Sainte-Anne-des-Monts is a village on the northern coast of the Gaspé peninsula that offers some beautiful views of the area, including the famous Percé Rock in the nearby town of Percé. Despite Sainte-Anne-des-Monts’ height of 320 meters (1,050 feet), it is not a difficult walk if you follow the trail near the church. Another trail, the Route des Failles, takes you to la Grande Crevasse, a dramatic split in the rock to the west of Sainte-Anne-des-Monts. From the village’s wharf, you can also take a boat trip to Bonaventure, the island across from Percé that is a bird sanctuary for over 50,000 gannets.[1]
Sainte-Anne-des-Monts is actually a popular destination for tourists, and is a busy town for the Gaspé peninsula’s standards. You’ll find many souvenir and craft shops, cafés, and some excellent dining. The Percé Wildlife Interpretation Center is one of several museums scattered around the town along route d’Irlande. The center is open everyday in the summer from June to August.[2]
The highlight of Sainte-Anne-des-Monts is probably the Parc de la Gaspésie, which can be reached by going south from the town along Route 299. The park is a 500 acre (200 hectares) wilderness reserve, magnificently set in the Chic-Choc Mountains surrounded by wildlife, forests, and lakes. Some of the wildlife at Parc de la Gaspésie’s rich and varied landscape includes roaming black bears, moose, deer, and caribou. The upper parts of the mountain still feature Arctic fauna. The park’s tallest peak is Mont Jacques Cartier, which is cold and wet but generous with breathtaking views. Hiking trails and roads offer pleasant treks and cross-country skiing in the winter. Fishing is also popular year-round. Most people find accommodations in Gite du Mont-Albert, a lodge about 25 miles (40 kilometers) away from Saine-Anne-des-Monts along Route 299. Gite du Mont-Albert serves as an information center where campsites and restaurants are found and trails headed to Parc de la Gaspésie begin.[3]
References:
Carroll, Donald. Insider’s Guide Canada. Edison: Hunter Publishing, Inc, 1996. ISBN: 1556507100.
[1] Carroll, 278-79
[2] Id. at 279
[3] Id. at 277
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