Abitibi-Témiscamingue
Bas-Saint-Laurent
Low tides, high plateaus
On the St. Lawrence’s southern shore—with its coves, bays, islands and mountains—coastal levees and hills give way to lakes, woodlands and sinuous rivers. When the setting sun makes the water sparkle and the tidal flats gleam, turning the islands,home to countless seabirds, into ghostly shapes, the Bas-Saint-Laurent, one of the five regions of maritime Québec, is at its most moving! In the inland areas, the forest, dotted with lakes brimming with fish, is a vacationer’s paradise. The Parc national du Bic and the Parc national du Lac-Témiscouata (official opening planned for 2013) watch over these treasures.Foghorns and sea shanties
Numerous day trips and cruises will introduce you to the islands punctuating the coastline and the whales that frequent the Saguenay—St. Lawrence Marine Park. See the seabird colonies that cluster on Île Saint-Barnabé across from Rimouski, or admire the picturesquely named Îles du Pot-à-l'Eau-de-Vie (“brandy pot islands”) near Rivière-du-Loup. A stop at Île aux Basques, which faces Trois-Pistoles, will reveal traces of the 16th-century fishermen who once made their living there. Île Verte, the only inhabited island in the region, is ideally explored by bike or by foot. There you can stop and admire the frolicking sea mammals from the foot of the St. Lawrence’s oldest lighthouse (1809). Take the time visit the museums and heritage interpretation sites that tell the history of the Bas-Saint-Laurent.Fall in love with the highlands
Cyclists will appreciate the Parc linéaire Petit Témis (130 km/80 mi.), which follows the former rail line between Rivière-du-Loup and Edmundston. The path hugs magnificent Lac Témiscouata and, in Dégelis, joins up with the Sentier national, a hiking trail that connects with Trois-Pistoles. The Border Route takes you to Lac Pohénégamook, a favourite among lovers of the great outdoors, then follows the Maine (U.S.) border right up to New Brunswick. In the winter, the region’s vast interior will make snowmobilers happy with 1,800 km (1,120 mi.) of trails.
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