Coastal Trail Hike in Forillon National Park
Forillon National Park located at the eastern tip of the Gaspé Peninsula, sandwiched between the Gulf of St. Lawrence and Gaspé Bay, is a great place for hiking. The park’s diverse landscape can be experience on their many trails. Les Graves, a coastal trail in Forillon National Park is particularly beautiful as it follows the coast past cobble beaches and tiny coves.
On a clear day, the views along the coast on the Les Graves hike in Forillon National Park are impressive. You stand a good chance of seeing marine wildlife including seals, whales, and seabirds.
Although a variety of mammals inhabit the park, including moose, black bears, beavers, coyotes, ermine, snowshoe hares, mink and lynx, consider yourself lucky if you see any of them. The best I could do was a few porcupines in the vicinity of the lighthouse.
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Hikes in Forillon National Park
The park offers eight hikes from an easy 0.6 km hike to a challenging 17.6 km wilderness hike. One called Les Graves, a trail which largely follows the coast, is the one I chose to hike. You can start at any number of spots depending on your energy level and enthusiasm.
Les Graves hike
I started at Grand-Grave and ended up doing an out and back hike in four hours that totaled 15.2 km (9.4 mi). I could have started at Mont Saint-Alban and added 4 km (2.5 mi) to the day or shortened it and just done the hike to the lighthouse for a total of 8 km (5.0 mi) return.
For the truly energetic hiker, there is the possibility of adding a 7.8 km (4.8 mi) loop that also begins at Mont Saint-Alban. It heads up a hill and offers sea and cliff scenery from an observation tower. The loop could be done at the beginning or end of the Les Graves trail but you’d need another three hours to do it.
Lots of diversions on the hike in Forillon National Park
Les Graves is an outstanding hike and very family friendly because it offers so many diversions. In Grand-Grave, a fishing village in the late 19th and early 20th century, guides dressed in period costumes demonstrate some of what life’s day to day activities looked like back then.
Once you’re finished with Grand-Cave, the trail meanders along grassy paths to meadows bursting with wildflowers. Interspersed are pretty, cobble beaches and spectacular views of eroding cliffs.
Any birders in the group should be on alert for great blue herons, gulls, double breasted cormorants, terns, black-legged kittiwakes, razorbills, black guillemots and sandpipers.
Pick a picnic spot with a view
The Les Graves trail has loads of spots that are perfect for a picnic. Choose one of the beaches or wait until you reach the lighthouse and snag a picnic table with a view of rugged 95 m (312 feet) cliffs.
The lighthouse can be reached by one of two trails; either via a coastal road or an inland, forested trail. The forested section seems less taxing to ascend than the road.
And once at the top, there is the option for those with energy to burn to descend on a trail past the lighthouse to a viewpoint over the water. Also near the lighthouse, is the zero marker for the Canadian portion of the International Appalachian Trail. Forillon is the endpoint – or start, depending on your perspective.
I truly loved the hike. It was easy walking for the most part and between expansive, wildflower filled views, stops at pebble beaches and a visit to a lighthouse overlooking dramatic cliffs, it was a winner.
Photos from Les Graves trail in Forillon National Park.
Information for a visit to Forillon National Park
Cost: The entrance fee is $7.80 per adult.
Opening dates for visitor centre: It varies but generally from June 21st until September 2nd.
Camping: Wilderness camping is open all year round. The Petit-Gaspe campground is open the longest – from May 17th until October 13th. Bring food and water with you.
Closest town: The town of Gaspé is only a 40 minute drive away. Percé Rock and Bonaventure Island is another hour from there. There are lots of pretty, small towns on the Gulf of St. Lawrence side to stay in.
More information: Visit the Forillon National Park website.
Further reading on things to do in Quebec in summer
- A Road Trip Around the Gaspe Peninsula
- Hiking to the Summit of Le Mont Albert in Quebec
- A Lighthouse Stay in Quebec’s Mingan Archipelago
- Lac de Pimbina Hike, La Mauricie National Park
- A Trip to Mingan Archipelago National Park in Quebec
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It’s a scenic beauty, reminds me of the open pastures in the Tess of the d’Urbervilles. Wondering how long would it take to cover the complete zone. If I were to roam around this place, I might end up spending a month!
Amazing spot. This sounds like my next camping destination. I’m willing to take my pet with my family. Is this dog-friendly? Nowhere is mentioned about that.
No doubt that is a great place, Thanks for sharing the awesome article with a lot of beautiful photos.
Thank you for this post! There’s not very much information about the Gaspe peninsula online, especially in English. Thank you for sharing your experience hiking at Forillon. I’m planning a motorcycle trip here this summer and have been looking for information online about all the hikes and other things to do in the area. Between this and your post about the hikes at the Gaspesie National Park I’ve got plenty to look into. Thanks!
@Bobby You’re right about that. Not much English spoken either. Very pretty part of the world though.
the mystery wildflower is not a native wildflower but an introduced (but very pretty) weed – Solanum dulcamara, bittersweet or climbing nightshade. I’m not sure, but it may be an invasive problem weed in Quebec. Still, very pretty.
@Rob Thanks for that info.
What a beautiful hike! I love your photo of looking down at Gaspe Bay. The weather looks fantastic too!
@Katie The scenery was way better than expected and there was some drama with the approaching storm – which ended up doing nothing.
Spent 5 days camping at Forillon went whale watching, kayaking with the seals and day trips. Going back this summer. Love gaspe.
@Adrianne Great to hear such a positive comment. I think the Gaspe area is gorgeous and I was surprised at just how beautiful Forillon NP was. Lucky you with five days there.
This hike reminds me a bit of the Lost Coast part in northern California. Minus the porcupine. Did you time your hike to coincide with wildflower season? I swear I always miss it here in California – it’s too brief!
@Jill I have bever heard of the Lost Coast but I like the name. I didn’t time the trip to coincide with wildflowers blooming but I sure lucked out.
I find quite a lot about Canadian attractions from you. This is another one. Looks like a beautiful place. I love the tunnel of green and the views.
@Salika I don’t think many Canadians outside of Quebec have heard about Forillon yet it’s such a treat to visit.
Gorgeous photos and yet another reason for me to visit Quebec. Coastal hikes rock!
I love coastal hikes, even though I don’t get to do them very often. I haven’t heard of this national park either. Gorgeous photos!
@Laurel Forillon NP was new to me this year – and in my opinion it over-delivered on the scenery front.
Another lovely Canadian National Park that I have never heard but now want to visit after reading your post. Looks like a great mixture of waterfront, woods, and wildflowers.
@Ted I could have easily spent another day in the park exploring the north section which I didn’t even get to.
Wow! It looks gorgeous. What a beautiful place and one I’ve never heard of.
As for the “wildflower” it looks like nightshade, which is toxic and invasive (but pretty) and probably a non-native weed in that part of the country. I’m always trying to pull them out of my gardens before they bloom and go to seed.
@Cindy Forillon is a relatively unknown park but very beautiful. And thanks for the heads-up about the nightshade.