L'étang-Du-Nord offers different ways to plan a trip: a public park by the fishing harbor, paths with coastal views, a distinctive wooden church and activities on the water. To start planning, you can decide whether coastal paths, architecture or activities on the water are the main priority.
Coast, Harbor and History
The Site de la Côte public park is located by the fishing harbor and is a good place for a walk along the coast. At Site de la Côte, the Sentier historique features a permanent outdoor exhibition of archival photographs along a coastal path that visitors can walk on their own. The Monument aux pêcheurs at Site de la Côte honors the men and women who work in the fishing industry. The walking path, archival photographs and monument offer different ways to experience the coast and maritime work.
Church and Coastal Paths
The Église de Saint-Pierre-de-La Vernière is a wooden church and one of the largest wooden churches in Québec. Its Gothic Revival features include a central octagonal bell tower, lancet windows, buttresses and window tracery. The church is a prominent feature of the landscape and overlooks the Gulf of St. Lawrence.
The Sentier de l'étang du Nord is 2.4 kilometers long and has almost no elevation gain. It ends at the Borgot lighthouse and offers unobstructed views of the red sandstone cliffs and the Gulf of St. Lawrence. Check current trail conditions before your visit.
Activities on the Water and Culinary Inspiration
At Parc de Gros-Cap, the focus is on adventures on the water and outdoor activities. Visitors can rent a SUP there and use it to explore the Gros-Cap cliffs. This differs from the coastal promenade and maritime heritage at Site de la Côte: here, the sea itself is part of the activity.
The recipes at À l'abri de la Tempête are inspired by the riches of the island region and its artisans. This adds a culinary aspect to the paths, landscape and culture that distinguish L'étang-Du-Nord.
The Wider Destination: Les Îles-De-La-Madeleine
In the wider destination of Les Îles-De-La-Madeleine, the Sentier Entre Vents et Marées crosses the archipelago in 13 stages and is 230 kilometers long in total. Site de la Côte is one of these stages. This puts the local connection to the route in context alongside the scale of the full trail.
The Réserve nationale de faune de la Pointe-de-l’Est is located at the northeastern end of the archipelago and includes dunes, heaths and ponds. It serves as a stopover for migratory birds, particularly shorebirds, and offers breeding habitat for endangered species such as the red-necked grebe and the piping plover. More than 150 bird species and about ten mammal species currently occur there. The reserve also offers guided hikes and activities to raise awareness about protecting wildlife habitats; check details directly.
To travel to the wider destination of Les Îles-De-La-Madeleine, CTMA offers regular ferry service between Souris on Prince Edward Island and the Îles-de-la-Madeleine. Schedules and reservations are subject to change; check both directly with CTMA before planning your trip.
Discover more destinations: Fatima, Grande-Entrée, Cap-Aux-Meules, Havre-Aux-Maisons
View the wider travel overview: Les Îles-De-La-Madeleine.
