Gaspe Quebec

ahschneid
23 hours ago
15 min read

On Monday 27 July 2026 we drove from Les Mechins Quebec to Gaspe Quebec. We stopped to see two lighthouses on the way. The first lighthouse we stopped to see was the one in La Martre and the second one was in Madeleine Centre. The one in La Martre looked freshly painted but we just took a few pictures and kept driving. The one in Madeleine Centre was in dire need of some TLC and with parking being tight, we just kept going. We stopped for lunch about an hour from our next campground. We were all settled in by about 4pm, so we decided to do laundry. It made for a long day to fit three hours in doing laundry, but we thought there was so much to see and do in the Gaspe area that we didn’t want to take away from a site seeing day. Our campground was just outside of Forillon National Park so we went into the park almost every day of our week's stay.

Bridal Veil Falls on the way to La Martre Quebec - 27 July 2026

Bridal Veil Falls on the way to La Martre Quebec - 27 July 2026

Lighthouse at La Martre Quebec - 27 July 2026

Lighthouse at La Martre Quebec - 27 July 2026

Lighthouse at La Martre Quebec - 27 July 2026

Lighthouse at La Martre Quebec - 27 July 2026

Lighthouse at La Martre Quebec - 27 July 2026

Lighthouse at La Martre Quebec - 27 July 2026

Lighthouse at La Martre Quebec - 27 July 2026

Lighthouse at La Martre Quebec - 27 July 2026

Lighthouse at La Martre Quebec - 27 July 2026

Lighthouse at Cap de la Madeleine Quebec - 27 July 2026

Lighthouse at Cap de la Madeleine Quebec - 27 July 2026

Lighthouse at Cap de la Madeleine Quebec - 27 July 2026

Lighthouse at Cap de la Madeleine Quebec - 27 July 2026

Tuesday the 28^th we went into Forillon National Park, just about 10 km from our campground. We did the 7km hike on the Les Graves trail to the Cap Gaspe lighthouse and then another couple of switchbacks down to the “End of the World”. We met a very nice couple from Ottawa (Martha and Andrew). They were vacationing for a couple of weeks and basically seeing the same areas we were seeing over a month in Quebec. It turned out that Martha has the same fisheries biology background Steve does so they enjoyed swapping stories over lunch at the lighthouse. We ran into them a couple of times on the hike and then again at the Anse Blanchette stop where Steve wanted to see fish drying. From Anse Blanchette we went to the North Side Visitor Center and watched the ‘A Gem at Land'sEnd’ film showing in the visitor center. We went to see the Cap des Rosiers lighthouse just outside the national park, but it was hardly visible with the fog.

