-Quebec trail 5)
• Mont-Saint-Pierre Cliffs (Trans-Quebec trail 5)
• Matane Wildlife Reserve (trail 595)
• Murdochville wind mills (trail 597)
• Watch the seals on the ice floes in February (Îles-de-la-Madeleine)

From the region:

• Bas-Saint-Laurent to the West (Trans-Quebec trail 5)
• Cote-Nord (Take the ferry at Matane)
• New-Brunswick (Trans-Quebec trails 5 and NB 22)
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International Snowmobile Hall of Fame Journalist

Snowmobile gaspe quebec canada tour.

by Craig Nicholson | Quebec Rides , Tour Posts

Outstanding Snowmobile Gaspe Tour A Must for Your Bucket List…

Click on photo to view full tour article

Snowmobile  Gaspe  if day after day of smooth trail riding is your idea of a great Quebec snowmobile tour or snowmobile vacation. Now add in spectacular scenery, mountainous terrain, abundant snow conditions and a multitude of wide trails on logging roads, utility corridors and rolling fields and you will quickly understand why this maritime region of Québec is a must-visit for any touring snowmobiler.

In late January, Jim Reavelle, D’Arcy Ball, Don Webb, Jim Heintzman, Marsha and I trailered 11 hours from the Greater Toronto Area to the Hotel Universel , Riviére-du-Loup, for what ended up being a 2,000 kilometre, 8-day Quebec snowmobile tour (not including a day to drive there and a second one back). Actually, we were “on tour” for 10 days, but a fierce storm stranded us in Percé for two unrideable days…

Snowmobile Gaspe Quebec and Stranded by Major Winter Storm

It started Friday night. By next morning, the tempest had dumped about 20 centimetres. No problem, except more was yet to come. Another 25 centimetres fell throughout that day, whipped constantly by ripping winds. The ensuing whiteouts reduced visibility to zero, so we snuggled into our refuge, the Hotel Fleur de Lys.

Sunday dawned bright and sunny; we were quick to roll under clear blue skies. Not so fast…within a thousand yards of the hotel, our snow machines were stuck in drifts six feet deep. We took to the roads, hoping to bisect Trans Québec Trail 5 (TQ5). I think we did, but it was only recognizable by virtue of a road sign indicating a trail crossing existed somewhere nearby. Otherwise, the trail was totally obliterated…and there across the field where it was supposed to be, a sea of humongous drifts just waited to embrace unwary sledders. Being totally wary, we were fated to sit out another day, enjoying more Fleur de Lys hospitality on our Quebec snowmobile tour.

Read more about my full snowmobile tour of Gaspésie, Quebec as published in Snow Goer Canada snowmobile magazine. Detailed Quebec snowmobile tour itinerary included! Meanwhile, if you’re looking for more great Quebec snowmobile tour destinations, check out the rest of my Quebec tours .

Go to my Eastern Quebec Snowmobile Planner for all the info, links and contacts you need to organize your own tour!

Check out more Ski-Doo tours!

Riders should reconfirm the routes and services mentioned in this Quebec snowmobile tour article as they may have changed since publication.

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The Gaspé Snowmobile Adventure

Denis lavoie.

• April 9, 2018
• Articles , Destinations , Gaspesie-Iles-de-la-Madeleine

Table of contents

The Gaspé Snowmobile Adventure

Sledding in the gaspé peninsula.

Photo Credit: Joe Enberg

By all accounts, the 2017-2018 snowmobiling season was less than stellar in eastern Ontario. In the area where I do my local sledding – Mississippi Mills, Lanark, and Ottawa west – the local trails were open and ‘green’ status for maybe 15 days total.

Not great, by anyone’s measure.

There were a number of factors involved, as there always are. An early heavy snow fell before there was any frost, preventing the ground from freezing up and leaving creeks, streams and swamps open until late January; several periods of good, cold deep-freeze weather were immediately followed by warm temperatures and rain; one of the local groomers remained in the shop, awaiting parts for a couple of weeks; and we just never got any good, back-to-back snowstorms.

Sure, over 70 centimetres of snow fell during the month of December, but it was 5 degrees on December 2 and 11 degrees on December 5. It went down to minus 22 on the 15 th , only to bounce back up to plus 4 with rain on the 19 th .

Old Man Winter and Mother Nature were having a hard time deciding what to do with our weather.

And the area snowmobilers felt it.

As noted in a previous post, that meant one thing, and one thing only for those of us who wanted to get some serious seat-time in this winter: we had to follow the snow.

My friend and riding-partner John O’Brien and I travelled up to Northern Ontario for our first big adventure of the year and had an incredibly good time. Anyone who has loaded their sleds onto the trailer and made the 8-hour drive from the Ottawa or Toronto areas will tell you that it is well worth the gas money.

But then we returned home to the land of closed local trails and were left with only one choice: begin planning our next adventure.

John and I had both purchased Quebec trail passes back in November because we had something big planned for the 2017-2018 snowmobile season.

We were going to go sledding in the Gaspé Peninsula, more commonly known as the Gaspesie.

This is an area of Canada that is renowned for its remote wilderness and incredible beauty during all 4 seasons, and it is especially well known amongst snowmobile riders from eastern Canada and the northeastern USA for its incredibly deep snow and long-lasting riding season.

The average annual snowfall for Gaspé is 370 centimetres. That’s a little over 12 feet for my readers south of the border.

The Gaspé

So, with a little bit of planning that basically involved checking the status of the snow conditions and the network of trails on the peninsula, we picked a date. John made a couple of motel reservations and we loaded up the trailer, tossed our gear in the ½ ton and hit the road on Saturday morning, March 3.

The drive from Ottawa to Rivière-du-Loup, the area we had chosen as our staging-spot for the next 10 days, is about 7 ½ hours, roughly the same as the drive from Ottawa to the Cochrane/Smooth Rock Falls area of northern Ontario.

I was watching the snow banks (or lack thereof) along the highway, anxiously awaiting that moment when we would begin to know that all was going to be well, for most of the drive.

All the way out past Drummondville the conditions remained lacklustre. There was more grass than snow.

But by the time that we skirted Quebec City, things began to change, and the further east that we travelled on highway 20, the better the conditions began to appear.

It was just before 5:00 pm when we pulled into the parking lot of the Comfort Inn where we would leave the truck and trailer for the next 9 or 10 days, and John and I were both smiling broadly as we stepped out of the truck.

Less than 30 minutes later we had our sleds off the trailer.

20 minutes later we had both gotten our sleds stuck!

This snow was DEEP!

John and I learned very quickly that out here you stay on the marked trails, or you do some heavy cardio. Digging a 250kg machine out of snow that rises past your knees is never easy.

John and I only spent about an hour or so on the trails that first evening. Just enough to convince us both that we were in for something special.

