Our must-see stops for a van road trip in the Eastern Townships
The Eastern Townships is a region of Quebec synonymous with wide open spaces and gentle nature. A perfect place for a short van road trip!
Here are our must-see stops to make the most of it.
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Sutton
Photo provided by EASTERN TOWNSHIPS TOURISM, IAN ROBERGE
This vast protected area, part of the Green Mountains Nature Reserve, is a natural treasure. It can be explored through 52 km of marked trails in the mountainous environment, with its four peaks and magnificent panoramas. The area is very popular on weekends, especially the famous Round Top trail.
Mountain biking at Plein air Sutton
Photo taken from the Facebook page Plein air Sutton / MTB
Sutton Mountain is definitely not lacking in attractions! Plein Air Sutton is a beautiful forest playground with 47 km of single-track and double-track mountain bike trails, carefully developed by passionate volunteers. A technical bike park at the base of the Sutton ski resort allows you to perfect your style.
VéloVolant at the Green Devil
Photo provided by EASTERN TOWNSHIPS TOURISM, MATHIEU DUPUIS
The Au Diable Vert mountain resort offers a host of activities, including the VéloVolant, unique in Canada, which allows you to pedal through the canopy on a bike attached to a 1 km cable.
On site, you can also walk through a 22 km network of trails (from April to November), but also enjoy the joys of water activities – canoeing, kayaking, paddleboarding and even river tubing – on the beautiful Missisquoi River.
In the evening, enjoy the stars at ObservÉtoiles , a four-season 180-seat amphitheater with heated bleachers, built into the mountainside and even offering augmented reality. Guided by the narration of talented astronomers, each nighttime performance is adapted to the changing beauty of space.
Where to sleep? At Mont SuttonThe ski resort offers overnight stays for vans and RVs in select parking lots (P2C, P3B, P5C, P5D) in summer and fall. For $20/night, without water, electricity, or toilets, you must be completely self-sufficient. This will allow you to enjoy even more of the resort's summer activities: hiking with a chairlift ride, giant zip line , and mountain biking.
Where to eat? Orford and Magog
Photo provided by EASTERN TOWNSHIPS TOURISM
Dominated by the massif that gives it its name, this 59.5 km² park, founded in 1938, offers spectacular panoramas from its peaks, the highest of which reaches 853 m. Renowned for hiking, it offers 80 km of trails, including the Crêtes trail, 22 km of climbs and striking views.
Viewpoint enthusiasts will also enjoy the Mont-Chauve trail, a 10.6 km loop that leads to the summit of the park's second-highest mountain. Families will prefer the L'Étang-Fer-de-Lance trail, a 3.5 km loop (accessible with a big-wheeled stroller) that passes through a maple grove and leads to a lookout for a beautiful panorama.
The park also offers a beautiful network of 13 singletrack trails reserved exclusively for mountain biking, from easy to expert level, with rentals and washing stations on site.
Hiking at Mont-OrfordVery popular in winter, the resort is also active in summer. It boasts an extensive hiking network, with over 80 km to explore, including climbs to the summit and an occasional open hybrid gondola, offering a convenient ascent to panoramic viewpoints offering views of the region.
Walk in the Cherry River Marsh
Photo QMI Agency, ANTOINE STAB
Just a stone's throw from downtown Magog, the Marais de la Rivière-aux-Cerises is a unique protected ecosystem. It offers 6 km of hiking trails open year-round, as well as an interpretation center combining artistic exhibitions and environmental issues.
- Info: maraisauxcerises.com
Photo taken from FACEBOOK, LAVENDER BLUE
This place offers a sensory immersion in a floral universe thanks to its lavender fields, gardens, an interpretation center, and an immersive experience designed by Moment Factory. The place invites you to relax, picnic, and stroll, with the added bonus of a shop open year-round and a lively summer program (music, entertainment, wellness).
Where to sleep? At the Mont-Orford National Park campsite
Photo taken from the SEPAQ website
This campground offers over 500 sites spread across the Stukely Lake and Fraser Lake sectors. Campers can choose between traditional, semi-serviced sites, or ready-to-camp accommodations (Étoile, Nova, or traditional).
Where to eat? Coaticook
Photo QMI Agency, Antoine Stab
This park is home to the longest pedestrian suspension bridge in North America (163 m), which spans the 50 m deep Coaticook Gorge. It is accessed via the La Gorge trail, which also leads to a dam and a cave. In total, 19 km of marked trails cross this beautiful territory.
In the evening, the Foresta Lumina multimedia installation by Moment Factory transforms the venue into an immersive experience. The 2.6 km illuminated trail features several scenic areas and immerses visitors in a magical world inspired by Quebec forest mythology. Simply magical!
Photo provided by GOUVQC – OUTPOST
Photo QMI Agency, ANTOINE STAB
Certified 4 stars, this campsite offers 183 serviced and unserviced pitches, each equipped with a picnic table and campfire area. Campers have access to the site's hiking and mountain biking trails, as well as the pool and splash pads.
Where to eat?
Photo QMI Agency, ANTOINE STAB
Photo provided by GOUVQC – OUTPOST, GAËLLE LEROYER
Photo provided by GouvQc Jean-Simon Begin
This iconic Quebec park needs no introduction. It offers more than 50 km of hiking trails leading to panoramic peaks, including Mount Mégantic (1,105 m above sea level) and Mount Saint-Joseph (1,065 m). In the heart of the International Dark Sky Reserve, the ASTROLab and its observatories allow you to explore the universe after a day in the mountains, combining outdoor adventure and astronomical immersion in one of the purest skies in Quebec.
Where to sleep? At the Mont-Mégantic National Park campsite
Photo provided by EASTERN TOWNSHIPS TOURISM
The Franceville sector campsite offers 44 tent sites and 22 RV sites, all well-defined and equipped with basic amenities. The site combines comfort and forest immersion, with picnic areas, fire pits, and water access, in a peaceful, natural setting.
At Camping Aventure Mégantic
Photo taken from the Facebook page Camping Aventure Mégantic
Camping Aventure Mégantic, located in Frontenac, offers 168 sites, including 141 with full services (30 and 50 amps), 13 with two services, and 15 ready-to-camp sites (pods, Cabania, Apodis, yurts) available from May to October. The site is open year-round and accepts leashed pets. It features two heated pools, water slides, a four-season spa, playgrounds, and a range of family activities. Just 8 km from downtown Lac-Mégantic, it offers panoramic views of the lake and mountains.
Where to eat?This report was made possible thanks to Bromont Campervan and Tourisme Cantons-de-l'Est .
LE Journal de Montreal
