Chic-Chocs Mountain Lodge

Rooms

Decorated with quilts and furniture made from locally sourced wood, the lodge’s 18 rooms each reflect the surrounding natural environment. All rooms are the same size and feature either one king bed or two twin beds, as well as an armchair and foot rest, and an en suite bathroom. Rooms are simple and, with a wilderness playground beckoning outside, are not intended for extended daytime use. However, the lodge has gone to great lengths to ensure they remain a tranquil retreat at the end of a busy day. 

Location

Steep and densely forested, the Chic-Choc Mountains’ inaccessibility has kept the range largely untouched by development, preserving the area’s natural beauty. The lodge offers guests access to miles of trails as well as sweeping views of the mountains.

You can only reach the lodge via an hour-long shuttle bus transfer from the seaside town of Cap-Chat, on the northern shore of Québec’s Gaspé Peninsula.

Food and drink

Like the rest of the lodge, the open-plan dining room was designed to encourage guest interaction. All meals are served on long communal tables, facilitating conversation among guests and staff (who also dine with guests). The floor-to-ceiling windows provide a panoramic view of the surrounding mountains.

The buffet breakfast includes homemade granola, cereals, fresh fruit and pastries. A hearty lunch is ready and waiting for guests after their morning pursuits. Dinner is served on sharing platters and guests are also invited to help themselves to the lodge’s large wine collection (operated by a tab system, payable on check-out). Trail mix, breads and fruit are also available throughout the day for guests to take with them on their daily activities.

Facilities and activities

Chic-Chocs Mountain Lodge provides all the equipment that you need to make the most of the remote wilderness setting. Each day the lodge leads a variety of guided hikes into the park (both half-day and full-day options are available). Guests who prefer to explore on their own are provided with two-way radios and maps. Staff are also on hand to make recommendations, like where to kayak on a beaver-made lake or particularly good fishing spots. Guests are also welcome to borrow walking poles, shoe covers, rucksacks and water bottles, if needed.

The lodge also features a sauna, yoga mats and a small outdoor hot tub, as well as a reading room and lounge (complete with a log fire) where guests can relax after a day in the mountains. You can also take advantage of the lack of light pollution and use the lodge’s telescope to peer into the star-strewn heavens.

Environmental and social responsibility

The lodge takes its environmental responsibility seriously and has a number of measures in place to reduce its impact on the surrounding landscape. The water supply is pumped in directly from the ground, and solar panels mean that the lodge generates enough electricity to be completely self-sufficient in the summer. Laundry is taken via the shuttle bus to Cap-Chat to preserve water in the Chic-Chocs, and even the road has been specifically designed to fit the curve of the mountain landscape.