Mount Saint-Pierre

Conquering Mont Saint-Pierre, at an altitude of 411 metres, is no mean feat. But at its summit, where hang-gliding enthusiasts meet to throw themselves into the void, you literally feel as if you’re flying over the St. Lawrence River. There’s also a superb view over the valley of this small Gaspesian village and its hemicycle-shaped beach.

The mountain is characterized by its steep slopes and the geomorphological phenomena on which the vegetation depends. There is a mixed forest dominated by balsam fir, and, as you approach the summit, a rocky zone where vegetation is almost non-existent.

Walking tour

It’s at Mont-Saint-Pierre that the International Appalachian Trail (IAT) reaches the St. Lawrence after passing through the Parc national de la Gaspésie. These marked trails between sea and mountains offer hikers breathtaking scenery.

It’s an ideal place to start a long-distance trek with overnight refuge(s). The trails, intermediate/advanced level, are linear and total over 110km. In winter, they are also accessible on snowshoes.

From the free-flight access road, you can follow the Delta trail (advanced level) up to the summit, a distance of 1.6 km.

Off-piste skiing

The Mont-Saint-Pierre backcountry is surprisingly abundant in snow, and several easily accessible couloirs are a delight for independent alpine hikers looking for a thrill.

The Taconica Valley also offers the chance to practice this sport in a more supervised environment, with privileged access to the eastern side of the valley and the possibility of a motorized lift service.

Ice climbing

Gaspésie’s ice climbing capital! Within the municipality’s boundaries, some ten icefalls are accessible to experienced ice climbers.

Other activities

The village also boasts a magnificent beach. Fishermen can catch the capelin that spawn here, as well as other species depending on the season. You can also fly kites or go kite-surfing.

When the sea is calm, there’s nothing quite as pleasant as a few paddle strokes in a kayak or on a SUP to explore the bay.

Previously, the area, which became a municipality in 1947, was called “Rivière-à-Pierre”, a name which appears on a map by Gédéon de Catalogne in 1723 “R. à Pierre” and on a cartographic document by Pierre Russell in 1861, while the form Rivière Pierre adorns a map by Joseph Bouchette in 1815. The Pierre element undoubtedly comes from the imposing rocky cliffs that make up the landscape, although some are inclined to think that it may be a first name, a preposition that is frequent.

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