Things to see and do Sainte-Anne-Des-Monts

Located in the heart of the Gaspé Peninsula, Parc national de la Gaspésie (802.2 km²) is a veritable sea of mountains, offering breathtaking panoramic views. A true darling of Quebecers and tourists alike, the park boasts 25 peaks over 1,000 metres in height, including Mont Albert (1,154 metres) and Mont Jacques-Cartier (1,268 metres) - the Chic-Chocs and McGerrigle mountains also run through the park and are popular with outdoor enthusiasts. These peaks, among the highest in eastern Canada, are famous for their subarctic vegetation, identical to that of Quebec's Far North. The same territory is home to a diversity of species unique to Quebec, including moose, white-tailed deer and Gaspé caribou (the only place to see caribou in southern Quebec). Several types of accommodation are available in the park, but we can't overlook the excellent service provided by the Gîte du Mont-Albert inn, nestled in the heart of the park and its emblem.

From Sainte-Anne-des-Monts, take Route 299 South for 40 km (north entrance); from New Richmond, take Route 299 North for 92 km (south entrance). There are several reception points: the Discovery and Services Centre in the Mont-Albert sector, at the north entrance, and two camping points (Lac-Cascapédia reception and Mont-Jacques-Cartier reception).

Discovery and Services Centre (mid-May to mid-October and late December to mid-April): permanent exhibition on the park's geology, subarctic vegetation and unique wildlife. Conferences and film screenings. Store selling and renting camping and outdoor equipment. Find out more here to plan your trip.

Lodging: Gîte du Mont-Albert, chalets, refuges, ready-to-camp tents, Étoile ready-to-camp, serviced camping, winter camping at Mont-Albert campground.

Equipment rentals: watercraft, hiking boots, backpacks, winter camping accessories, mountain snowshoes, Ski Hok, Nordic skis, complete Nordic ski equipment, etc.

Activities: short or long hikes (guided or unguided), nautical activities, fishing by the day or with accommodation, salmon fishing, wildlife observation, snowshoeing, fatbike, cross-country skiing, Nordic skiing, off-piste areas (telemark, alpine skiing, snowboarding and snowshoeing). Numerous companies offer additional activities.

This scientific museum invites visitors to discover the ecosystems and biodiversity of the St. Lawrence. In summer 2024, Exploramer will inaugurate a new ecosystem aquarium and permanent exhibition. Through this exhibition, you'll be transported to the heart of the St. Lawrence and meet the fish, molluscs and crustaceans that live there. The tour includes a tactile experience led by scientific animators: touch live lobsters, starfish and sea urchins! Upstairs, two temporary exhibitions are presented: Exceptional Beings. When science competes with fiction, and Tentacles and Co. In addition to the exhibitions, the museum offers a wide range of activities to discover, taste and learn about the St. Lawrence:

Excursions at sea aboard the C-E Marin Exploramer : 4 themes offered daily by scientific animators(Discovery of the St. Lawrence, Laboratory on the Sea, Blue Fork introduction to sustainable fisheries and Sunset on the Haute-Gaspésie).

Dare to Taste explains how Quebec's commercial fisheries work and how to consume marine products sustainably, concluding with a tasting of 5 little-known local marine species.

Animated activities on the shore: Fish picking with access to fyke nets (fixed fishing gear), Guided walk on the beach to discover the species that live there, and Night stroll on the beach.

In summer 2025, Exploramer will inaugurate the St. Lawrence Shark Pavilion.