Monts-Valin National Park (French: Parc national des Monts-Valin) is a park with bucolic panoramas, endowed with first-rate recreational tourism infrastructures and natural sites for a magnificent stay in the open air, well connected to nature. It is in the Saguenay-Lac-Saint-Jean region of Quebec.

This park is administered by the "Société des établissements de plein air du Québec" (English: Society of Outdoor Establishments of Quebec) (SÉPAQ).

The main attractions of this park are:

• its accessible summits offering grandiose panoramas of the Saguenay River valley and the unorganized territory of Mont-Valin;
• its trails offering hiking allowing you to appreciate the park in all its nature and its boreal forest;
• its brook trout fishing activities;
• its canoeing activities on many lakes and rivers;
• its paddle surfing activities to criss-cross the meanders of the Valin River;
• its accommodation in refuges or chalets, allowing you to connect with nature;
• his winter activities: snowshoeing and Nordic skiing; its exceptional snow cover in winter, allows the practice of outdoor activities;
• its Valley of Ghosts accessible thanks to a caterpillar shuttle that brings visitors; Mummies and ghosts then accompany them to the summit.

Understand

This park located in the Canadian Shield covers an area of ​​15,360 hectares (38,000 acres) on the north shore of the Saguenay River. Its territory forms a large U open to the northeast. The eastern branch of the U covers the valley of the Sainte-Marguerite River; the western branch, the Monts Valin massif. The territory of the park also resembles a fish with a large dorsal fin, having its tail extended to the southeast and the mouth to the northwest. This park extends into the townships of Gagné, Chardon and Silvy. It comprises five distinct physiographic units' representative of the natural region of the Monts Valin massif:

• the high peaks,
• the intermediate plate,
• the escarpment,
• Piedmont,
• the valleys.

The main peaks overlook the region of the north shore of the Saguenay River, where hikers feel a northern wind:

• Mont Valin (916 m);
• Peak Bellevue (874 m);
• Pic de la Hutte (803 m): the path leading to this peak includes a belay to take shelter if necessary or have a snack;
• Mont Victor-Tremblay (712 m);
• Mont Magloire-Gagnon (720 m);
• Peak of the Tête de Chien (522 m).

The Sainte-Marguerite River, a salmon river, crosses the southeastern part of the park. Over the millennia, this river has dug a deep valley in the Monts Valin massif. The hills bordering the river rise between 500 and 800 m above sea level.

Wildlife

Monts Valin is home to nearly 36 species of mammals and 134 species of birds. Occasionally visitors can see moose, woodland caribou, black bear and Canada lynx. Brook trout abound in the various bodies of water in this sector.

Tourist information

• 1 Centre d'accueil des Monts-Valin, 360 rang Saint-Louis, Saint-Fulgence (downtown, near the west shore of the bay, opposite Quai Casgrain Park.), ☏ +1 418-674-1200, parc.monts-valin@sepaq.com. Nature boutique, equipment rental, transportation of luggage and supplies, ready-to-eat meal service. (updated Oct 2022)

History

The toponym "Parc national des Monts-Valin" is derived from the name of the highest peak in the park, Mont Valin. The term "Valin" is a family surname of French origin. Its use in Quebec cartography is very old.

Landscape

The park contains 150 lakes and many ponds. The park lies within the Eastern forest-boreal transition ecoregion. The forests in this region were logged from the middle of the 19th century to the early 20th century. The park's forests have regrown and contain a mixture of conifers and mixed deciduous trees.

Get in

Monts-Valin National Park is approximately 30 km (19 mi) northeast of Saguenay (city), approximately 129 km (80 mi) northwest of the city of Tadoussac, 491 km (305 mi) northeast of Montréal and 241 km (150 mi) north of the city of Quebec.

This park is bordered to the west by the course of the rivière Saint-Louis; to the south, by the northern limit of the municipality of Saint-Fulgence; to the north, by the south shore of lakes Flynn and Morin; inside the big U, by the forest road.

By car

The main entrance to the park is in the southwestern part of the park; visitors can get there via Chemin du Lac-Léon from Saint-Fulgence or via Chemin Lévesque (then the Route Panoramique) from Saint-David-de-Falardeau.

Get around

Visitors can travel by car in the southwestern part of the park via the scenic road of Chemin du Lac-Léon (coming from Saint-Fulgence) and Chemin Lévesque (coming from Saint-David-de- Falardeau). This road passes in front of the main entrance to the park and partly runs along the winding Valin River.

