Mont Megantic National Park in southeastern Quebec is a special place for outdoor enthusiasts. It’s fairly remote, has beautiful mountain scenery in all seasons but particularly in winter, is part of the first international dark sky reserve, and is home to the Mont Mégantic Astronomical Observatory. When visiting the park, there are several trails to choose from, including one that takes you right next to the observatory. This is definitely one of our favorite areas in Québec to enjoy some fantastic winter hiking trails. To help you get the most out of your time when visiting the park, we present below our guide to some of the Best Winter Hiking Trails in Mont Mégantic National Park, focusing on those that we believe best maximize the effort-to-reward ratio.
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You might also be interested in these pages:
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About Mont Mégantic National Park
Mont Mégantic National Park is a provincial park in Quebec (Canada), created in 1994. It is one of the more remote National Parks in Québec, located near the southeastern corner of the province very close to the northwestern border of Maine (USA). The park is also part of what became the first international dark sky reserve in 2007 International Dark-Sky Association, making it the perfect place to do some star gazing after a great day of hiking.
There are several peaks that are accessible by hiking trails, including Mout-Mégantic, which is Quebec’s tenth-highest peak. In total, the park has more than 50km of hiking trails, with a range of easy, moderate and difficult hikes. In addition, there are also over 13km of cross-country ski trails and 16km of backcountry skiing in the national park.
Daily access fees and Annual passes
Quebec National Parks are managed by the SÉPAQ, a government agency that manages all provincial parks and wildlife preserves in Québec.
There is a limit to the number of visitors that can enter any Québec SÉPAQ National Park on any given day. It is therefore strongly recommended that you purchase your daily right of access online before a visit or that you acquire an annual pass.
The daily pass ($9.85 (2024)) can be purchased here up to 30 days before a visit.
The annual pass can be purchased here either for unlimited access to a single national park ($49.25 (2024)) or for unlimited access to all SÉPAQ national parks ($88.50 (2024)). Even if you have an annual pass, we still recommend arriving early in the morning or mid-to-late afternoon to avoid showing up to a filled parking lot.
The Mont Mégantic National Park is divided into two sections, each with its own entrances, visitor center and parking lots. In part due to the park’s remoteness, we’ve found that the parking lots rarely fill up here in winter.
The Franceville Sector is located in the northeast corner of the park and contains the park’s easiest hikes and the mountain summits lie at lower elevations than the other sector.
The Observatory Sector is located in the southeast corner of the park and contains the park’s most difficult hikes, including the trail that will take you up to the observatory.
The Observatory sector’s visitor center is open daily from 9 am-4 pm (with slightly longer hours during the Christmas holidays and for March Break), whereas the Franceville sector’s visitor center is open daily from 10 am-5 pm (with slightly longer hours during the Christmas holidays and for March Break). However, you are free to start your hike before or finish your hike after those hours. The only restriction we are aware of concerns the immediate area surrounding the Observatory, which must be vacated between sunset and sunrise.
Dogs aren’t allowed on any of the trails in winter, and only on the Mont Mégantic trail during summer.
The best and quickest way to go from one sector to another is by driving. Both entrances are separated by about 25 km, which takes about 25 minutes to drive.
Although there is a backcountry trail that connects both sectors, this trail isn’t as well maintained or frequented as each sector’s main trails. And if you don’t want to backtrack between sectors, it’s best to have two vehicles (one parked in each sector).
The Observatory
Opened in 1978, The Mont-Mégantic Observatory houses the largest telescope in eastern North America, and the fourth largest in Canada. Although not the biggest, the state-of-the-art instruments attached to the Mont-Mégantic telescope make it the most powerful telescope in Canada. Though you can drive up to the observatory in summer, in winter the only way to reach it is via the Mont Mégantic Hiking Trail (described below).
In 1996, the Mont-Mégantic ASTROLab, an astronomy activity centre, opened its doors to the general public. Located near the start point (and end point) of several trails in the eastern part of the National Park, the ASTROlab is open daily during the winter where visitors can learn from interactive displays, with special multimedia presentations taking place on Saturday evenings, that includes high-definition astronomical footage presented on a large movie-theater-like screen.
Attending a multimedia evening presentation costs $22.50 (2024) and tickets can be purchased ahead of time online. For each available Saturday evening, you can choose between two different time slots for the presentation, either 5:30-8 pm or 8:30-11 pm. If the sky is clear, part of the evening is spent stargazing outside through specialized telescopes. You can also partake in an optional and free short walk along a trail illuminated by torchlight.
