The Hautes-Gorges-de-la-Rivière-Malbaie National Park is a provincial park in the Charlevoix region of Quebec, Canada. Centring on the Malbaie River Gorge, it is the centrepiece of the UNESCO Charlevoix biosphere reserve. It is administered by the Société des établissements de plein air du Québec (Sépaq). The park can be reached via a local road, 30 km northwards from Route 138 in Saint-Aimé-des-Lacs. The park has a total area of 224.7 km2 and was created as a provincial park in 2000. The 9.2 km2 Grands-Ormes Ecological Reserve is an enclave within the park. The park lies within the Eastern forest-boreal transition ecoregion.

Description

This provincial park is represented by a deep valley in high mountains with steep walls over 800 meters in height. There are many waterfalls and falls, the highest of which is 160 meters, as well as many mammals typical of the boreal forest, including the American marten and the Boreal woodland caribou which frequent the isolated summits of the park. The park also encloses the Grands-Ormes Ecological Reserve. At the heart of this valley, whose walls can reach up to 800 m in height, flows the Malbaie River, frequented among others by the Sea Lamprey as well as by the Atlantic salmon. The park is managed by the Quebec government through the Société des établissements de plein air du Québec (Quebec Outdoor Establishments Society) (SÉPAQ).

History

Canadians first visited the area in the course of exploration of the Malbaie River only in the first half of the 19th century. In the beginning of the 20th century, commercial exploitation of the forest started, accompanied by timber rafting. At the same time, tourists started to frequent the area. William Hume Blake was one of the early tourists who repeatedly visited the gorge. On 13 September 1988, the regional park was opened. In 1989, it became part of the UNESCO Charlevoix World biosphe reserve. In 2000, the government of Quebec officially opened the national park.

Geography

The park is located in a mountainous environment, in the chain of the Laurentian Mountains, more precisely in the east of the Jacques-Cartier Massif. The rugged terrain of the Hautes-Gorges structures the landscape of the park into five major physiographic units:

Recreation

Activities available in the park include hiking, riverboat cruises, canoeing, kayaking, fishing, cycling, rabaska, birding, ice climbing, and camping. There are three camp sites in the park, one of which can only be reached by canoeing or biking. The park contains seven hiking trails totaling 32.9 km, including one that is 10.5 km long with an 800 m elevation gain. On these trails, hikers can reach the top of the Montagne des Érables, the highest summit in the park, at an elevation of 1048 m. The 8 km bike trail takes visitors through the gorge along the Malbaie River, while a short hike leads to the chute du Ruisseau Blanc (White Stream Waterfalls) 45 m high, which is fed from one of the many high altitude lakes and suspended valleys. Cars are not allowed in the park. There is a parking at the gate, where one needs to register and pay to get access to the park. From there, visitors may take a bus that will get them to some points in the park, and to the Draveur Service Centre.

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