The next morning, we began our adventure in earnest, covering the first of what would end up being a total of 2,507 kilometres travelled over the course of 10 days.

And because I don’t think that my writing of each day’s ride will really convey what it was like, I am going to type less, and show more for this next portion of the story.

You can see why I am not going to try to describe the scene with words. As the old adage goes, a picture is worth a thousand.

Our first day was rather short – we only rode to Rimouski, a distance of about 175 kilometres on trails that were honestly quite rough, bumpy and not overly enjoyable.

After a 400 kilometre ride on day 2, we arrived in Carleton-sur-Mer where we stayed at the Hostellerie Baie Bleue. During the last 25 kilometres of riding, which was well after dark, we saw at least 15 deer on, and alongside the trail. You definitely do not want to be riding too fast out here at night!

The natural beauty of the Gaspé Peninsula is almost surreal

The Gaspé peninsula is truly a winter wonderland.

By day-4 we had discovered the truth in everyone else's description about sledding in the Gaspé Peninsula. This was the day where it all became real and better than I ever could have hoped for. We had headed back north from Carleton-sur-Mer on Trail 595, stopping for lunch at Relais De La Cache – which I wholeheartedly recommend – and then we took a smaller, local trail from the 595 to Murdochville. This trail is known as the Sentiers Chic Chocs, or Chic Chocs Trail, and man, oh man what a ride. The Chic-Chocs mountains contain some of the highest peaks in Quebec, and the views from on high are breathtaking. I did not take too many pictures that day as it was snowing off and on, and really, I was just having too much fun riding!

That picture below of me on my sled on top of a huge snow drift was taken that day on the Chic Chocs Trail, just to give you an idea of the kind of snow we are talking about.

 All of the motels/hotels that we stayed at were more than comfortable, and each had its own plus's. The Copper Hotel in Murdochville was no exception, having dozens of antique sleds on display in the Vintage Snowmobile Museum located in the hotels' basement!

From here on the conditions only improved for us. The Gaspé area was hit with 3 heavy snowfalls over the course of 5-days, and at one point John and I actually had to make the decision to stop riding and look for a place to stay – the snow was just too deep to continue riding safely. The groomers had not been out in several days, and over 30 centimetres (12") of fresh powder was covering the trails. Up in the mountains this meant snow drifts as high as 4 or 5 meters, and neither of us rides a mountain sled. My 129" skid is no match for deep powder, and if it weren't for good fortune and some riders from the Kemptville area I might still be stuck on the mountain, hahaha.

In the photos below you can see a groomer that got stuck in deep powder. It was so deep in many areas that the red trail marking poles were buried.

Those poles are like 4 to 5 feet tall.

And finally, the photo below depicts what was, for me, the highlight of the trip. I knew before we ever left Ottawa that I had to see Percé Rock while I was sledding in the Gaspé Peninsula – and at one point that looked like it was not going to be possible due to all of the snow that had fallen. But the universe offered up an opportunity to rearrange our plans, and John and I made it out to Percé on day 7.

Some of the trails had been groomed the night before; some were still covered in fresh, deep powder; the air was crisp, the sun was shining brightly, and I have to tell you that I now have a reference for sledding nirvana.

There is some really good information on Percé at www.beautifulworld.com/north-america/canada/perce-rock /  if you are interested.

I could go on and on, writing in detail about the entire adventure, but I think I am happier giving you a taste, and then some.

If this post encourages even one reader to head out to the Gaspe Peninsula next season then I will consider it a job well done.

And if you are that reader, and you do decide to go, let me know. I am already planning my return . . .

Before I sign off though, here are a couple of lists and links that you may find useful:

Where we stayed, and where we ate

Rivière-du-Loup: Comfort Inn Rivière-du-Loup ; St. Hubert Chicken and Subway; very comfortable room, excellent value, continental breakfast included, located 100 meters from the trail and gas. I will stay again.

Rimouski: Hotel Rimouski ; hotel restaurant (very good food); very comfortable room, we chose the snowmobile package (decent value including buffet breakfast); a little too much road-riding to get to the hotel, however, the trail does go right by a Shell station for fuel. I will likely try another option next year, or skip Rimouski entirely.

Carleton-sur-Mer: Hostellerie Baie Bleue ; hotel restaurant (very good food); comfortable room; good value; located right on the trail with gas very nearby; I will stay again.

Relais De La Cache: located on the Quebec 595 snowmobile trail about dead-centre of the Gaspé Peninsula, this is a must-stop for food and fuel and they also now have rooms available for overnight stays as well. This was one of my favourite stops during the entire adventure. The menu is limited but the food is great, the service is exemplary and there is fuel on site, which you will likely need anyway. This is a great rest-stop before hitting the famous Chic Chocs Trail heading to Murdochville. We did not stay overnight this time, but I will next year for sure.

Murdochville: Hotel Copper ; hotel restaurant (good food but I would not take the sledder's package as you only have 2 or 3 items from the menu to choose from); decent 1980's style rooms that are due for an update; a little bit of road-riding to get to the hotel, but not too bad; gas is close by; great vintage snowmobile museum in the basement; I will stay again.

Rivière-au-Renard: Auberge Le Caribou ; hotel restaurant (very good food); comfortable room; good value; almost right on the trail and gas is close by; I would stay again.

Gaspé: Motel Adams ; very comfortable rooms; motel restaurant (very good food); *onsite laundry*; excellent value;  a little bit of road-running to get to the motel from the trail, but not bad; gas is close by; I will stay again.

Chandler: Motel Fraser; very comfortable rooms; motel restaurant (good food); great value; right on the trail; gas is close by; the small trail from Trans-Quebec 5 to the motel can be rough/deep depending on conditions. I would stay again.

Sainte-Anne-des-Monts; Motel “À La Brunante” ; decent rooms; motel restaurant (average); way too much road-riding, but little choice; gas across the street. Due to the length of asphalt riding necessary, I will probably make other arrangements next year. 

Must-ride's and Must See's

 Finally, here is a link to a really informative website listing 7 must-ride loops in the Gaspé Peninsula region of eastern Quebec, also known as 'Sledder's Paradise!'

This story originally published at :

https://advjoe.ca/2018/04/the-gaspe-snowmobile-adventure/

Republished with permission from Joe Enberg.

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The Big Bore Snowmobile Tour

At a glance.

World-class trails, big miles, spirited riding, and more miles

If your idea of the ultimate snowmobile trip is one where the days are spent aggressively carving up the world’s best trail system and nights enjoying a great dinner and a beer with new friends, this tour is for you. The Big Bore Tour is a long distance trip without equal, a six day snowmobiling marathon where the same trail is never covered twice.

The experience of riding seventy miles without stopping for a road crossing or encountering another rider can be thrilling. Lunch is served at a fully staffed “relais” located far enough into the park that the electricity is generated on site and the employees sleep there for weeks at a time. If all goes as planned, by late afternoon we are within striking distance of the night’s destination.

