Three days in a mountain hut in Coleraine: hiking, light rain, and moments suspended in nature.

Follow my lead. I’d like to give you a sneak preview of something new that’s well worth the diversions: brand new refuges right in the heart of nature, at the foot of Mount Caribou, on the Sentiers pédestres des 3 Monts de Coleraine. It’s an undiscovered spot, but one that promises rejuvenating breaks and memorable hikes.

Head for the small village of Saint-Joseph-de-Coleraine, located between the towns of Disraeli and Thetford Mines. This peaceful corner of the Chaudière-Appalaches region is home to Mount Caribou, Mount Kerr and Mount Oak, the famous 3 Mountains. And it’s here at the foot of Mount Caribou, in the Vimy sector, that a wonderful surprise awaits lovers of gentle adventure: three new refuges have just been built, and can be booked now on the 3 Monts website.

Meet Le Convivial, L’Escalade and Le Ciel étoilé. Three rustic, well-thought-out accommodations, in addition to existing options such as the Panoramique yurt, the Desjardins chalet and the wilderness campsites.

I was lucky enough to stay in Le Convivial, a two-storey refuge with huge windows overlooking the forest. Unlike the other two, it can accommodate up to 7 people. The more intimate Ciel étoilé and L’Escalade can accommodate 2-4 people, perfect for couples with children or duos of friends. Everything is designed for a simple but comfortable stay: mattress, sofa bed, dining table, wood-burning stove, outdoor fire pit, Adirondack chairs and full kitchen equipment.

All you have to do is bring your own food, water and bedding. Access is on foot, less than 1 km away, about a 15-minute walk: bring a good rucksack to save you trips to the car!

As soon as we arrived and dropped off our bags, we put on our boots and set off to discover Mount Caribou, which is directly accessible from our chalet. Its rock-covered summit offers a 360° view, perfect for sunrises (or sunsets), Mother Nature permitting. The complete loop is 11 km long and has a vertical drop of 483 m. This is an intermediate hike, demanding because of its jagged but accessible route, with its technical sections dotted with roots and rocks. The trails are well-marked and well-maintained: pure pleasure.

The next day, the weather decided to keep us indoors. The perfect opportunity to make the most of our refuge: reading, playing cards, napping to the rhythm of the rain… At the end of the day, a lull in the weather allowed us a short hike to Étang Dry. It was a muddy but satisfying 5 km loop with a 219 m vertical drop. A great way to stretch your legs without going too far.