Parc de la Gorge de Coaticook (Foresta Lumina): Trail Report

Parc de la Gorge de Coaticook (Foresta Lumina): Trail Report

Le Parc de la Gorge de Coaticook offers up an impressive suspension bridge, 16 kms of trails, cabins and campsites, Foresta Lumina, hiking, camping (summer and winter), mountain biking and Snowshoeing, Yukigassen (The battle of snowballs), ice climbing and more.

Suggested Stops

Fooooooood truck! This was new from last time I attended Foresta Lumina. A food truck right at the entrance (smart move) for you to enjoy as you. wait to entire. There’s the normal fair, along with poutine…of course. #canadianAF

Important Insights

Foresta Lumina experience: In the darkness, an orchestra of music was playing with strong base like sounds. Rhythmic. Attention grabbing. Oddly comforting. The kind of music that you could feel. Tall majestic trees occupied either side of the trail and on them were vertically placed lights that seemingly danced to the music. The branches and leaves rustled with the wind. And if you looked straight up, you would see a night sky littered with stars. With all the people streaming through the trail, you could still stop here and feel like the only one there. Time appeared stopped, yet the music played. This, this was part of the magic that Foresta Lumina provides in the Parc de la gorge de Coaticook.

The trail itself is packed dirt, lit where needed, but it is a hiking trail so caution is required to avoid tripping at night. The entire walk through the show is 2.6kms and ends at the reception building (washrooms on site) prior to exiting.

This is not a trail for baby strollers. Actually, I can’t even honestly say I’d recommend this experience for younger kids since the story tells the tale of the heroine and demons. I brought my niece when she was 6 years old and it was a bit too much (read scary) for her. Since then. though, I’ve noticed that the experience has become more interactive for kids so perhaps the young ones could handle it. I dunno. Up to you!

Land Acknowledgement

These are the lands of the Anishinabewaki ᐊᓂᔑᓈᐯᐗᑭ and Omàmìwininìwag (Algonquin) people.⁠ It is important as avid hikers and stewards of the land, to acknowledge and understand the full story our surroundings along with the people that care for her, both past and present. As sourced from native-land.ca, if there are corrections please send to victoria@girlgonegood.com.

Land Management

These trails are managed by the Parc de la gorge de Coaticook. They host Foresta Lumina which is an incredible experience mixing the power of light, sound, nature, and storytelling. There is camping available onsite.

GPS Coordinates

45.14694715044016, -71.80445183048761

Street Address

135 rue Michaud, Coaticook, Quebec

Directions

If participating in Foresta Lumina: Parking is something that the Parc de la Gorge de Coaticook has right. There’s a decent enough parking lot for day use, but even better yet, there’s a free shuttle bus for Foresta Lumina ticket holders in the evenings. The shuttle bus location is well marked in a parking lot between rue de menage and route 147. As a point of reference, it is locate across the Giant Tiger. There was a Foresta Lumina employee, on stilts and in costume, on site to explain the shuttle service and make sure everyone got a lift. The shuttle arrives frequently (every 15mins ish) and continues well past the last time slot for the show for the return. The ride takes less than 10mins and there’s a guide that explains what to expect upon arrival. It is highly recommended to use the shuttle service instead of driving down yourself as there is limited parking, the streets are tight, and there is an abundance of people walking around.

Parking

Large parking lot at trailhead.

Cell Reception

Yes

Washrooms

Located at the Nature Centre

Accessibility

Yes (for a portion of the trail)

Trail Details

Entrance Fee

8

Hours of Operation

All seasons. Open dawn to dusk daily.

Trail Map

Available from PERO Outaouais.

Trailhead

Located across the road from the parking lot.

Number of Trails

4

Total Distance (km)

16

Elevation Gain (m)

30

Cell Reception

Yes

Features

Woodlands, Interpretive Trail

Activities

Hiking, Nature Centre

Dogs

Permitted on-leash.

Trail Description

The park offers 16kms worth of trails to explore, the ‘montagne’ trail is approximately 4kms. Along the trail you’ll find rivers, waterfalls, and an observation tower. It’s a well maintained trail, wide in sections, and marked ok. I would bring a trail map with you, it’s easy to take the wrong route. The best part is the varied terrain and scenery along the path. There is an observation tower to hike up, which in the summer was an alright view but it’s likely best in the fall. The full gorge trail is 3.5kms, well marked and packed dirt path. The traffic tends to be heavier on this trail since it is shorter, more accessible, and boosts North American’s longest suspension foot bridge. If you hike the full trail you’ll hit the bridge, caves, and observation tower. Oh, and mountain bikers since sections of the trails are shared with them.

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