A long distance trip is by its very nature a significant accomplishment when completed. Our approach involves maximizing the experience while minimizing the risk. In this effort, there is no substitute for experience. We have learned many lessons over the years, all of which directly impact the way in which we conduct our trips. Whether it’s a satellite communication to ask for assistance or having a network of preferred service providers to rely upon, our experience in long distance touring makes a significant difference.

Trail Network

Leaving well-traveled routes and marginal conditions behind, every mile forward is a new adventure. For an authentic experience, this tour starts from Saint-Michel-Des-Saints and saddlebags over 200 miles to comfortable outfitter lodging each night. With a hot shower, warm bed, and friendly bartender, each destination allows the night to unfold with plenty of laughs and stories.

The formula of the Big Bore is the constant testing of driver and machine, and the diverse terrain of this region always delivers. With an abundance of trail types and variety, there is a constant trail transition from open landscapes for throttle down riding to tighter wooded terrain where the maneuverability of the sled shines. A favorite highlight of this trip is an 80 mile stretch of trail dubbed Piston Alley, where sleds can be tested and the thrill of these great machines is realized.

In the regions of Quebec that we ride, the season typically runs from early January through mid-March. The long season means plenty of snow for grooming, helping to create the world’s best trail system. Another benefit to consistent snow conditions is the ability to make long range plans to ride. The two hundred clubs do a fantastic job of consistently grooming and maintaining this vast trail system.

The Experience

Many friendships have been established on our trips. As one may expect, pranks and jokes are played from time to time and make for great memories and stories.

Our trips are structured so that the riding capabilities of our clients are closely matched. This is critical to developing a group that works well together. We find that groups of six riders per one guide offer the best experience. Our trips are also designed to be interactive, meaning you will have input on how the trip is conducted. You will never feel as though you are merely “following the leader.”

If your sled is not up for a long trip, consider renting a current year Ski-doo snowmobile. Our rental sleds come with a warm suit, helmet and trail permit. Power choices range from 60 - 165 horsepower.

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• The South Side of the Gaspé Peninsula: Some Unforgettable Snowmobile Trails

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• The trail near Pointe-à-la-Croix Richard Marin

Print Back The South Side of the Gaspé Peninsula: Some Unforgettable Snowmobile Trails

Gaspésie is a prime destination for most snowmobilers because of its unique geography making it a natural loop , as well as its vast array of landscapes just as stunning and different from one another.

Obviously, some people want to tour the whole region at once, seeing Percé Rock, criss-crossing the Chic-Chocs and riding along the sea all around the peninsula, but that requires a full week of vacation. The thing is, there are over 3,000 kilometers of trails in the Gaspé Peninsula ! If you don’t have the opportunity to take that much time off or if your plans get thwarted by Mother Nature, Gaspésie offers several options. It’s in that spirit that, as an economic development officer, I undertook a project in 2010 to develop the snowmobiling offering in Gaspésie through a partnership with over forty local organizations, including 17 snowmobile clubs based all over the region.

To make a long story short, besides supporting all the volunteers who work in that field, we wanted to set Gaspésie apart from all the snowmobile destinations, attract more tourists and help them explore the region. To that end, three strategic areas have been defined so that snowmobilers can choose their destination:

• the Chic-Chocs – Forillon area, from Matane to Gaspé , on the north side of the peninsula;
• the Percé – Chaleur Bay area , on the south side of the peninsula, from Percé to Pointe-à-la-Croix;
• and the section from Pointe-à-la-Croix to Mont-Joli , the Mitis-Matapedia Valley area, further to the west.

Exploring the South Side of the Gaspé Peninsula

As a snowmobiler living in Haute-Gaspésie , the Chic-Chocs – Forillon area has always been my favourite playground. Last February, as part of the project, we visited, by snowmobile of course, all the clubs along the trails. That’s when I fully realized the beauty of the various landscapes in other areas of Gaspésie. Here is a summary of my trip in the Chaleur Bay , Matapedia Valley and Mitis areas.

Rivière-au-Renard – Chandler

We leave Rivière-au-Renard in the morning, after a storm that lasted for two days and left nearly a hundred centimetres of snow. Needless to say, we had to tweak our plans a bit on the first day. But you must admit that it’s part of the fun of any snowmobile trip!

Our route toward Chandler , where we had planned to spend the night, takes us in the forest. We ride past an imposing gateway to the Percé – Chaleur Bay area: federated trail #597 , also called Pont Bailey Trail . It goes straight to Murdochville , a hundred kilometres away. The interesting thing about this trail is that it offers 6 different loop options to snowmobilers , ranging from 170 to 800 km.

Chandler – New Richmond

With all the snow that fell recently, trails are in excellent conditions and our goal today is to reach New Richmond . On that section of the route, the bay in Port-Daniel , the many viewpoints on Chaleur Bay stretching all the way to the shores of New Brunswick, the proximity with deer along the trail and the warm and picturesque character of the villages along the coast will charm you for sure. Getting into New Richmond, we cross another important access to the Chaleur Bay area: trail #595 . This one leads to the key station in Saint-Paulin located on the north side of the peninsula, some 195 km from this junction, and connects with La Cache Trail and Faribault Trail. The latter crosses the peninsula right in the middle, offering 4 beautiful loop options: two of over 450 km and two others of over 700 km to the east or to the west.

New Richmond – Amqui

We leave the bayside and head into the Mitis – Matapedia Valley area, through a beautiful scenery of mountains, valleys, fields, rivers and lakes for the last kilometres of the day.

Amqui – Mont-Joli

Mother Nature treated us real well over those four days. My partners and I came back with our heads full of relevant information from our meetings with dedicated volunteers who are even more passionate than we are about snowmobiling in Gaspésie. Our workbook is filled with notes and ideas and we’ll try to meet the expectations of the local snowmobilers and those who come to visit us… In the meantime, I hope that this short post on Québec maritime’s blog will arouse your curiosity enough to come and explore the south side of the Gaspé Peninsula. Have a look at the snowmobiling tours in Gaspésie to see the multiple options you can choose from.

If you liked this article, you might also like...

