Hiking and swimming at Parc du Massif du Sud

On a beautiful summer’s day, what could be better than a hike, a picnic by a waterfall and a refreshing swim? Here’s the story of a perfect day at Parc du Massif du Sud with a few work colleagues.

A lot of courses!

The weather is fine today. We’re off with colleagues for a hike in the Parc du Massif du Sud. There are 11 day hikes on offer. Three are just under 5 km, four between 5 and 10 km and four between 10 and 20 km. There are also two long-distance routes that must be completed over two days.

The less-than-5-km routes, which take around an hour and a half to complete, are ideal for young families, or for us today.

We did the Passerelles trail, which runs alongside the crystal-clear waters of the Ruisseau du Milieu before reaching the Refuge du Milieu.

Along the trail, we found several interpretation points on the local ecosystem.

The perfect place for a picnic

We retraced our steps to take the Beaudoin trail. This trail, which passes through the superb Bassin site with its waterfalls and pools, was our excuse to stop for an outdoor picnic.

Waterfalls at the top of our list

The place is magnificent, and the waterfalls refreshed us all.

When the sun disappears and reappears with the arrival or absence of clouds, the play of light and shadow completely changes the perspective and the place is simply magical. We decide to stretch our pleasure even further with a slide and a swim!

What kids!

Portes de l'Enfer canyon

In the afternoon, we head for the Portes de l’Enfer canyon! The brand-new footbridge offers several unique views of the canyon. The place is superb…. You can get there via the trail of the same name.

For lack of time (we had too much fun swimming), we drove to the parking lot in the Portes de l’Enfer area. From there, it’s just a 300-metre walk to the site. The trip was well worth it, with the view over the canyon. Another great discovery.

I’ve hiked Parc du Massif du Sud many times before, in autumn to enjoy the colors, in winter for the snowy landscapes and for the challenge of snowshoeing to the summit of Mont Chocolat.

I was more than pleasantly surprised to do it in summer and discover the trails from a new angle. The waterfalls and the canyon were my favorite spots on this superb day out with colleagues.

And next time? I’m embarking on the great adventure of the Parcours des Contrées de l’Est: a two-day hike to the summit of Mont Saint-Magloire, via the Crête des Grives and the canyon. A great excuse to spend the night in a pod or campsite!

Photos : Stéphanie Allard

Parc du Massif du Sud

300 Rte du Massif-du-Sud, Saint-Philémon

Whether you’re a fan of spectacular views, idyllic rivers, old-growth forests, birdwatching or simply the great outdoors, our many hiking trails of varying levels of difficulty are sure to please.

11 ONE-DAY TRAILS AND 2 TWO-DAY TRAILS

Read more