The Des Grèves Regional Park (French: Parc régional des Grèves) is set up for recreational and tourist activities and includes a protected area. The territory of the park is entirely in the city of Contrecoeur, in the Marguerite-D'Youville Regional County Municipality, in the administrative region of Montérégie, in the province of Quebec, in Canada.

Understand

Following the 2020 territorial expansion, all the lots protected by different types of conservation agreements of the Parc régional des Grèves cover an area 83.21 hectares (205.6 acres). The protection zone covers around sixty hectares.

The southeastern shore of the St. Lawrence River borders the regional park for approximately 2 km (1.2 mi). The park's hiking trails extend over 14 km (8.7 mi). It has two reception stations that provide parking for visitors. These reception stations make it possible to accommodate park users and offer basic services for recreational and tourist activities:

• Contrecoeur reception: Colonie des Grèves, 10 350, route Marie-Victorin, Contrecoeur - ☏ +1 450-742-4767. Schedule: 09:00-17:00 The website of the Colonie des Grèves indicates that the Contrecoeur reception is reserved for clients of the Colonie des Grèves vacation camp during the summer season.
• Sorel-Tracy reception: Chalet Jean-Paul Dubois, 3100, chemin du Golf, Sorel-Tracy. Schedule: 09:00-17:00. This reception station has two charging stations for electric cars.

The park offers distinctive biodiversity in terms of:

• vegetal: mature mixed forest including a century-old pine forest, red oak grove with white pines, a section with 260 floral species and 360 species of mushrooms, 29 of which are considered rare. The forest in a humid environment is mainly composed of conifers (spruce, fir, larch and pine);
• animal: 79 species of birds, some of which usually live in the boreal forest of northern Quebec. In this park, ten species of anurans (an order of amphibians), salamanders and reptiles have been identified;
• wetlands: the park has 15 wetlands including a 10.0 hectares (25 acres) bog.

Prize and distinction

In 2016, the Union of Quebec Municipalities (UMQ) awarded the "Your Favorite" prize to the City of Contrecoeur and the City of Sorel-Tracy for their initiatives for the development of the Grèves regional park.

History

In 2006, four partners (Rio Tinto Fer et Titane, the Cégep de Sorel-Tracy, the Colonie des Grèves and the non-profit organization Kinéglobe) joined with the towns of Contrecoeur and Sorel-Tracy to form the Coopérative de solidarity of the regional park of Grèves, which aims to develop this area of ​​regional park.

In 2009, the city of Contrecoeur and Nature-Action Québec acquired part of the Bois de Contrecoeur, 65 hectares, which belonged to the Colonie de vacances des Grèves.

In 2010, there was a walk on the coast of the St. Lawrence River to enhance the site while protecting nature. In 2010, four partners launched the $2.5-million project aimed mainly at developing the hill (site P-84) of tailings of approximately 500 m in width, 2 km in length and 35 meters in height. This site, which is located between Autoroute 30 and Route 132, covers 290 hectares. Their objective was then to enhance this site by creating a recreational tourism area.

Get in

Home Contrecœur

• the route 132 (route Marie-Victorin) leading to the village of Contrecœur provides access to the western entrance to the park;
• the autoroute 30 leading to the village of Contrecœur; take exit 135; turn left on Chemin du Golf; and left on the Marie-Victorin road; continue to the first traffic light.

Sorel-Tracy reception

• the autoroute québécoise leading to the village of Contrecœur; take exit 135; turn left on Chemin du Golf; continue for 300 meters to reach the Sorel-Tracy reception desk in the Grèves regional park; to your left.

Get around

Trail maps are available on the Ondago mobile app. Using their smartphone, visitors can also take an image of the park map upon arrival at one of the park's two reception stations.

See

Main activities in the park

Trail walking is very popular, as well as nature and river observation. This park has two heritage interpretation sites, one at the Contrecoeur reception and the other at the Sorel-Tracy reception.

Winter activities

In winter, snowshoers and cross-country skiers (cross-country skiers) can venture out on the trails set up in the park. In winter, the park provides the public with tube sliding lanes near the Bernard-Landry trail, in the area between Route 132 and the railway line.

Summer activities

• The promenade along the river coast with an observation belvedere (near the Contrecoeur reception) of aquatic life and activities on the river.
• The Bernard-Landry trail takes place in the hebertism zone (between Route 132 and the railway), opposite the Contrecoeur reception. In this area there is a mini-farm, a climbing wall and a tube slide (in winter).
• The Ruisseau trail has an elevated wooden pedestrian walkway stretching over more than a kilometer; it improves the observation of fauna, flora and nature in general. Nature interpretation stations are set up there.
• The Sablières trail (in the eastern part) giving access to the Savoyance observatory where visitors observe a peat bog marsh.

Ornithology, mycology and nature lovers regularly come to visit this regional park. Some circles organize excursions there, depending on the season.

Multifunctional trail network

This regional park has a network of 11 multifunctional trails (walking, cross-country skiing and snowshoeing) over more than 14 km (8.7 mi) which are accessible in all seasons. This regional park offers 9 km (5.6 mi) of cross-country ski trails, 5 km (3.1 mi) of skate ski trails and 9 km of snowshoe and ski trails. winter walk. The distance between the two reception stations is 12 km (7.5 mi). Parking and access to the trails are free.