Forillon National Park Gaspe Quebec - 28 July 2026

Les Graves Hiking Trail

Forillon National Park Gaspe Quebec - 28 July 2026

Les Graves Hiking Trail

Forillon National Park Gaspe Quebec - 28 July 2026

Les Graves Hiking Trail

Forillon National Park Gaspe Quebec - 28 July 2026

Les Graves Hiking Trail

Forillon National Park Gaspe Quebec - 28 July 2026

Les Graves Hiking Trail

Forillon National Park Gaspe Quebec - 28 July 2026

Les Graves Hiking Trail

Forillon National Park Gaspe Quebec - 28 July 2026

Les Graves Hiking Trail

Forillon National Park Gaspe Quebec - 28 July 2026

Land's End

Forillon National Park Gaspe Quebec - 28 July 2026

Land's End

Forillon National Park Gaspe Quebec - 28 July 2026

Land's End

Forillon National Park Gaspe Quebec - 28 July 2026

Cap Gaspe

Forillon National Park Gaspe Quebec - 28 July 2026

Cap Gaspe Lighthouse

Forillon National Park Gaspe Quebec - 28 July 2026

Cap Gaspe Lighthouse

Forillon National Park Gaspe Quebec - 28 July 2026

Cap Gaspe Lighthouse - IAT QC is International Appalachian Trail Quebec

Forillon National Park Gaspe Quebec - 28 July 2026

Cap Gaspe Lighthouse

Forillon National Park Gaspe Quebec - 28 July 2026

Cap Gaspe Lighthouse

Forillon National Park Gaspe Quebec - 28 July 2026

Cap Gaspe Lighthouse

Forillon National Park Gaspe Quebec - 28 July 2026

Cap Gaspe Lighthouse

Forillon National Park Gaspe Quebec - 28 July 2026

Cap Gaspe Lighthouse

Forillon National Park Gaspe Quebec - 28 July 2026

Cap Gaspe Lighthouse

Forillon National Park Gaspe Quebec - 28 July 2026

Cap Gaspe Lighthouse

Forillon National Park Gaspe Quebec - 28 July 2026

L'Anse Blanchette

Forillon National Park Gaspe Quebec - 28 July 2026

L'Anse Blanchette

Forillon National Park Gaspe Quebec - 28 July 2026

L'Anse Blanchette

Forillon National Park Gaspe Quebec - 28 July 2026

L'Anse Blanchette

Forillon National Park Gaspe Quebec - 28 July 2026

L'Anse Blanchette

Forillon National Park Gaspe Quebec - 28 July 2026

L'Anse Blanchette

Forillon National Park Gaspe Quebec - 28 July 2026

L'Anse Blanchette

Forillon National Park Gaspe Quebec - 28 July 2026

L'Anse Blanchette

Forillon National Park Gaspe Quebec - 28 July 2026

L'Anse Blanchette

Forillon National Park Gaspe Quebec - 28 July 2026

North Visitor Center

Forillon National Park Gaspe Quebec - 28 July 2026

North Visitor Center - from "A Gem at Land's End" video

Forillon National Park Gaspe Quebec - 28 July 2026

North Visitor Center - from "A Gem at Land's End" video

Forillon National Park Gaspe Quebec - 28 July 2026

North Visitor Center - from "A Gem at Land's End" video

Wednesday the 29^th, we went in to Forillon National Park again to hike to La Chute Waterfall. It was just 1km, but it took an hour with all the steps up and down during the hike. From there we went to the Hyman and Sons museum in Grand Graves. It had more information on the fishing industry back in the day. Steve seemed satisfied with what we saw there. We next went to the city of Gaspe. From the Internet: 'Gaspé is called the birthplace of Canada because French explorer Jacques Cartier landed on its shores on July 24, 1534, and planted a large wooden cross.' We had our sack lunch there and then walked on the waterside boardwalk for a while. We ended up turning back because the wind was too crazy. It’s no fun to be walking along holding on to your hat so it doesn’t fly into the water. We were parked at Jacques Cartier Place and there is a grocery store there. We got milk and bananas and then headed home. We decided we wanted to do the boat trip from Perce’ to Bonaventure Island to see the birds on Thursday, so we took it easy the rest of Wednesday. We planned to leave for Perce’ at 7am in hopes of being on the first boat out at 9am. The boats run to Bonaventure Island every hour till 3pm and then the last boat back from Bonaventure Island to Perce’ is at 5pm. There are 4 hiking trails on Bonaventure Island totaling 15km (9.3 miles) and rated Intermediate. We wanted to do two of the trails, whichever afforded the best chance of seeing the birds. It promised to be a long day.

Forillon National Park Gaspe Quebec - 29 July 2026

Forillon National Park Gaspe Quebec - 29 July 2026

La Chute Trail

Forillon National Park Gaspe Quebec - 29 July 2026

La Chute

Forillon National Park Gaspe Quebec - 29 July 2026

Grand Grave Wharf - People going on a whale watching tour...

Forillon National Park Gaspe Quebec - 29 July 2026

Hyman General Store Museum

Forillon National Park Gaspe Quebec - 29 July 2026

Hyman General Store Museum

Forillon National Park Gaspe Quebec - 29 July 2026

Hyman General Store Museum

Forillon National Park Gaspe Quebec - 29 July 2026

Hyman General Store Museum

Forillon National Park Gaspe Quebec - 29 July 2026

Hyman General Store Museum

We saw these signs in memory of those who were displaced for the creation of this national park in 1970 throughout the park...