• Experience the St. Lawrence Tour and Take the Ferry with Your Snowmobile!
• Snowmobiling in Gaspésie: Front-Row Seats to Admire the Chic-Chocs
• Craig Nicholson: The Intrepid Snowmobiler’s Favourite Spots in the Maritime Regions of Québec

Author Richard Marin

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Gaspé Road Trip: 12-day Itinerary Around the Peninsula

by janecanapini | Jan 24, 2022 | Canada , Quebec , Trip Planning

The Gaspé Peninsula is one of the best road trips you can take in Canada, not just for its impressive scenery and varied landscapes, but because this part of maritime Québec has a small-town charm and character all its own. But planning a Gaspé road trip can be daunting, especially if you want to see, well, everything! Here’s our 12-day Itinerary for a Gaspé road trip that starts in Rimouski in the Bas-Saint-Laurent region and takes in all the major must-see stops in the Gaspésie region, as well as a few off-the-beaten-track gems. It also includes recommendations for Gaspé accommodations, places to dine, and a few quirky things you’ll see along the way. You’ll also find a few tips to make the most of your trip, including two reasons why we recommend driving around the Peninsula in a counter-clockwise direction …but you’ll have to read on to find out why!

Day 1. Your Gaspé Road Trip Begins in Rimouski, Québec

Although the city is officially part of the Bas-Saint-Laurent region of Quebec, not the Gaspésie region, Rimouski is pretty much the gateway to the Gaspé Peninsula and well worth spending at least one day exploring. In particular, you shouldn’t miss the Pointe-au-Père National Maritime Historic Site which has one of the Bas-Saint-Laurent region’s most unique lighthouses (it has buttresses and is the second tallest one in Canada).

There’s also the Empress of Ireland Museum on-site which chronicles the worst maritime disaster in Canada (think Titanic, only lesser known, with over 1000 who perished), and the Onondaga , a decommissioned Cold War submarine that was permanently placed in dry dock here in 2008. Henk and I did the self-guided audio tour aboard this, and we have a whole new respect for submariners. (If you are claustrophobic, this may not be the career choice – or the tour – for you!)

STAY: Within walking distance of the Historic Site you’ll find the charming Motel Bienvenue , the perfect spot to spend a night and take in the sunset views of the lighthouse or gather around the firepit with a glass of wine. Try to reserve one of their newest “Lofts’ : they are modern and adorable, like having your own tiny house, with a fully equipped kitchen/living area complete with Murphy bed and whimsical decor.

EAT: Casual dining including great burgers are on the menu at Shaker Restaurant , a restaurant and bar in downtown Rimouski that is popular with the younger crowd. Or if you prefer something a little more upscale , Les Affamés de Rimouski restaurant offers everything from foie gras to fried zucchini flowers and homemade gnocchi.

Day 2 -3. Rimouski to Carleton-sur-Mer via the Route of the Belvederes

Your counter-clockwise Gaspé road trip will circumnavigate the entire Peninsula and it all starts by taking Hwy 132 east and then Hwy 132 south at Mont Joli into the Matapédia Valley . (Hwy 132 continues east, so be sure to follow the signs for 132 SOUTH/towards the town of Amqui.)

The Matapédia Valley follows the river of the same name to its mouth in Chaleur Bay. The drive can be done in 2 and a half hours if you drive it non-stop, but you’ll want to allow at least double that, because along this route is where you’ll discover some of the hidden gems of the Peninsula : impressive lookouts and observation towers that many locals don’t even know are there.

TIP: You might want to pack a lunch before leaving Rimouski, so that you can enjoy a picnic along the way at one of these lookout locations.

This piece of your Gaspé road trip is called the Route of the Belvederes and is a relatively new tourism initiative in the region, designed to showcase places with some of the most spectacular views of the beautiful valleys, hills and rivers of the area. Plus the lookouts themselves are being redesigned to be architecturally interesting in their own right. (Read more about the Route of the Belvederes in detail here .)

It took Henk and I the better part of a day to travel through the valley and every stop was well worth the time we spent there, in many cases having the lookouts to ourselves. Our drive wasn’t rushed in any way, and we still had plenty of time to arrive at Carleton-sur-Mer to check in for our stay.

STAY 1-2 NIGHTS, CARLETON-SUR-MER To top off a day of spectacular views, Henk and I spent the night at a place with a million-dollar view of its own, the Géodômes Desjardins atop Mont Saint-Joseph, just behind the town of Carleton-sur-Mer. These luxury domed cabins are in the heart of this regional park on the mountain’s hillside, and offer a one-of-a-kind stay with views to match over Chaleur Bay.

WHAT TO DO IN THE CHALEUR BAY AREA: We suggest you stay 2 nights in the Carleton-sur-Mer/Chaleur Bay area, so that you can explore some of the area, including the Mont Saint-Joseph park itself and the waterfront of Carleton-sur-Mer (there’s a photogenic lighthouse on a spit of land here too).

Miguasha National Park is a UNESCO World Heritage site nearby, of note because it is where a fossil of a ‘fish with legs’ was discovered, offering proof of the evolution of fish into four-limbed animals!

And the nearby town of Gesgapegiac (25 minutes east) is worth a visit, as this Mi’gmaq reserve has an interesting wigwam-shaped Kateri Tekakwitha Church and photogenic pow-wow grounds with colourful wigwams. (just respect the signs and don’t go inside)

Gesgapegiac also has unusual accommodations of their own: a half-scale replica of the Grand Hermine , the ship that Jacques Cartier sailed in when he came to explore the region. (For our review and details of our stay in that ship/chalet, read more here .)

You might also want to take an afternoon stroll in Taylor’s Point Park , about 11 minutes east of Gesgapegiag in the town of New Richmond. We visited in early September when the waterfront park was participating in the Rencontres Photo Gaspésie , an annual art tour happening throughout the Gaspé Peninsula that showcases outdoor photo exhibitions by local artists.

EAT: If you want to eat in one of the many self-catering accommodations in the area, the town of Carleton-sur-mer has a good grocery store, Metro , which also has plenty of ready-made take-out meals to keep meals simple. Or there are several restaurants along the main street (AKA Highway 132) including a microbrewery/restaurant Microbrasserie Le Naufrageur right on the main street. And if you really want to eat like a local, grab some fried chicken at the Dixie Lee , a regional fast food chicken chain that is a favourite among many locals.

Day 4-5. Town of Percé

Your Gaspé road trip continues east driving from the Chaleur Bay Area towards the town of Percé. The drive takes about 2 1/2 hours, but there are some quirky roadside distractions (not really ‘attractions’!) and a couple of optional stops along the way that you might want to include.

QUIRK ALERT: As you leave Carleton-sur-mer, look for a house with colourful garden ornaments and birdhouses for sale on the front lawn. Leo, the retiree-turned-artist is happy to show you around his worksho p and you might find an interesting or quirky souvenir to take home (like the ‘bird condo’ that took him 150 hours – and half his thumb! – to complete. Yes, there’s a story there!)

If you like local markets and antiques, visit the Ferme Bourdages Tradition in St. Siméon de Bonaventure, a seventh-generation family farm that is known for its strawberry products (including wine!) and has a small antique barn on-site as well.