See

• 1 Chute à Savard (at the western limit of the park and at the foot (west side) of Mont Victor-Tremblay). This place is accessible by the panoramic road via a small path. Falls and rapids on the course of the Saint-Louis River (a tributary of the Valin River), just upstream from the confluence of the Savard stream. Upstream, the Saint-Louis River (coming from the north) crosses a series of rapids. This site is a vantage point for the very steep west face of Mont Victor-Tremblay. (updated Dec 2017)

Do

Walking trails

This park offers 25 km of trails which cross the park from east to west according to a varied land relief, offering sublime panoramas. The Pics hike turns out to be an atypical adventure with summits varying from 300 to 980 m in altitude. The Tête-de-Chien trail (8 kilometres), frequented in all seasons, leads hikers to an altitude of 576 m. The Le Mirador trail (3 k round trip) provides access to wetlands and the mountains. Several trails allow accommodation and other services available:

• two mountain huts: Le Pionnier and Le Fantôme;
• nine cabins for 2 to 8 people in the Baie d'Alexis sector;
• Shuttle and luggage transport services (from mid-June 17 to mid-October)
• Table of trails
• Long hiking routes

Boating

The course of the Valin River offers a magnificent panorama of the mountain. From the Discovery and Visitors Centre, canoeists discover the meanders of the Valin River and the Bélanger Pond. Nevertheless, the water flow can be variable on this river. Canoeists can also practice on lakes Martin-Valin, Leblanc and Laliberté. The park offers on-site canoes for rent.

Canoe-camping

In partnership with the ZEC Martin-Valin, whose territory is contiguous, the park offers the opportunity to make five canoe-camping expeditions via the hydrographic network linking Lake Martin-Valin (located in the park) and Lake Jalobert (located in the ZEC). These canoe-camping circuits are marked and maintained. Campers benefit from platforms for tents and dry toilets on certain sites. These shipments are generally between 2 and 7 days.

Fishing with accommodation

The park allows brook trout (speckled trout) fishing in many lakes and rivers, on lakes in the Martin-Valin sector. The package includes lodging in a cabin, the right of access to fishing and a boat.

The Lac Martin-Valin sector allows day fishing or accommodation (fishing package). Comfortable cabins are also available to appreciate the tranquility of the place or to do nautical activities in this network of lakes.

Day fishing

The park offers brook trout fishing according to day packages, including a boat for most lakes. For others, the personal boat is required.

Fishing-camping package

The fishing-camping package includes a camping site at Le Septentrional, a boat and the right of access for a day of fishing. The park allows a maximum of three people per site to practice fishing.

Paddleboarding

Paddle surfing (Stand Up Paddle) allows you to travel the meanders of the Valin River while admiring the mountain from another perspective. This board is especially designed for calm waters; it is longer, wider and thicker, therefore more stable than the traditional surfboard designed for waves. The park offers rental service for boards, paddles, water shoes and personal flotation devices. The wetsuit is also available in rental mode.

Wildlife viewing

Thanks to its forest cover of the boreal forest type, this park shelters a varied fauna and a magnificent flora. The main animals that can be observed in this park: moose, beavers and other mammals. Depending on the time of year, several species move from Piedmont to the peaks in search of suitable habitats. This park is a paradise for orthologists.

Snowshoeing

The altitude of Monts-Valins creates a microclimate that generates high snowfall. Thus, snowshoers can indulge in this half-day activity, particularly on the Pic-de-la-Tête-de-Chien trail. Long-distance hikers can do up to 77 km of marked trails. The snowshoe trail begins at the Discovery and Visitors Centre; reservation is required for users wishing to use the shuttle. The park offers a snowshoe rental service.

Cross-country skiing

The landscape is sublime at the foot of the massif. The park offers cross-country ski trails between 2 and 12 km for the classic step. The marked routes, where lakes and mountains follow one another, will allow you to appreciate the snowy scenery and the bare rock walls. Athletes can stop 6 km from the Discovery and Visitors Centre, at the heated Relais du Piedmont. This relay is located on a hill giving a magnificent view of the mountain.

Nordic skiing

Nordic ski enthusiasts have access to more than 71 km of marked trails (not marked or groomed). These trails are accessible from the Discovery and Visitors Centre, on skis or by shuttle (reservation required). Refuges are set up along the main circuits on offer. This type of expedition is for athletes with excellent preparation and mastery of orientation techniques with map and compass. The climatic conditions at the summit of the massif can vary rapidly.

Bike with oversized tires (fatbike)

Fans of oversized tire bikes (fatbikes) have access to a network of trails forming a 2-km loop. The park offers the rental service for this type of bike.

Backcountry expeditions

Winter activities in the backcountry of the park are aimed at seasoned and experienced hikers. This is an atypical experience in the heart of nature on snowshoes or skis, in complete autonomy in the isolated sectors of the park. Backcountry access is permitted in winter only.

Enthusiasts of this activity have access to the backcountry through the park's main entrance in rang Saint-Louis or to the northern sector through the Le Valinouët ski resort.

Destination Valley of Ghosts

The Le Fantômes-Express tracked minibus shuttle departs from the park's Discovery and Visitors Center according to a fixed schedule; in winter, it leads visitors for 45 minutes on the panoramic path of Bras-des-Canots, a tributary of the Valin River; visitors are then dropped off at the foot of the Vallée des Fantômes. At this altitude, visitors can already see a significant change in environment and snow cover. At this point, visitors put on their snowshoes or skis to take a 3 km intermediate level trail (elevation 320 m), leading to the summit of Pic Dubuc (culminating at 984 m), the highest summit of the massif. This peak overlooks the Saguenay region and offers a bucolic panorama as far as the eye can see, notably the Mont Valin massif (to the north), the hills of Piedmont and the lowlands of the Saguenay (to the south), as well as the fjord.

Go next

• 1 Mont-Valin. Magnificent territory for recreational tourism activities. (updated Oct 2022)