5 surprising waterfalls in Gaspésie

Among the many majestic waterfalls in the Gaspé landscape, here are 5 that will enchant you with their natural beauty.

Hélène waterfall, Matane wildlife reserve

At a height of 70 m, the impressive Hélène Falls can boast of being taller than the famous Niagara Falls, which are a maximum of 53 m high! This waterfall is located in the Matane Wildlife Reserve, on the International Appalachian Trail (IAT). The Mem Creek, which feeds it, comes from the small mountain lakes Bardey and Coleman, at the foot of Mount Collins.

You can access Chute Hélène in two ways: by a 3 km intermediate level route (elevation of 280 m) from the Auberge de montagne des Chic-Chocs, or during a day hike via the ZEC Cap-Chat. To get there, take rue des Fonds in Cap-Chat, just before the bridge that crosses the Cap-Chat river and follow the directions. From the entrance to the ZEC, you will have to travel 20 km on a gravel road to reach the Petit-Sault parking lot. One mile north of the parking lot is the trailhead to the falls, at the junction of Route 1 and the International Appalachian Trail. A parking lot is provided 200 m past this junction, north of the bridge over the Bascon stream on Route 1.

The route to get to Hélène falls, which is 8.2 km round trip, is of an intermediate level. You will undertake a succession of long climbs and short descents. After fording a stream, you will reach the trail that will take you to Hélène waterfall. You will then have to continue north and cross the Bascon stream on a suspended footbridge. Once on the other bank, you will have a first view of the falls. You will have another one at the end of the access trail allowing you to approach the fall. The altitude at destination is 385 m.

Veil of the Bride, The Marten

Best known for its famous all-wooden red lighthouse, the small village of La Martre has another magnificent attraction: the Veil of the Bride waterfall. On the edge of Route 132, a small rest area has also been set up to allow you to stop safely to observe it. Its poetic name comes from the fact that the Sorel stream, from which it flows, meets a significant escarpment which generates a misty waterfall, like a wedding veil. This attraction inspired the name of a Belgian-inspired white beer (Witbier) from Le Malbord microbrewery (Sainte-Anne-des-Monts): Le Voile de la Marie, a delight to enjoy during your stay while dreaming of this fall!

Emerald River Waterfall, Percé

The Portage River, known as the Emerald River by locals, is located in Bridgeville, near Percé. This heavenly place with turquoise waters does not fail to amaze all those who are passing through! Although swimming is not recommended, you will see a few people cooling off in the clear waters of the river at the foot of the falls, and many others relaxing and picnicking on the pebble beach. This place is called the Municipal Park of the Emerald River.

To get there from Percé, drive 10 km towards Gaspé. 1 km from the intersection of routes 132 and Lemieux (flashing yellow light), turn left at the yellow sign Rivière du Portage (Rivière aux Émeraudes). Continue on this road for approximately 4.5 km. You can park at the rock quarry (watch out for trucks). Thereafter, you will have to walk about 600 m on a path leading to a platform offering a very beautiful view of the falls. You can then descend a steep staircase to the river. Warning: the path (with roots on the ground) and the steep staircase can be slippery if they are wet. The journey can be strenuous for some people, including young children, and access to the river is at your own risk. How far you want to go is up to you. Fees in effect from June 21 to October 2, 2021: 13 years and over: $7 (plus tax), 12 years and under: free. Access fees payable at the on-site reception desk only.

The Grand Sault Falls, Carleton-sur-Mer

You can see the lovely Grand Falls from the trail of the same name. Easy level, this 2.9 km trail is accessible from one of the parking lots in the Mont Saint-Joseph Regional Park trail network, Maria sector, located in 3^and Rank. It continues to the junction of the Mont-Carleton and Les Pionniers trails, in Carleton-sur-Mer, shortly after the falls of the Grand-Sault, which originates in the Glenburnie stream. Other trails in the network, ranging from 1.4 to 4.9 km, will allow you to observe streams and waterfalls. Interconnected, these trails are laid out in a safe manner, with several bridges, stairs and lookouts offering superb viewpoints.

The waterfall at Philomène, Saint-Alexandre-des-Lacs

33 m high, the magnificent Philomène waterfall is accessible at all times, all year round. To get there, take the direction of Saint-Alexandre-des-Lacs at the flashing light a little south of Amqui, then follow the directions. They will take you a few kilometers further, on a row. If you are in RV, you will have to park along this row and continue the journey (about 500 m) on foot. If you are driving, you can take a gravel driveway and cross a small bridge, then leave your vehicle in the parking lot on the left.

Once on the site, you will find a picnic area and a spectacular lookout shaped like the bow of a boat. Cantilevered above the chute, it has a translucent surface at the end. This infrastructure developed by the Club de VTT de la Matapédia is accessible to people with reduced mobility. Also, a path on the right of the belvedere will give you access to a staircase of about 100 steps leading to the foot of the falls.

You now have 5 fabulous sites with waterfalls to put on your list of natural beauties to discover in Gaspésie! To savor every moment, plan your stay at tourism-gaspesie.com. #gaspesie