Or spend an hour or so at the Bioparc de la Gaspésie in Bonaventure, where local wildlife rescued from accident or injury finds a safe haven in this educational sanctuary. (Be sure to seek out Porto, the talking raven , who was given to the Bioparc by a woman who rescued the young bird and raised it in captivity. Porto thinks he’s a human, and actually speaks French! Say hello with a ‘Salut, Porto!” and don’t be shocked when he repeats the greeting! (New staff are often freaked out by Porto’s linguistic abilities!)

QUIRK ALERT: Half an hour after Bonaventure, you’ll drive through Paspébiac where you’ll want to look for the town’s whimsically-painted fire hydrants alongside the highway. You might even recognize a few favourite characters from Disney or Looney Tunes!

Côte Surprise

Remember I said you’d want to do the Gaspé road trip counter-clockwise? One of the reasons for this is for the first view that you will get of Percé Rock . Cresting a hill on the highway at a spot aptly named Côte Surprise, you’ll be stunned when suddenly the Rock will appear in front of you, larger in person than you can imagine from any photo you may have seen and jaw-droppingly impressive.

TIP : Try not to arrive in Percé after dark or you’ll miss the surprise altogether since the Rock isn’t illuminated at all at night.

Plan on spending at least 2 nights in Percé. The town itself is picturesque and charming, with a beautiful waterfront and wharf, good restaurants, artisanal shops, and plenty of things to do for the outdoor enthusiast, including Percé’s UNESCO Global Geopark where you can hike, zipline , or take in the views of the Rock and the Gulf of St. Lawrence from the glass-floored observation platform !

A boat tour around Percé Rock is a must, ideally as part of a visit to Bonaventure Island. The entire island is a provincial park and home to one of the world’s largest and most accessible nesting colonies of the gannet, a seabird with bright yellow head and striking blue-ringed eyes. Seeing over 100,000 of these birds is a rare experience, even if you aren’t a ‘birder’, and the island offers all kinds of hiking trails as well.

TIP: Weather can always be a factor on a visit to any coastal town, which is why you should plan on at least 2 days in Percé so that you have more opportunities to do these types of outdoor activities. Henk and I barely made it to Bonaventure Island before Hurricane Ida rolled in, but thankfully we were able to squeeze in a quick hike to see the gannet colony before the weather shut the tour down.

WHERE TO STAY IN PERCÉ: Definitely choose a hotel with a view of Percé Rock , as there are many right on the shore, from smaller family-run motels to more luxurious hotels, all of which have an authentic charm in keeping with the town. We stayed at the Riotel Percé which had phenomenal views from every room and a perfect location right on the beach. (It has a good on-site restaurant, too: Le Paqbo .)

TIP: The second-floor rooms at Riotel Percé are accessed by stairs only, so if you have issues with climbing or hauling luggage, request a ground floor room instead.

WHERE TO EAT (OR DRINK) IN PERCÉ: For light lunches or a delicious afternoon pastry trea t, try Boulangerie le Fournand , a cute cafe whose name is a modern-day nod to the historic outdoor clay ovens used in the area at the beginning of the last century. Like those traditional baked goods of days gone by, everything here is homemade with quality ingredients, no additives and – hurray! – real butter. For craft beers from a microbrewery that got its start in 2007 in a small fishing village close to Percé, hit up Pub Pit Caribou , the first (and one of the most popular) microbrewers in Eastern Québec. In non-Covid times, the pub here also has live music. For dinner and especially if you love seafood, head to La Maison de Pêcheur right on the waterfront, for an upscale/casual ambiance and a large selection of fresh seafood, including lobster. There’s also grilled meats and pizza options on the menu, so you’ll find something for every taste.

Day 6-7. Gaspé

The town of Gaspé is less than an hour’s drive from Percé, but being located inside a more sheltered inlet, the town has a different vibe than the oceanfront village that is Percé. But Gaspé offers unique attractions of its own, and in order to see them, you should allow at least 2 days here, more if you plan to do a lot of hiking.

WHAT TO DO IN GASPÉ In town, you’ll want to check out the restored historic harbourfront, the ‘Birthplace of Canada’ site where Jacques Cartier planted his famous cross when he ‘claimed’ the country for France.

There’s also a good regional museum not far away, the Gaspésie Museum , where carved stone stele outside the museum commemorate this historic landing and Cartier’s meeting with the local Mi’gmaq people. Inside, this encounter is retold using digitally-enhanced statues of Cartier and a Mi’gmaq chief who each tell the story from their own perspectives.

Mi’gmaq Interpretation Centre To learn first-hand about the local Mi’gmaq people who have lived in the Gaspésie region for thousands of years, you will definitely want to stop at the Mi’gmaq Interpretation Centre . Established by passionate local elders, and with the help of volunteer archaeologists and historians, the Centre showcases authentic artifacts and wigwams that were part of everyday life for centuries. Even though this part of the Gaspé Peninsula is not a designated reserve, there are many Mi’gmaq who live in this area, and the goal of the Centre is to keep this culture and knowledge alive. Our enthusiastic and informative tour guide, Bianca, is a good example of this as she is passionate about sharing this knowledge and demonstrating some of the skills she herself has learned since coming to work at the Centre.

Forillon National Park For nature lovers, the main attraction of Gaspé is without a doubt Forillon National Park . You could easily spend days just hiking the beautiful trails here, including easy descents like the one to ‘La Chute” waterfall or more aggressive hikes like the one out to the tip of the spear of land known as Lands End. But if you only have time or energy for one hike, make it the trail to the Mont Saint Alban observation tower. You’ll start at Cap Bon Ami, with one of the most beautiful views of the coastline and its cliffs, and then you’ll climb up to a spectacular 360-degree observation tower with panoramic views over Lands End . (Here’s a link that includes a more detailed description of this hike ).

If you are into whale watching , Forillon National Park is also the place where all the boat tours launch, and these boat excursions will also give you a chance to observe seals on your way out to the gulf.

WHERE TO STAY IN GASPÉ: If you like to stay at Bed and Breakfast Inns, they don’t get more charming (or conveniently-located) than the Auberge sous les Arbres . Absolutely gorgeous from the lush gardens to the uniquely-furnished rooms to the colourful chairs in its secluded patio area, the Auberge is also quite literally STEPS to downtown Gaspé. A sample of the local craft gin is your welcome upon arrival at the Inn and sets the tone for the kind of hospitality you can expect here.

W HERE TO EAT IN GASPÉ: For great lunches in a charming, characteristic cafe, head to Café des Artistes which has a funky ambiance, great coffee and delicious homemade meals (mac and cheese is a comfort-food must here).

For dinner, Bistro/Bar Brise-Bise on Gaspé’s main street is one of the most popular locales in town, so much so that you should get here early to make sure you get in. If you can’t get a table there, another great option is TÉTÛ in Hotel Baker . We had an amazing meal there (seared scallops, asparagus risotto, and seafood poutine). An added bonus: all 3 dining options are within walking distance of Auberge sous les Arbres, too.

