Canadian Running – September-October 2019

The Gaspé

Peninsula,

Quebec

Known more as an eastern Canadian hiker’s paradise,

the Gaspé has plenty to offer trail runners too

By Joanna Kotsopoulos

T

he Gaspé Peninsula is the hidden gem of eastern Canada.

Located in the Quebec Maritime region, at the south-

eastern tip of Quebec, it is described as the place where the

mountains meet the sea and an oasis of hiking trails with

breathtaking views. The Gaspé is situated between the Gulf of

the St. Lawrence and Chaleur Bay to the south. Driving the coast

with the water on one side and majestic mountains on the other,

through picturesque villages – where almost all of its popula-

tion of about 140,000 live – can only be described as epic.

The Gaspé is composed of five regions: The Coast; Upper

Gaspé; Land ’s End; Chaleur Bay; and Matapédia Valley. These

regions boast four national parks, a teeming history of artists

and artisans and the legendary Percé Rock, located in the

Land ’s End region. The Peninsula is rugged, with its central

region dominated by the spectacular Chic-Choc Mountains,

a continuation of the Appalachian Mountains; with 25 peaks

over 1,000 metres high, they provide a multitude of trails with

panoramic, breathtaking views.

Heading east along Route 132, the longest highway in

Quebec, you enter into the Upper Gaspé region and the

ABOVE AND

RIGHT

Runners

enjoying the

trails and

scenery at the

Gaspesia 100

DESTINATION

GASPÉ PENINSULA,

QUEBEC

Facts

DISTANCES 3,000 kilometres of trails over 5 regions

MUST-RUN TRAILS Mont Albert, 17.4K loop trail and 11K

round-trip trail; Bonaventure National Park, 18K of marked

trails with views of Percé Rock

34 Canadian Running September & October 2019, Volume 12, Issue 6

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