Travel in Canada : Chaudière-Appalaches – Bellechasse and Beauce

We are now leaving the river and its Navigators’ route (article 1) to enter the land. Here is a little bit about the Bellechasse riding and the Beauce region.

Oh, how the gourmet in me loves these regions! I first discovered them through the wine and cider trail, but they also have a lot to offer for outdoors lovers. Located just south of Lévis, Bellechasse County extends eastward to St-Vallier.

As for the Beauce, it includes the Chaudière River valley. Let’s get some fresh air and have a picnic with the diverse local products.

The cycloroute is a beautiful 74 km paved bicycle path that passes through 8 municipalities in Bellechasse. Recently, it was recognized as a green route by the government.

There are seven parking lots along the bike lane. With a low gradient (4%), it is ideal for the whole family.

The cycloroute joins the Harlaka and Anses routes, both in the Lévis sector. Its points of interest range from panels on the region’s railway history, to flatland landscapes, to the unusual sight of the bike wall in St-Anselme, and ending at Armagh Falls Park. The latter will host the Hotel Uniq Ephemeral Village in May and June 2021.

A detailed map of the route is available on the free Ondago app.

We visit this organic farm to see the goats and learn about the cheese making process. Personally, I’m always curious to learn how things are made, and since there offer tastings, it’s great!

You can enjoy guided tours every day during the summer at 11am or by appointment. It is also possible to visit on your own. A playground and picnic area are located on site.

This immense park offers no less than 71 km of hiking trails, 4 peaks, 2 valleys, rivers and waterfalls. In short, it’s the whole package!

It’s no wonder it’s racking up the awards. The trails are each more exciting than the last. You have to choose between the Chocolate Mountain, the St-Magloire Mountain, the Midi Mountain, or the rock shelter trail, the footbridges or the ravages trail which passes through the natural habitat of the moose.

Other activities are sure to please, such as the family hebertism course and geocaching, which is offered in three levels of difficulty. Mountain biking, fishing and bird watching are also available.

Fortunately, there is a wide range of accommodation in the wilderness that will allow you to take full advantage of all the activities in the park. In addition to regular camping, the following are available for rent: PODS, shelters, yurts, ready-to-camp, boreal tents, prospector tents.

Rest assured, at the time of writing, there are still many places available for summer 2021 bookings, even on weekends.

Let us now turn to this region, whose limits are defined more by the land bordering the Chaudière Valley than by a precise perimeter. And let Karine, a local resident and member of our group, suggest some nice visits.

Let’s remember at the outset that the 2019 floods did a lot of damage in Beauce and with the pandemic, several nice little places had to close.

What better way to spend time with your family than in the parks for picnics and outdoor activities?

Consider going to:

• the Domaine de l’héritage in St-Séverin with its magnificent gardens
• the 7 Falls Park in St-Georges (called Domaine de la Seigneurie)
• the Éco-Parc des Etchemins and the Camping Chevalier with their water slides.
• the Domaine du Radar in St-Sylvestre. The latter offers accommodation in coolboxes, yurts and mini-homes. Pedestrian paths and hebertism tracks on a 5 kilometer course.
• Finally, the small nature park Domaine Taschereau in Ste-Marie allows you to see the extent of the spring 2019 flooding.

Here are some other recommendations from Karine:

• La broche à foin: for dinner shows with a great atmosphere. It is absolutely necessary to book in advance. Currently closed but everyone is looking forward to its opening.
• La cache à Maxime: for its vineyard, its cottages for rent, its excellent restaurant (Le Greg), the spa (Noah Spa).
• NRJ Nordic Spa in St-Alfred

• The Charcuterie le Pied de Cochon in Vallée Jonction
• The Resto l’Introuvable also in Vallée-Jonction offers, among other things, a lunch box service.
• and the Restaurant Les Pères Nature in St-Georges