Day 8-9. From the Coast to the Chic-Choc Mountains

Leave Gaspé early, as this is a big driving day on your Gaspésie road trip. Today’s drive will take you around the head of the Peninsula and west along the northern coastline to Sainte-Anne-des-Monts, and then south into the interior and the Chic Choc Mountains . The distance is about 300 km, but you should plan on this taking at least 5 hours to take in a few of the landmarks and views along the way, more if you decide to stop for a leisurely lunch somewhere.

The Northern Coast

If you are interested in seeing lighthouses, there are several places along the northern coast of the Gaspé Peninsula where you may want to stop. Leaving Gaspé on Hwy 132, drive around Forillon Park and in 15 minutes or so just outside the park boundary you’ll pass right by Cap des Rosiers with Canada’s tallest lighthouse. (You can easily get a photo of it from outside, or pay admittance to the site for a closer look including a climb to the top. ) An hour later, and a brief detour off the main highway is Pointe-à-la-Renommée historic site boasting a distinctive red lighthouse and Marconi radio station. An hour’s drive farther along Hwy 132 is the Cap Madeleine lighthouse and a hour past that is Le Martre lighthouse .

This last section of highway in particular is the second reason why we recommend driving this Gaspésie route counter-clockwise: the drive between Cap Madeleine and Le Martre is one of the most visually impressive, as the highway hugs the contour of the land, zigzagging its way along the base of impressive cliffs and through small fishing villages. Driving in this direction means you have the best views of those cliffs on your left, and the sea only metres beside you on the right. The added bonus is that there is a paved shoulder on your right where you can easily stop and take photos of the coastline undulating behind you. Definitely a highlight of the entire drive.

The Chic-Choc Mountains

Many people only stick to the coast when visiting the Gaspé Peninsula, and think of the region as a purely maritime one. But the Peninsula offers beautiful interiors as well, thanks to the Chic-Choc mountain range, a continuation of the Appalachian Mountains. The Chic-Chocs are a nature-lover’s paradise , with alpine lakes, waterfalls, Quebec’s second tallest mountain (Mont Jacques-Cartier), a small human population and a big moose one. At the heart of it all is Parc national de la Gaspésie (Gaspésie National Park), a 4-season mecca for hiking, skiing, fishing, canoeing, and camping.

WHERE TO STAY IN GASPÉSIE NATIONAL PARK: Gîte du Mont-Albert is a beautiful lodge-style hotel operated by the Park that offers all the amenities you would expect of a 4-star deluxe hotel, plus hiking trails right at its doorstep. The hotel is welcoming and unpretentious, and totally understands its outdoorsy clientele and what they need: from free on-site laundry and boot drying facilities to order-ahead box lunches you can take with you on long hikes.

A short walk from the hotel is the Park’s Visitor Information Centre , where we recommend all visitors should start, in order to get expert advice on what activities best suit your interests and activity level. We consulted with the park information staff, who recommended a couple of hiking trails where we could see waterfalls (the Chute Sainte-Anne Trail ), panoramic views and possibly moose.

Unfortunately, because of heavy mist shrouding our high-plateau trail ( Mont-Ernest-Laforce Trail ), we only spotted squirrel, no moose on our hikes.

TIP: Gaspésie Park’s terrain includes alpine tundra and boreal forest habitats, home to the only caribou population south of the St. Lawrence River. The caribou are difficult to find, however, and even the chance of spotting them involves a difficult day-long hike.

WHERE TO EAT IN GASPÉSIE PARK: The restaurant at Gîte Mont-Albert may have a captive audience, but Chef Renault Louis runs the kitchen here as if it were a standalone restaurant with all the attention to quality and variety you would expect. We had great meals here whether it was abundant, tasty breakfasts or sophisticated dinners.

Regardless of which dining room you eat in, allow some time for a grownup cocktail in the great room/bar to just relax and admire the mountain views.

Day 10-11. Roadside Attractions and Le Bic National Park

Leaving the mountains, you’ll head back to the coast and where your Gaspé road trip all started: the Bas-Saint-Laurent region near Rimouski. From Mont Albert, the drive will take you about 3 hours, but allow for a half day so you can stop off on the way at one of the Gaspésie Region’s signature attractions: Reford Gardens , also known as Jardins de Métis .

QUIRK ALERT: About an hour east of Reford Gardens, keep your eyes open for this odd roadside sculpture in Grosses-Roches that looks like a half-buried Viking boat skeleton. I have no idea who made it or why, but we had to stop for a photo anyways. Because…road trip!

QUIRK ALERT: About 35-40 minutes’ drive farther west along Hwy 132, (just past the town of Saint Ulric), look on the left hand side of the highway for a ‘castle’ of sorts. (Apparently the former owner of this chateau-like home pleaded guilty to illegal cigarette trafficking a few years back, so you can see where some of those profits went!) I do admire his imagination and full points for sheer number of turrets and cupolas, though!

Jardins de Métis

Built by Elsie Reford from 1926-1958, Jardins de Métis isn’t just one of North America’s largest gardens; it’s also as innovative and forward-thinking as its founder, who saw an opportunity to transform her fishing camp on the Métis River into a thriving garden, including exotic and rare species of plants.

Today that creative vision continues with the site’s annual International Garden Festival , where creative garden artists interpret each year’s theme with a variety of contemporary and innovative installations. We’re not talking about a raised box of petunias, here, but what amounts to an open-air art museum, with outdoor exhibits integrated with the landscape in unique and beautiful ways. There’s some really cool interactive stuff here, so be sure to have fun exploring it all!

Métis Beach

A good Gaspé road trip is as much about detours and discoveries as it is about planned routes and rest stops. We stumbled onto a picturesque community almost by accident, when we left Jardins de Métis and decided to turn towards the St. Lawrence river and follow the signs for the Route des Navigateurs instead of hopping onto Hwy 132. What we found was Métis Beach, a community of narrow lanes flanked by tall manicured hedges, huge Victorian homes and restored cottages, and friendly locals who seemed as happy to see visitors as we were to be there.

In talking with them, we learned that Métis Beach is one of the oldest summer destinations in Canada, and that by the end of the 19th and beginning of the 20th century, this St. Lawrence River-side destination was well-established as a prestigious beach community where many of the Montreal well-to-do families ‘summered’. Today there are only plaques throughout the community that identify where these historic buildings, hotels and attractions once stood but the river views are still just as beautiful.

“Le Grand Rassemblement”

Quirky roadside attractions are part of road trips too, and our last stop 30 minutes before Rimouski was at one of these. Le Grand Rassemblement is an art installation (next to an art gallery, inn and restaurant) and the brainchild of artist Marcel Gagnon. The installation consists of a gathering’ ( ‘rassemblement’ ) of primitive sculptural figures ’emerging’ from the waters of the St. Lawrence River.