Forillon National Park Gaspe Quebec - 29 July 2026

Hyman General Store Museum

Forillon National Park Gaspe Quebec - 29 July 2026

Hyman General Store Museum

Forillon National Park Gaspe Quebec - 29 July 2026

Hyman General Store Museum

Forillon National Park Gaspe Quebec - 29 July 2026

Hyman General Store Museum

Forillon National Park Gaspe Quebec - 29 July 2026

Hyman General Store Museum

Forillon National Park Gaspe Quebec - 29 July 2026

Hyman General Store Museum

Forillon National Park Gaspe Quebec - 29 July 2026

Hyman General Store Museum

Forillon National Park Gaspe Quebec - 29 July 2026

Hyman General Store Museum

Forillon National Park Gaspe Quebec - 29 July 2026

Hyman General Store Museum

Forillon National Park Gaspe Quebec - 29 July 2026

Hyman General Store Museum

Forillon National Park Gaspe Quebec - 29 July 2026

Hyman General Store Museum

Forillon National Park Gaspe Quebec - 29 July 2026

Hyman General Store Museum

Forillon National Park Gaspe Quebec - 29 July 2026

Hyman General Store Museum

Forillon National Park Gaspe Quebec - 29 July 2026

Hyman General Store Museum

Forillon National Park Gaspe Quebec - 29 July 2026

Hyman General Store Museum

Forillon National Park Gaspe Quebec - 29 July 2026

Hyman General Store Museum

Forillon National Park Gaspe Quebec - 29 July 2026

Hyman General Store Museum

Gaspe Quebec Boardwalk - 29 July 2026

Looking back at where we were parked...Maxi is the grocery store but it remined Anita of Carmax whose logo has the same colors and font.

Gaspe Quebec Boardwalk - 29 July 2026

Gaspe Quebec Boardwalk - 29 July 2026

Gaspe Quebec Boardwalk - 29 July 2026

Gaspe Quebec Boardwalk - 29 July 2026

Gaspe Quebec Boardwalk - 29 July 2026

Gaspe Quebec Boardwalk - 29 July 2026

Gaspe Quebec Boardwalk - 29 July 2026

Gaspe Quebec Boardwalk - 29 July 2026

Gaspe Quebec Boardwalk - 29 July 2026

Gaspe Quebec Boardwalk - 29 July 2026

Gaspe Quebec Boardwalk - 29 July 2026

Harbor Seal in the water...

Our plan worked out perfectly on Thursday! We were on one of the first two boats out to Bonaventure Island and it turned out that it’s not hard to see the Gannets at all! As a matter of fact, many people don't even get off the boat because you can see alot of birds on the cliffs as the boat approaches Bonaventure Island. The Internet says: 'Bonaventure Island located 3.5 km off Percé in the Gulf of St. Lawrence, is home to the world's largest and most accessible northern gannet colonies, hosting over 110,000 nesting birds.' We did the Colonies hiking trail to get to the cliffs to see the Gannets nesting. The park ranger had said it would take an hour and we were there in just under an hour. It was surreal to arrive and hear, smell and then see the Gannets! They were unphased by the presence of many humans watching them in their nesting, communicating, fighting, and mating rituals. It was fascinating. One guy next to us at one of the viewing areas said there were a few dead baby Gannets, but we didn’t see them there. Later at another viewpoint we saw what looked like a dead baby Gannet, but watching closely we could see the chest rising and falling with breathing. We do think there were a few chicks that didn’t make it. The moms seemed to be in mourning.

We spent about an hour there watching the birds and headed back after having our lunch. We took Le Chemin du Roy trail going back. This hike was said to take 1.5 hours, but we took 2 hours because we stopped a few times to “ohh and ahh” at the seals in the water and just the plain beauty of where we were. We got in line for the boat back to Perce’ and managed to get on the third one out. Some people don’t get off the boat, so if the boat arrived almost full and only a handful got off the boat, that left very few seats for those of us in the long line. The third boat that came was empty so it swept up the rest of us waiting. When we got off the boat at Perce’ we saw a child with chocolate ice cream all over her face and enjoying her cup of ice cream. That made us want ice cream too. We were spent when we got home and only lasted a couple of hours after showers and dinner.

Boat to Bonaventure Island Quebec - 30 July 2026

Perce' Quebec

Boat to Bonaventure Island Quebec - 30 July 2026

Boat to Bonaventure Island Quebec - 30 July 2026

Perce Rock - We saw a picture in a museum later in the week that showed Perce Rock in the 1850's and it had two arches/pierces...