Orientation – How to Get to Mont Mégantic National Park
Due to the park’s remoteness, the best way to reach the park is with your own vehicle. Located in southeastern Québec, the National Park is roughly 2h30-2h45 from either Montréal or Québec City, depending on which entrance you are aiming for (both park entrances are 25 min apart). If coming from the United States, the park is about 3 hours from Burlington or 5 hours from Boston.
If coming from Montreal, you will travel along a major highway (Highway 10) for the first 1h30 and a half so, until you pass the town of Sherbrooke (the closest large city to the national park), after which you will drive along several different countryside roads through farmland and various small towns along the way. All roads are paved, except a 10km portion of the road that connects both park entrances.
If you don’t have your own vehicle, a transportation service is offered by Navette Nature from Montreal. However, service to Mont Mégantic National Park is very infrequent (at most once a month).
When to Go?
To experience a proper winter hike and beautiful white landscapes, it’s best to plan your visit between mid-December and mid-March. That being said, there are year-to-year differences regarding the early and late winter snow conditions. If you would like to visit early or late in the winter season, it’s best to check the park conditions first. You can generally find them listed at the top of the national park page.
Hiking and Safety Tips
It is highly recommended to wear crampons/traction cleats under your shoes or boots when hiking any of the four following trails. You can rent some from the visitor center for $8 or buy your own on Amazon for $20-$25.
In the event of large amounts of recent snowfall, you might be better off using snowshoes than hiking with boots and cleats. The national park details the recent snowfall stats and the trail conditions (densely packed snow or new powdered snow). The visitor center also rents out snowshoes if need be.
Also, always bear in mind that no matter how cold it is at the base of the mountain, it’s going to be even colder at the summit (and windier), so remember to dress appropriately. It’s generally recommended to wear fewer layers to start with since you will warm up as you start to hike. But it’s a great idea to pack some extra warm gear for when you stop or reach the summit.
Winter Hiking Packing List
Crampons / Ice Cleats – These are a must-have to help you with those steep ascents/descents or navigate icy trail conditions.
External Battery – Cold weather significantly affects cell phone battery drainage. Best to be prepared with an external power source to recharge your phone if needed.
Hiking poles – These can be particularly useful in winter, especially when not wearing any crampons or ice cleats.
Hand warmers – if you are like us and often remove your gloves to take pictures, having little hotties around care be hand life savers in freezing weather.
All Trails subscription – comes in really handy for areas with little or no cell reception, as the annual subscription allows you to download trail maps for offline use.
Best Winter Hiking Trails in Mont Mégantic National Park
It is highly recommended to wear crampons/traction cleats under your shoes or boots when hiking any of the four following trails. You can rent some from either one of the visitor centers for $8 or buy your own on Amazon for $20-$25.
Mont Mégantic Trail (Observatory Sector)
This was our favorite trail in the national park. Although it leads to the park’s highest summit, we didn’t find the climb to be too difficult as the ascent is done fairly gradually throughout the first half of the hike, and, although there aren’t as many official viewpoints as some of the other trails, those that are there are truly spectacular. And if that wasn’t enough, walking through the frozen forest near the summit is a surreal scene, and arriving next to the Observatory is a jaw-dropping experience.
Distance: 11.7 km
Route Type: Partial Loop
Elevation gain: 525 m
Average duration: 3h30-4h
AllTrails rating: (4.6, 616 ratings (2024))
From the Observatory, you can either return the way you came or take a partial loop trail back. For more information on this trail, check out our Mont Mégantic Trail Winter Hiking Guide.
Not an AllTrails member yet? We highly recommend signing up for either their free or paid membership plans. The free plan allows you to find new trails and plan routes but it can only be used while hiking if you have access to mobile data. The paid membership plan (AllTrails+) allows you to download trail maps for offline use and provides live progress updates and off-route notifications.
If you are still uncertain – you should know that the All Trails mobile application was voted the 2023 iPhone App of the Year by Apple.
Mont Saint-Joseph Trail (Observatory Sector)
This is the most challenging trail from the best trail list. Although slightly shorter with slightly less elevation gain than the Mont Mégantic trail, most of the ascent on this trail is compressed in the first 4km, whereas the ascent on the Mont Mégantic trail is spread out over the first 5.5 km, making the Mont Saint-Joseph a slightly tougher climb. But with several beautiful viewpoints along the way, you will be more than rewarded for your efforts.
