Nearest city La Malbaie Area 224.7 km² Phone +1 800-665-6527 | Governing body SEPAQ Province Québec Established June 28, 2000 | |
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Location Lac-Pikauba, Charlevoix Regional County Municipality / Mont-Élie, Charlevoix-Est Regional County Municipality, Quebec, Canada Address 25 Boulevard Notre Dame, Clermont, QC G4A 1C2, Canada Similar Montagne des Érables, Charlevoix, Mont‑Orford National Park, Mont‑Tremblant National Park, Fairmont Le Manoir Richelieu Profiles | ||
The Hautes-Gorges-de-la-Rivière-Malbaie National Park is a provincial park in the Charlevoix region of Quebec, Canada. Centering on the Malbaie River Gorge, it is the centerpiece of the UNESCO Charlevoix biosphere reserve. Despite its name, it is not in Canada's national park system, nor administered by Parks Canada. It is administered by the Société des établissements de plein air du Québec (Sépaq). The park can be reached via a local road, 30 kilometers (19 mi) northwards from Route 138 in Saint-Aimé-des-Lacs.
The park was created in 2000 and has a total area of 224.7 km². The 9.2 km² Grands-Ormes Ecological Reserve is an enclave within the park.
The park lies within the Eastern forest-boreal transition ecoregion.
Recreation
Activities available in the park include hiking, riverboat cruises, canoeing, kayaking, fishing, cycling, rabascaw, birding, ice climbing, and camping.
There are three camp sites in the park, one of which can only be reached by canoeing or biking.
The park contains seven hiking trails totaling 32.9 kilometers (20.4 mi), including one that is 10.5 kilometers (6.5 mi) long with an 800 meters (2,600 ft) elevation gain. On these trails, hikers can reach the top of the Montagne des Érables, the highest summit in the park, at an elevation of 1,048 meters (3,438 ft).
The 8 kilometers (5.0 mi) bike trail takes visitors through the gorge along the Malbaie River, while a short hike leads to the chute du Ruisseau Blanc (White Stream Waterfalls) 45 meters (148 ft) high, which is fed from one of the many high altitude lakes and suspended valleys.
Cars are not allowed in the park. There is a parking at the gate, where one needs to register and pay to get access to the park. From there, visitors may take a bus that will get them to some points in the park, and to the Draveur Service Center.