It was something I had seen when researching our road trip , and knew I wanted to check out in person. It’s definitely the most impressive work by Gagnon, (in my opinion anyways, after a quick tour of the gallery), and our timing worked out well, with the tide just coming in and the waves creating a dramatic backdrop for the sculptures. Creepy or cool? Well, that’s up to you.

Le Bic National Park

It would be a huge miss to plan a road trip to the Gaspé Peninsula, and not visit Parc national du Bic (Le Bic National Park) as well, whether you do it at the beginning of the trip, or in our case, at the end. This is why we recommend spending 2 nights here, so that you have at least a day to explore the park. Part of the Bas-Saint-Laurent region, this archipelago of islets and islands in the St. Lawrence Estuary just west of Rimouski offers dramatically changing tidal landscapes, incredible sunsets, and hiking trails that offer the chance to see everything from white-tailed deer to sunbathing seals.

We did a few hikes over the course of a day, in order to see the same landscapes at both low and high tide. At the South West entrance, there’s an easy hike to and around the Isle aux Amours (Lovers’ Island) which can only be accessed at low tide.

TIP: BE SURE TO CHECK THE TIDE SCHEDULE posted on the mainland side of the Isle aux Amours Trail so you don’t get trapped on the island by rising waters or you might have to find something to do to pass the time until the high tide recedes (like those ‘unfortunate’ lovers after which the island was named. nudge nudge wink wink!)

A good location for seal-spotting in this area of the Park is the beach at Anse aux Bouleaux-Ouest at low tide . There are a couple of trails leading to the beach and once there, we spotted a few heads popping up out of the water but no seals on the rocks, probably because it was too cool/late in the day for them to do any sunbathing.

From the Visitor Centre (Rioux Farm) entrance of the Park, we hiked part of the Chemin-du-Nord trail which takes you along an easy trail following the shore to a dramatic rocky crag (at about the halfway point of the trail).

Along the way if the tide is low, you can climb on some of the offshore rocks which rapidly become islands once the tide moves back in. We also spotted a family of white-tailed deer who were so comfortable with visitors they comfortably grazed only a few meters away from us.

TIP: A great place to see the sunset at Le Bic is on a narrow spit of land called the Route du Quai that is just off Hwy 132, about 3 minutes’ drive east of the Park’s South West Visitor Centre/Entrance.

WHERE TO STAY IN LE BIC: One of the most eclectic and interesting accommodations in Bas-Saint-Laurent region is hands down the Auberge du Mange Grenouille in the tiny village of Le Bic. This historic inn dates back to the 1840s and takes quirky to a whole new level with its interior furnishings and decor, and you can spend hours just discovering all of its eclectic and original details inside. The hotel has wonderful gardens, an upper outdoor deck under a canopy of trees, and an elevated position that offers great views over Le Bic National Park.

WHERE TO EAT IN LE BIC: The restaurant at Mange Grenouille is one of the points of pride for its owners, and is a popular choice for locals as well as guests. The reasons for that are many: the servers are friendly, experienced and knowledgable, the wine list is robust and the menu is creative and refined, using regional ingredients from local suppliers that change seasonally. Definitely a notch above. And if you want to pack a picnic or snacks for your hikes in the park, the village of Le Bic has a great little grocery store within walking distance of the Auberge (just ask for directions).

QUIRK ALERT: Looks like school is about to start on the front lawn of this home in Le Bic! You’ll find it just a little west of the Auberge du Mange Grenouille.

Your Bucket List Gaspe Road Trip is now Complete!

It’s time to head home (wherever home is) but we hope that this 12-day Gaspé Peninsula Road Trip itinerary gives you a sense of what this unique region of Canada offers visitors, and why driving it is the best way to experience it. From iconic landmarks like Percé Rock that can surprise and delight you when they ‘suddenly appear’, to hidden overlooks and quirky roadside attractions that you just wouldn’t get to see otherwise, there’s a reason the Gaspé Peninsula should be on your Road Trip Bucket List.

MORE PRACTICAL TIPS FOR YOUR GASPÉ ROAD TRIP:

Overall Distance

The 12-day Gaspé road trip itinerary as described above covers about 1300 km (approximately 800 miles ) of highway, including side drives in and around the overnight stops.

Best Time to Visit the Gaspésie Region

The warmer months ( May – early September ) are definitely the time to visit the Gaspésie Region. Maritime regions can be cooler than inland destinations well into late spring and you’ll want to have the best weather for doing all those outdoor activities. Plus many of the attractions and restaurants in the smaller communities are only open seasonally. That being said, travelling in the week or so after Labour Day , there are fewer people on the road since the kids are back in school, almost everything is still open, and you might even see some of the fall colour starting.

Navigating and Cell Coverage

Navigating the Gaspé Peninsula is actually one of the easiest parts of this road trip. Highway 132 pretty much circumnavigates the Peninsula and is a single-lane road most of the time. Cell coverage is pretty good everywhere, too, so even if you do manage to get lost, you can easily get back on track. Just be careful in the Chaleur Bay region : your cell phone might pick up signal from nearby New Brunswick across the bay, which is also on a different time zone!! So be sure you are on Gaspé time, or you might miss any reservations you’ve made for dinner or activities.

What to Bring

Casual is the rule of thumb for the Gaspé when it comes to clothing, and even in the nicest hotels, don’t expect to see stilettos or suits. Layered outdoor attire is a must for exploring the many parks and trails, so be sure to bring rainwear, hiking boots and any specific gear you like to have on-hand and in your backpack (including a first aid kit of course). Your camera of choice is a must, but remember drones are not allowed in any of the parks, near airports, etc (research and follow the rules if you are bringing one). It’s also a good idea to have a cooler in the car for food and drinks, especially on the longest days when you are doing a lot of driving and roadside stops.

French or English?

Both are spoken pretty much everywhere, and certainly in any of the more popular tourist destinations. Occasionally you may meet someone who only speaks French, especially if you are heading off the beaten track, but this is your chance to practice! (or at least find out where that Google Translate app is on your phone.)

Road Trip Tips

Like on any road trip, have an emergency roadside kit in your car, including booster cables. It’s also a good idea to have your roadside assistance coverage /membership up to date. Also, have your car insurance company’s contact information handy, in case you do have any kind of fender bender. (Québec has different insurance rules than some other provinces in Canada, so you will want to know exactly what to do. For example, the province DOES assign fault in the case of an accident, unlike Ontario’s ‘no-fault’ insurance rules.) Gas prices are not outrageous in the region, but electric vehicle drivers may have a tough time , as charging stations are not common here (although we did notice one at the Auberge sous les Arbres in Gaspé – kudos to them!).