Boat to Bonaventure Island Quebec - 30 July 2026

Bonaventure Island Quebec - 30 July 2026

Bonaventure Island Quebec - 30 July 2026

Seals on the rocks...

Bonaventure Island Quebec - 30 July 2026

Bonaventure Island Quebec - 30 July 2026

Bonaventure Island Quebec - 30 July 2026

Bonaventure Island Quebec - 30 July 2026

Bonaventure Island Quebec - 30 July 2026

Bonaventure Island Quebec - 30 July 2026

Northern Gannet

Bonaventure Island Quebec - 30 July 2026

Bonaventure Island Quebec - 30 July 2026

Bonaventure Island Quebec - 30 July 2026

Bonaventure Island Quebec - 30 July 2026

Bonaventure Island Quebec - 30 July 2026

Bonaventure Island Quebec - 30 July 2026

Bonaventure Island Quebec - 30 July 2026

Surreal...

Bonaventure Island Quebec - 30 July 2026

Bonaventure Island Quebec - 30 July 2026

Bonaventure Island Quebec - 30 July 2026

Bonaventure Island Quebec - 30 July 2026

Bonaventure Island Quebec - 30 July 2026

Bonaventure Island Quebec - 30 July 2026

Bonaventure Island Quebec - 30 July 2026

Bonaventure Island Quebec - 30 July 2026

Bonaventure Island Quebec - 30 July 2026

Bonaventure Island Quebec - 30 July 2026

Bonaventure Island Quebec - 30 July 2026

Bonaventure Island Quebec - 30 July 2026

Bonaventure Island Quebec - 30 July 2026

Bonaventure Island Quebec - 30 July 2026

Bonaventure Island Quebec - 30 July 2026

Great Cormorant and Black legged kittiwakes also nest on island

Bonaventure Island Quebec - 30 July 2026

Bonaventure Island Quebec - 30 July 2026

Bonaventure Island Quebec - 30 July 2026

When Jacques Cartier arrived here in 1534, he reported three arches in the massive rock formation. In time, two of the arches disappeared, with the last one collapsing in June 1845, leaving a separated pillar.

Bonaventure Island Quebec - 30 July 2026

Boat trip back to Perce...

Bonaventure Island Quebec - 30 July 2026

Boat trip back to Perce...

Friday was a quiet day at the campsite. Our campground’s Internet connection was poor the whole week. We couldn’t stream movies or get online on the computer, but we could watch YouTube. Go figure. We aren’t tech savvy enough to explain that. So last week we noted what we did each day so that we’d remember once we had Internet again.

Saturday 1 Aug we got up early and were on the Cap Bon Ami hiking trail at 8am to get to the Mont Alban Observation Tower. The hike was only 1.8km, but rated moderate/difficult because it started uphill almost immediately. It took us about an hour and a half to reach the tower after sections so steep that cables were provided for going up as well as several sets of 12-40 steps. The observation tower is at 280 meters and we were treated to observing a young bull moose when we got there! He was grazing on plants right next to the trail just past the tower. One guy was doing the loop trail which required him to walk past the moose. He just walked very quietly and didn’t look the moose in the eye. We watched the moose from the tower for 15-20 minutes. Fog had settled in at the top of the tower, so we couldn’t see anything from there. We waited close to an hour before heading back down, but the clouds just didn’t lift. Going down the trail back to the car was much faster. We stopped at view points along the way to get pictures. At lower elevations the clouds were high enough to see the cliffs and the shore.

We left the Cap Bon Ami trailhead parking lot and drove again to the lighthouse right outside Forillon National Park to have our lunch. This day it was clearly visible. After lunch we decided to drive the part of the coastline we had not yet seen. We stopped at Le Boutillier Manor named after a politician and cod merchant from the 1850’s. We went through the museum with a guided tour. The young lady leading our tour was dressed in period costume as were all the girls working there. She had notes to refer to as she gave us our tour in English. She did well. By then it was around 2:30 so we headed home. We stopped at a fish market in Riviere au Renard and Steve bought a seafood potpie, a little piece of smoked salmon, some smoked Greenland halibut and pickled surf clams. When we got back, our campground was having what looked like some big tournament. It looked like cornhole, but instead of boards with a hole they were throwing into square cans, it looked like. We were tired from our early rising and our hike, so we just stayed in the rest of Saturday.