The International Appalachian Trail in Quebec covers more than 650 km of trails. It starts at Matapedia, then heads towards the Valley to Amqui before reaching the Matane wildlife reserve. It crosses the Parc de la Gaspésie including the Albert and Jacques-Cartier mountains, then descends towards Mont-Saint-Pierre where it follows the sea, from village to village, to Forillon National Park. Ranging from a rural setting in an agricultural setting to the steep cliffs of Forillon which overlook the sea, passing by the summits of the Chic-Chocset of the McGerrigle, the trail offers several possibilities for hiking. The trail is suitable for routes of varying duration (1 to 40 days) and difficulty (slight or steep drop).

Depending on the season, some sections can be covered from mid-May, but overall the trail is accessible from mid-June to the end of October. Services for hikers and members are offered along the trail in collaboration with our partners (transportation, accommodation, guide, supplies, information, topographic maps, books, etc.).

Access to the trail is free, but a daily access fee is required in the parks (de la Gaspésie and Forillon ).

This sector offers possibilities of escapades of a few hours or expeditions with nights in shelters. Matapedia, "where rivers meet" in the Micmac language opens the door to SIA in Quebec. According to the first "Thru-Hikers" from the south, Matapedia will prove to be a "Trail Town" of first choice, offering the services necessary for walkers in a setting of rivers and mountains. This section marks the transition between the fir forest in the center of the peninsula and the sugar bushes on the slopes of the Restigouche. The trail offers a variety of landscapes, forest ecosystems, deep valleys and viewpoints on the mountainside.

Overlooking the village of Matapédia, the "cape des deux rivières" offers both an astonishing point of view on the meeting of rivers and a vision of the rocky heart of the Appalachians. The crossing of the Saint-André sector to Sainte-Marguerite, in the Valley presents a level of sometimes technical and advanced hiking, but also magnificent landscapes and steeped in legends.

In Saint-André you can sleep in a refuge or on a campsite. Towards the Clark North canyon, a refuge built on the mountainside allows you to enjoy the sunset over the valley. Continuing, we cross a mountain range sheltering moose, we descend into a lush and impressive canyon and we follow the foothills of the Assemetquagan river where the salmon bask on a background of quartz which reflects the light. The Quartz Refuge is there.

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