Other Resources, including Covid Restrictions and Information

Definitely check out the Québec Maritime website for all kinds of information not just on the Gaspé region, but also the Bas-Saint-Laurent (this covers Rimouski, Le Bic, and other points west of the Gaspé that you may be travelling through).

You’ll find information relating to Québec’s Covid restrictions/policies here . These may be different than other provinces, or change from time to time, so be sure to stay informed.

Special thanks to Québec Maritime tourism who hosted Henk and I on our tour of the Gaspé Peninsula.

Jane Canapini is a member of the Travel Media Association of Canada and the North American Travel Journalists Association. She established GrownupTravels.com in 2014 to share information and tips based on personal experience so her readers could get the most out of their travels.

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15 Comments

Your 12 day itinerary looks great. My wife and I are setting out on our jaunt on September 17th. We are hoping that the weather will cooperate. One question: Is premium gas readily available throughout Gaspé?

I can’t say for certain whether premium is available everywhere but I’m sure if you stick to the bigger stations (Irving, Petrocanada, etc), you’ll find it. Have a great trip!

What a bonus it was to find this itinerary Jane. We are heading east to NB in Sept in our first big trip in our camper van. Decided to do the Gaspe as neither of us have been there past Rimouski. We don’t have 12 days for Gaspe and won’t be going in your recommended direction but I so appreciate all the suggestions of what not to miss. We will be leaving Perce and heading down to NB and wondered what to see on that stretch. so your suggestion of Carleton Sur Mer is a big help. We don’t want to just be doing 5 hr drives each day. Have you gone into NB? suggestions to stop part way to Shediac? thanks so much!

Hey Wendi! Sounds like you are planning an amazing trip! We’ve driven some of the coastal route you’ll be taking to Shediac but we headed inland on our way to Hopewell Rocks, so I don’t have too many suggestions for that piece of your drive. But if you are willing to drive inland a bit to Moncton, I would definitely try to time a visit to that city so that you can see the Tidal Bore on the river. It’s something else to see a river “going backwards” when the tide comes in!

thanks Jane.. we lived NS in the 70’s. and have been to Moncton many times (I referred to the bore as Boring!). but have never done Hopewell and Fundy so heading that way before visiting family in Fredericton. Thanks again for the Gaspe suggestions! will let you know how it goes!!

So glad you are doing Hopewell! (Since you’ve lived in NS before you know that you should time your visit with the tides and be sure to go twice at low and high tides so you can really appreciate the difference. The little village of Alma is good to see this difference as well, with boats literally propped up on sawhorses at the wharf so they don’t tip over onto the now-dry land!). Have a great trip!

And we are back and I must thank you for all your hints!! I had looked at Bic for our first night but for a quick overnight it was too $$$ as we wouldn’t be making use of all it offered. so we went to Capitaine Howard (we are in a van) where my husband ate lobsters 40 yrs ago. They have room for trailers and I figured what we saved would pay for the lobster!! sadly it was closed for season but the campsite on the st Lawrence with sunrise/sunset was spectacular. Set off in the AM for Gaspe…stopping at the Grande rassemblement!!! and saw the big house but half way along we hit a wall of. fog.. could see nothing over the water so cut off and went thru glorious colours and scenery on 198 coming out at Gaspe. Lunch at Bar Brise (ok not fabulous) and onto the wonder Forillon. Since it was nice we thought we would do a quick hike (I misread!( and carried on up the mt Alban trail. nearly did me in but views were. spectacular. Did the Lands end hike the next day and just after we arrived fog rolled in and by the time we got back huge rain! Perce was terrific. much nicer town than Gaspe Enjoyed the bakery and the beer. but then the drive down the. Babe d’Chaleur was hours of white knuckle driving from the winds off the st Lawrence come across. very scary. Winds and fog prevented us from st Josephs and much in Carleton Sur mer. did see Leo’s birdhouses but sadly they have freshly painted all the fire hydrants. so no Disney characters. the 2 national parks in NB were lovely and lunch in Alma was yummy on a perfect fall day after another big hike. Finished in st Andrews with a 28000 step day along trail and over the “ocean” exploring Ministers island. Got out of the wind and rain as Fiona came in. wonderful trip through beautiful country. thanks again so much for all your advice and hints!!

WOW! You really did pack a lot in! Sounds like you had an amazing trip (always a bit of a gamble with weather, of course – we had Hurricane Ida to contend with during our trip!). I’m so glad you found some of our info useful, and thank you for sharing your adventures.

Beautiful writeup Jane. I see you have skipped Saint-Anne-Des-Monts and the aquarium Exploramer and its Sea Excursion activities near by, any specific reason to skip them? What else would be your advise to do this trip with 1.5 and 3 year old kids?

Thank you, Chakor. I really appreciate your visiting our site. We didn’t hit up the Exploramer you mentioned because we honestly couldn’t fit anything more into our itinerary! But it looks like it would be really interesting. As for activities for young children, unfortunately we focus on adult travel only, since we don’t travel with children ourselves. However, when your kids get a little older, I think they would love staying in the Grande Hermine replica ship near Chaleur Bay!

Thank You Jane, Another question, if we need to explore Forillon park for a day and do Whale Watching next day, where do you recommend the night stay, should we stay at Gaspe or near Forillon park?

Gaspé is the best option. It’s close to Forillon Park and it’s not a long drive to go from there to either the Whale Watching boats at the south entrance to the Park or the north entrance of the Park where you can see Cap Bon Ami, do the short Waterfall hike, etc.

Good morning, I enjoyed reading your description of the 12 day journey. My biggest question is accomodations… Is it essential to have advanced overnight reservations? or can we find reasonable accomodations just as we arrive at any destination, such as Perce or Gaspe? the reason is that one is never certain how long to stay in one place. We might plan one day, then love it and end up wanting to stay 2 or 3. Or the reverse. Our journey will begin from Annapolis, Maryland. A stop in Boston and in Greenville, Maine. Then probably pass through St. Leonard and Campbellton before reaching the Route 132 counter clockwise journey. How far we might get on any one day is uncertain. Your advice will help greatly for our advance thinking. Many thanks, PHIL

Hi Phil. Accommodation availability will really depend on when you travel. July and August are the busiest months in the Gaspe, especially because kids are out of school, so be prepared for that. If you are travelling during that time, or if you have your heart set on a particular hotel or star ranking, you should book that in advance. The town of Perce has a lot of hotels so it’s likely you will find something if you do decide to just ‘wing it’, but it may not be in a preferred location. Gaspe is similar. The one thing I would recommend is that you check to see if there is anything ‘special’ happening at any destination (ie. a festival) since that will make booking hotels trickier. (you can go to tourisme-gaspesie.com to check that out). I hope this helps, and that you have an amazing trip!

Excellent coverage Jane! Both magnificent and quaint vistas. Thanks for the trip around the Gaspe!

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