Walking trails in the park

No.	Footpath	Length	Type	Level	Seasons
1	Walk on the river	0.6 kilometres (0.37 mi)	Linear	Beginner	All seasons
2	Des Chênes	1.2 kilometres (0.75 mi)	Loop	Beginner	All seasons
3	Bernard-Landry	1.3 kilometres (0.81 mi)	Loop	Beginner	All seasons
4	Chickadees + Stream + Grand Pic + B-Landry	11 kilometres (6.8 mi)	Mixed	Beginner	All seasons
5	Des Pins + des Côtes	2.8 kilometres (1.7 mi)	Mixed	Beginner	All seasons
6	Chickadees	3.6 kilometres (2.2 mi)	Linear	Beginner	All seasons
7	Des Sablières	3.8 kilometres (2.4 mi)	Linear	Beginner	All seasons
8	Des Pins	4.2 kilometres (2.6 mi)	Linear	Beginner	All seasons
9	Bernard-Landry + de grand Pic	4.5 kilometres (2.8 mi)	Loop	Beginner	All seasons
10	Des Mésanges + du Ruisseau	5.5 kilometres (3.4 mi)	Linear	Beginner	All seasons
11	Des Sablières + du Ruisseau	6.0 kilometres (3.7 mi)	Linear	Beginner	All seasons

Safety instructions

Numbered markers are affixed along the trails providing instructions in case of emergency. Users are asked to follow the marked trails. The safety rules are well indicated on the website of this regional park. It It is recommended that you carefully evaluate your hike according to your physical abilities, the weather, your water and food reserves, as well as the dark.

Equipment rental service

Visitors to the park must bring their hiking equipment: ski touring, snowshoeing, walking stick, camera, etc. In summer, the park offers a canoe rental service and sailing lessons.

Eat

• Des Grèves vacation camp, 10350, route Marie-Victorin, Contrecoeur, info@coloniedesgreves.com. Cafeteria service 

Park users must organize themselves to stock up and equip themselves with their food. Otherwise, they can eat in the cafeteria of the Colonie de vacances des Grèves. Seasonal services (mid-December to mid-March) are offered at the Contrecœur reception post where there is the "Café Au Cœur des Grèves".

Drink

Visitors can drink water from the two reception stations.

Sleep

• 1 Des Grèves vacation camp, 10350, route Marie-Victorin, Contrecoeur, ☏ +1 450 742-4767, toll-free: +1 800 368-0168, info@coloniedesgreves.com. Family holiday camp open year round. It was founded in 1912. 

In 2020, the Les Grèves holiday camp can accommodate up to 170 people. Accommodation can be in seven cabins, in two inns or in the Robert-Moore dormitory with a capacity of 40 places; the latter is located in the main pavilion. Auberge Édouard-Gouin has 14 rooms and can accommodate up to 23 people. Auberge Édouard-Gagnon has seven rooms for six people and can accommodate up to 44 people. It can accommodate groups of up to 200 people. This colony offers five meeting rooms for rent, with or without meal service.

Go next

• Parc Saint-Laurent-du-Fleuve: 272, rue de l'Église, Contrecoeur - ☏ +1 450-587-5901. Small hebertism modules under forest cover. Walking paths overlooking the river. The territory of the parish of Saint-Laurent-du-Fleuve is now administered by the city of Contrecoeur.
• Parc Maisouna: wooded urban park located at 10925, route Marie-Victorin # 10525, Sorel-Tracy. Infrastructure: swings, picnic tables, boxes installed for community gardens. Walking path overlooking the river. This park is administered by the city of Sorel-Tracy.
• 1 Saint-Ours Canal National Historic Site Only lock of the Saint-Ours canal. Inaugurated in 1849, the canal was classified as a National Historic Site of Canada in 1929. Note on the left bank, at height of the dam accessible to pedestrians, a fish ladder with 17 levels equipped with antivortex.
• 2 Îles de Contrecœur National Wildlife Area It is one of the eight national wildlife reserves in Quebec. Covering an area of 312 hectares, its main purpose is to protect the nesting sites of the waterfowl. It is only possible to get there by boat and it is prohibited during the nesting period.
• 3 Contrecoeur Riverside municipality of the St. Lawrence River, Contrecoeur is renowned as a site to admire the shows offered by the river and the magnificent sunsets. Visitors can admire the countryside and river landscapes, while participating in recreational tourism activities in the great outdoors, including hunting, fishing, boating, relaxation, vacationing, as well as the observation of flora and fauna. Contrecoeur has a great history to discover.
• 4 Sorel-Tracy A city of major events (La Boucle du Grand Défi Pierre Lavoie, Gib Fest a summer festival, IO Experience presenting a series of shows, Les Régates de Sorel-Tracy), art and culture (with Azimut diffusion, Biophare, dance, wall fresco, house of music, house of governors, literary walk, historical society Pierre-de-Saurel and Statera the fabulous archipelago). Sorel-Tracy offers a range of sports activities (parks, sports facilities, bike paths...), nautical activities (launch ramps, boating, marinas, boater services) and winter fun.