Nancy

I love going for a hike in this enchanting valley. The hike is at a level that can be done by families, without major elevation gain. All along, the view is magnificent, and you can breathe in the intoxicating scent of the conifers.

After an outdoor activity, I like to eat a meal or a snack in this Sainte-Flore restaurant. A good soup and superb homemade pastries in a setting that changes with the seasons completed with the on-site antiques exhibition.

If you are a beginner in cross-country skiing or if you like shorter routes, I recommend trails 3 and 4 of this cross-country skiing and snowshoeing club. The tracks are very well maintained, they are traced almost daily. For the more experienced skier, I recommend trying trail number 5 with more technical elements and challenges in an all-nature setting. Before leaving, don’t hesitate to stop at the La Mie de Grand-Mère’s bakery for its soups, meals, bread and pastries.

One of my favorite bike rides starts at the Sainte-Flore’s church to go towards Vallée du Parc. The view of the fields and the mountain are magnificent. – Not to spoil anything, but the asphalt is new there! At Vallée du Parc, the track enters under forest cover and passes the mountain. After, I continue to the entrance of La Mauricie National Park in the St-Gérard-des-Laurentides sector. I like to take a break on the dock at Lac-à-la-Pêche then return by route 351. To end the day well, I recommend to make a gourmet stop either at the Zélé restaurant.

My favorite cross-country ski hike is in La Mauricie National Park. Departure from the Rivière-à-la-Pêche sector by taking track number 6 towards the Pimbina refuge. The view is simply breathtaking. I then continue with number 5, more in the hinterland and which is a little more of a difficult level, but very exhilarating in its configuration and its landscapes. Resourcing guaranteed! Arrived at the refuge of Lac Isaïe, I return by the track number 3. When exiting the park, I always make a gourmet stop, for a meal or a macchiato, at 2800 du Parc. The food is excellent, and the view of the Saint-Maurice River is superb.

For a family picnic, my favorite place is the parc in the Grand-Mère sector. There is a playground, and it’s possible to bike there in short loops. For a hike with more exploration, I like to take the Petite Traverse which allows us to cross to the other side of the Saint-Maurice River. From there, I pass through the St-Georges-de Champlain sector by the cycling trail and go around the lac à la Tortue.