Matane and La Matanie: Coast, Mountains and Hiking Trails
Accommodation in Matane
When looking for a hotel in Matane, you can also take La Matanie’s nature and recreational offerings into account when choosing your destination. The region brings together the mouth of the St. Lawrence River, the Monts Chic-Chocs, the Réserve faunique de Matane, and opportunities for hiking and fishing. Concrete figures help put the different highlights into perspective: coastline length, elevation, area, and trail distances each describe a different aspect of the landscape. This can help you decide whether the sea, the mountains, or outdoor activities should shape your stay.
Coast along the St. Lawrence River
La Matanie’s coast stretches for 75 km along the mouth of the St. Lawrence River. Public access points, marked on site, are available for visits to the sea. Parking is available nearby, and a path leads down to the beach. Check local parking and beach conditions if you plan to use one of these access points. The coastline length describes the region as a whole; for a visit, the specific access point and its conditions are what matter.
Mountains and the RĂ©serve faunique de Matane
The Monts Chic-Chocs cross La Matanie and reach elevations of more than 1,000 m. The Réserve faunique de Matane is also located in La Matanie. It covers 1,275 km² and has a network of more than 100 km of hiking trails. The elevation figure describes the Monts Chic-Chocs, the area figure describes the reserve, and the distance refers to its trail network. These figures provide different points of reference: the area figure refers to the territory, while the trail distance describes the hiking network.
Hikes and trail distances
The reserve offers 13 short hikes for all ability levels, from easy to challenging; their lengths range from 4 to 17 km. Difficulty levels and distance information help you compare individual hikes by challenge and length. In addition, the Sentier International des Appalaches – Québec (SIA-QC) runs for 650 km through the Gaspésie; more than 100 km of it passes through the Réserve faunique de Matane. The long-distance route and the 13 shorter hikes provide two different trail-distance reference points for hiking. Trail conditions and seasonal access may vary.
Fishing in the lakes
Fishing is available in around 20 lakes in the RĂ©serve faunique de Matane. Brook trout are found in all these lakes; Lake Matane also has lake trout. The approximate number gives an idea of the scale of the fishing opportunities, while the mention of Lake Matane identifies an additional fish species in that lake. If you want to take fish populations into account when making your choice, you can relate the general information about the lakes to the specific example of Lake Matane.
Viewpoint near Sainte-Paule
Near Sainte-Paule, a lookout tower on a mountain close to Lac à la Loutre offers wide-ranging views of wind turbines, the Matapédia Valley, and neighboring villages. The named sights range from technical installations to a valley and the surrounding communities. This viewpoint adds a distinct perspective on the landscape to the coastal and hiking themes. If you want to prioritize views over hiking routes or fishing waters when planning your trip, these sights offer a concrete point of reference.
Discover more destinations
Discover more destinations: Matane, Saint-Ulric, Sainte-Félicité, Les Méchins, Baie-Des-Sables, Sainte-Paule, Témiscamingue, La Vallée-Du-Richelieu.
For the broader travel overview: Quebec.