Distance: 11.5 km
Route Type: Loop
Elevation gain: 460 m (cumulative elevation gain: 505 m)
The distance listed above is accurate if you complete a loop trail. You can also do an out-and-back version of the trail that will shave off a few kilometres, but the descent will be steeper and more challenging. For more information on this trail, check out our Mont Saint-Joseph Trail Winter Hiking Guide.
Trail of the Peaks / “Sentier des Cimes” (Franceville Sector)
Also known as the Cimes Trail (“Sentier des Cimes” in French), this loop trail first slowly ascends the park’s northern mountain range and follows a ridgeline leading to the sector’s highest peak (Mont Franceville) at an altitude of 840 m (about 2750 feet). There are several beautiful viewpoints along the trail, some looking north beyond the park, and some looking south towards the park’s southern mountains, such as Mont Mégantic and Mont Saint Joseph. In particular, you’ll have great views of Mont Mégantic and its Observatory, from a distance.
After reaching the highest peak, the trail starts to descend through a series of switchbacks and starts to loop back towards the trailhead. The final few kilometres of the trail follow a valley river along a mostly flat path.
Distance: 12.4 km
Route Type: Loop
Elevation gain: 370 m (cumulative elevation gain: 390 m)
AllTrails rating: (4.6, 888 ratings (2024))
For more information on this trail, check out our Trail of Peaks (Sentier des Cimes) Winter Hiking Guide.
Escarpment Trail to Sugarloaf Mountain (Franceville Sector)
This is the shortest and most family-friendly of the best trail list. The trail follows a gentle climb for the first part of the trail until the climb intensifies as you make your way around and then over the smallest of the massif mountains, Sugarloaf Mountain (Montagne Pain de Sucre). There are a few viewpoints around the summit including one offering panoramic views of the Mont Mégantic to the east and the Mont Franceville to the north.
Distance: 7.1 km
Route Type: Mostly out & back, partial loop near the middle
Elevation gain: 190 m (cumulative elevation gain: 234 m)
AllTrails rating: (4.7, 442 ratings (2024))
For more information on this trail, check out our Escarpment Trail to Sugarloaf Mountain Winter Hiking Guide.
Other Mont Mégantic National Park Trails
The national park has a few other trails available for those who perhaps don’t want to climb – their only downside is that they don’t reward with stunning viewpoints as with the trails listed above. That being said, they are all still very scenic trails going through various forested areas, often following a gently flowing river.
The River Trail (Franceville Sector)
This short out-and-back trail (2.6km) is essentially the first portion of the Escarpment trail described above, but it has you turn back toward the start once you reach a large bridge and river crossing. The trail is mostly flat (30m elevation gain).
The Talweg Trail (Franceville Sector)
This moderate out & back trail (8.4km) is essentially the last third of the Trail of the Peaks (Cimes trail) described above, the section that follows the valley river. There is a slight progressive elevation gain during the out portion of the trail (about 100m elevation gain), with the equivalent gentle descent on the way back.
The Soleil Trail (Observatory Sector)
This is a short loop trail that does require a bit of climbing (142m of elevation gain over 1.5km) but rewards you with a nice viewpoint at the midway point (the Soleil Belvedere). The total length of the tail is 3.4km, and the trailhead is the same as for the Mont Saint-Joseph Trail.
You’ll notice two other trails listed at the Soleil Trail trailhead, the Piemond Trail (4.9km) and Pentecote Trail (7.8km). We don’t particularly recommend these trails as both involve a fair bit of additional elevation gain without much additional rewards. The Piedmont Trail only has one viewpoint (the same one as the Soleil Trail) and the Pentecote Trail only has one additional viewpoint. If you are willing to hike the Pentecote trail, we feel that you might as well try to make it to the Mont Saint-Joseph summit.
Where to Stay Near Mont Mégantic National Park
Due to the park’s remoteness, you might be inclined to spend the night somewhere nearby. There are several options including cabins within the park and several B&Bs scattered around the park.
If you’re interested in staying within the park, accommodation options range from basic huts to modern Scandinavian-style cabins. It’s best to book ahead, as these get booked several months in advance, particularly for weekend stays.
We particularly enjoyed our stay in this spacious apartment, which was perfectly located halfway between both park sectors. Alternatively, there are several B&B options to choose from.
You might also be interested in these pages:
6 Quebec Hiking Trails that Are Stunning in Winter
Best Winter Hiking Trails in Charlevoix region
Best Winter Hiking Trails in Sutton (Eastern townships)
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Well, that wraps it up! We hope you enjoyed our Guide on the Best Winter Hiking Trails in Mont Mégantic National Park and that it will prove useful for planning your trip to the beautiful Eastern Townships.
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