Coaticook, Quebec - The Eastern Townships
Bonjour! Êtes-vous à la recherche d'une aventure canadienne?
You need to check out Quebec’s Eastern Townships!
During this time of self- isolation due to COVID-19, I have been spending some time thinking about all the places I am incredibly thankful to have visited or seen throughout the years. Some further away than others, but the place that I am most excited to go back to is the Townships.
I admit, I am a little bias. My family actually settled in the Eastern Townships back in the late 1700’s (yes, you read that correctly). Although it is not our primary residence now, ever since I was born I have spent every single summer in the Coaticook area.
So, why should you be considering a visit to the Townships? I think a better question would be “are there any reasons you should NOT visit?” (spoiler: the answer is no. You should definitely visit!)
We actually have so much to recommend, that we will be dividing up into three separate posts, each focusing on a different area of the Townships;Coaticook, Ayres Cliff & Stanstead.
Up first, Coaticook!
The view from Mont Pinacle in the winter
The village of Coaticook is only 1 hour and 45 minutes South East of Montreal, and has so much to offer visitors. The town itself has many little shops, cafes, restaurants, and tourist attractions, and the surrounding area offers countryside views of the mountains and clear spring-fed lakes.
Here are some of our personal favourite places:
Parc de la Gorge de Coaticook
Parc De La Gorge is a stunning walk through the forest alongside the gorge, complete with well maintained trails and easy to follow signage. It also has an incredible suspension bridge, in fact it is the longest suspended footbridge in North America! Even as someone who is scared of heights, I thoroughly enjoy crossing the bridge…unless there is someone purposely trying to make it sway (jerks!).
If you come back later in the evening, you can participate in Foresta Lumina, offering visitors a magical multimedia experience.
For more information, click here! http://forestalumina.com/en/
Mount Pinnacle
This is one of my personal favourites. I have climbed this mountain at Lac Lyster (Baldwin Mills, Coaticook) every year for as long as I can remember! It is a nice forested hike, and the top offers incredible views of the mountains in Canada, as well as the nearby USA. If you look on a map, you can see that the border with the States is very close. If you’re more into rock climbing than hiking, this is a great opportunity for you as well.
Back in 2016, Benny and I actually took our engagement photos up on top of the Pinnacle at sunset. It was stunning! If you choose to watch the sunset from the top, just be sure to come prepared with flashlights and headlamps for the hike back down, as it is steep and rocky in some parts.
Lac Lyster
This lake is beautiful and clean; a perfect place to rent a cottage or relax on the public beach. There is also a rental booth for paddle boards, paddle boats, kayaks and more, so lots of activities to enjoy in the summer! If you come in the winter, you can rent a chalet to stay at while skiing at any of the nearby mountains.
Laiterie De Coaticook
I scream, you scream, we all scream for ice cream! ‘Nuff said.
So many flavors available to choose from. If you’re not interested in having a cone at the store, you can always grab a tub of your favourite flavour at the local grocery stores. I personally love their Chocolate Peanut or Mint Chip flavour.
