With its islands, located in the St. Lawrence River and Gulf, and its sandy beaches, the manicoise immensity knows how to satisfy fantasies of the sea. Its most exceptional aquatic fauna evolves among an incomparable flora. Pointe-des-Monts and Les Escoumins invite
you, for that matter, to take a dive under water in order to meet this fauna and flora
and discover this truly magical universe. Numerous shipwrecks, scattered in many
places on the bottom of the sea in the Manicouagan region, have become the vestiges of other times. In a kayak, search for peaceful havens and paddle among the whales aboard your quiet vessel. Then, a complete different type of wonder can be discovered
in its backcountry; throughout the Groulx Mountains emerge spectacular sites where
you can practice your trekking. These sites form a magnificent territory of 200 000 km2 of multiple landscapes allowing you to go hiking, take biking excursions and much more...

© S. Pelchat

Canoeing In addition to the St. Lawrence River, the Côte-Nord territory is covered with watercourses. You will find an abundance of lakes and rivers that are all terrific areas for your canoe excursions. Get reenergized, meditate for a long time during a solitary journey that resembles a pilgrimage, travel down rivers marked with mystery, admire the colours of the undulating water, or stop on fine-sand beaches where slender birds and brightly coloured vegetation coexist. Come and catchthe wave!

© ATRM

Horseback Riding The Manicouagan is a good place for horseback and sleigh riding. Whether you prefer to curb a horse or let yourself be led, many ranches offer the possibility to safely practice equestrian activities with or without a guide at a very affordable price. Discover every angle of the Manicouagan.

© D. Prévéreault

Golf Do you like to golf? Heed the call of the wild in Tadoussac, Chute-aux-Outardes and Baie-Comeau, where you can enjoy a game of golf in a superb natural setting, usually located near a picturesque lake or river. Walk up to the tee. Take a deep breath of fresh air. Swing. Watch your ball arc through the air. Repeat. Could the invigorating sea air help improve your game? Come find out. A veritable feast for the senses awaits you at the regional golf courses.

© G. Cormier

Sea Kayaking Sea kayaking is undeniably the best way to get in touch with the sea without altering its quietness. Experienced instructors lead you into discovering the benefits of sea kayaking in complete safety while professional guides accompany you in the wonderful world of sea excursions. These guides often play the role of biologists, naturalists or ecologists. Sea kayaking is an environmentally-friendly way to observe the magnificentwhales of the St. Lawrence. Let yourself be amazed by the blow of whales, the glance of seals or the magical landscapes as you paddle the Manicouagan region. New this summer, la route Bleue des Baleines (the blue whale route) opens onto a navigable network that is about 350 km long, covering the territory from Sacré-Coeur to Baie-Trinité. A navigation guide, offering information to users on the different stops along the maritime route, such as rest areas, launching sites, or campsites, is also available. For more information or to obtain the guide, contact the Fédération québécoise du canot et du kayak at (514) 252-3001, www.canot kayak.qc.ca.

© J.P. L. Messier

Groulx/Uapashke Mountains Located 340 km from Baie-Comeau on the Trans- Québec Labrador and just below the 51st parallel on the banks of the crater, the Groulx Mountains, also called the Uapashke Mountains, are a true ecotourism paradise. With some thirty peaks reaching more than 1,000 m and covering an area of 5,000 km2, they are among the most imposing massifs in Québec. Vast alpine plateaus accessible via two trails (Kilomètre 335 and Kilomètre 365) on Route 389, offer dazzling scenery and an unrivalled feeling of freedom. The view stretches to the horizon and covers magnificent fields rippling with colorful tundra vegetation, or covered with virgin snow, where you can roam with a map and a compass. Researchers from different American universities come back here regularly. Because of its biodiversity, the climbing of the Groulx Mountains can be compared to an excursion extending from the St. Lawrence River to the Ungava Bay. You start hiking in the dense boreal forest on the massif’s flanks, then you go through the taiga scattered with black spruce to finally reach the arctic tundra; a circuit taking only a few hours. Among these great outdoors, the high peaks watch over the Île René-Levasseur which is nestled right in the middle of a gigantic meteorite crater formed 214 million years ago. Nicknamed the “eye of Québec”, this crater is known as the fourth biggest meteorite crater on the planet. Prompted by all these exceptional features, the local interests of the territory are working towards the worldwide recognition of this unique heritage by UNESCO as a World Biosphere Reserve. You are a nature lover? Join the Société des amis des monts Groulx, which organizes its Grande Corvéeevery fall during the Labour Day weekend. Here you will meet your peers during this spontaneous bivouac! On the program are an interpreted hike, cleaning, clearing, cutting dead wood, developing trails and wilderness campsites, as well as other rudimentary interventions. For this annual gathering with the “friends” of the Groulx Mountains, this ecological land development association whose vocation is strictly wilderness, bring your tools, your food and your good mood, and experience an adventure where work and fun come together in a gratifying and profitable way. After the chores, the participants are invited to finish the day around a nice campfire.

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