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Gaspé

With a population of over 15,000 and a history that stretches back to the dawn of European colonization in what is now Canada, Gaspé is the largest city and unofficial capital of the region with which it shares its name. As the Gaspé Peninsula's most important service centre and transportation hub, almost every visitor to the region will pass through at one point or another on their travels.

But Gaspé presents something of a conundrum: no one comes to this part of Quebec in search of urban creature comforts, and — especially for tourists who've just been wowed by the majestic scenery while driving into town along the St. Lawrence, or spent a day taking in the touristy atmosphere of Percé down the road — at first glance Gaspé can seem like a workaday, all-business kind of town, a bit lacking in charm.

But that doesn't necessarily mean you should hit the road as soon as you've touched down at Michel Pouliot Airport, stocked up on fuel or provisions, or whatever has brought you to town. Stick around awhile and dig a little deeper, and Gaspé's low-key but worthwhile range of attractions might surprise you.

Understand

In 1971 — under the auspices of one of the Quebec provincial government's frequent spates of municipal reorganization — no fewer than eleven surrounding municipalities were annexed to Gaspé, among them Cap-aux-Os, Cap-des-Rosiers, Douglastown, Haldimand, L'Anse-au-Griffon, L'Anse-à-Valleau, Rivière-au-Renard, and York. While you'll still see these and other old place names on road signs along Route 132, and locals still often refer to them in conversation, all the points of interest within these former towns are contained within this article.

Additionally, Gaspé's city limits encompass the entirety of Forillon National Park, which is not covered in this article.

History
Gaspé's paramount importance in the colonial history of North America is unbeknownst even to many Québécois. Indeed, this city lays claim to the title of "Cradle of French America": in 1534, seven years before his failed attempt to establish a settlement at Cap-Rouge (and nearly three-quarters of a century before the foundation of Quebec City), the famous explorer Jacques Cartier, while sheltering in Gaspé Bay during a storm, came ashore briefly somewhere in the city and planted a crude wooden cross in the ground in the name of the French crown, thus setting the 200-year history of "New France" in motion. The indigenous Mi'kmaq people referred to the area as gespeg (meaning "land's end"; a reference to Cap-Gaspé at the east end of the peninsula), which was Gallicized by the colonists into its current name.

Despite its historical significance, the area remained a backwater for pretty much the entire two-century period of French rule. It was not until 1763 when settlement of what is now Gaspé began in earnest — and those first settlers were Englishmen, to whom Gaspesian land was given away free of charge after control of Quebec was firmly in British hands. They were followed in short order by waves of French-speaking Acadians expelled from their former homes in Nova Scotia, "United Empire Loyalists" driven out of what's now the United States after the revolution there, and immigrant fishermen and shipbuilders (the latter largely hailing from Jersey) who came from Europe to take advantage of the rich cod fishery in the surrounding waters. Gaspé's first post office opened in 1804, and the village was officially incorporated in 1855.

Gaspé hit its stride in the 19th century, with an economy centred around its importance as a port for the trans-Atlantic shipping trade — indeed, for a brief time around the turn of the century Gaspé figured among Canada's major seaports, with hundreds of foreign ships every year pulling into the deep, sheltered bay to take advantage of the city's status as a duty-free port, hundreds more setting off for distant lands with stocks of wood pulp, copper ore, dried cod, and other local goods, an impressive presence of branch consulates of countries such as Italy, Norway, and Brazil helping to further grease the gears of international trade, and a culture much more multilingual and cosmopolitan than the sleepy fishing and logging villages elsewhere in the region. However, despite the arrival of the railway in 1911, Gaspé's port was unable to compete with larger and more centrally-located alternatives like Montreal and Halifax, and today it derives its significance mostly as a regional centre of population, business, and industry; the kind of place small-town folks from around the region head to go shopping, have a nice dinner out, and enjoy a semblance of city life.

Visitor information
Gaspé Forillon is the official tourism website for the titular city and park: a comprehensive source of information including a visitor's guide, listings of hotels, restaurants and events, a lovely photo album, and even a mobile app for iPhone and Android users to download.

Gaspé's main Tourist Information Centre (Bureau d'information touristique de Gaspé) is located in the former VIA Rail station at 8, rue de la Marina, just across the bridge from downtown Gaspé. It's open year-round on weekdays from 8:30AM to 4:30PM.

A number of the outlying hamlets that make up the modern-day city have their own tourist information centres. The at 884, boulevard de l'Anse-à-Valleau is open daily 9AM-5PM from June 12 through September 30. Additionally, the building at 17, rue de la Langevin that houses the Forillon Yacht Club (Club nautique Forillon) and the Fishery Interpretive Centre (Centre d'interprétation des pêches) also does triple duty as the home of the Rivière-au-Renard Tourist Information Kiosk, open between June and September.

By car
As with the vast majority of the peninsula's cities and towns, Provincial Route 132 — Quebec's main trunk road along the south shore of the St. Lawrence river and estuary — serves as Gaspé's main drag.

Coming from the direction of Montreal and Quebec City, follow Autoroute 20 eastward until the highway dead-ends at Trois-Pistoles. From there, make a left, following the signs for Route 132, then turn right and proceed eastward 314 km (195 miles) to L'Anse-Pleureuse. From there onward, you have several options:

 * The quickest and most direct route into Gaspé would have you turning right at the junction with Provincial Route 198, the inland route via Murdochville that dumps you directly in the town centre. However, this option comes at the expense of missing out on the most majestic of the Gaspé Peninsula's shoreline scenery, and it's not really that much shorter.
 * You can also follow Route 132 itself all the way into town, though the route it takes is circuitous indeed: after entering the city limits and passing through L'Anse-à-Valleau, Rivière-au-Renard, and other outer hamlets on a southeastward trajectory along the shore of the St. Lawrence, the road turns sharply to the southwest at Cap-des-Rosiers, winding and meandering its way through Forillon National Park before doubling back toward the northwest along the shore of Gaspé Bay. From there, it crosses over the mouth of the Dartmouth River and turns yet again toward the southeast on its final approach to Gaspé's town centre.
 * The Goldilocks option, which is almost as fast as the inland route via Murdochville and also lets you enjoy most of that scenery, involves turning south on Provincial Route 197 at Rivière-au-Renard and rejoining Route 132 just before the aforementioned bridge over the Dartmouth River, thus cutting off the sinewy Forillon portion of the route.

Depending on which of those routes you take, from Quebec City to Gaspé you're looking at a drive of anywhere between seven-and-a-half and eight-and-a-half hours, excluding stops. If you're coming directly from Montreal, add another two and a half hours.

If you're coming from the direction of the Maritimes or certain parts of New England, the route is much more straightforward: pass through New Brunswick via Provincial Route 17, cross into Quebec at Campbellton, then follow Route 132 east from there. Gaspé is about 330 km (205 miles) past the provincial border, a drive of roughly three and a half hours excluding stops.

Airport
(Aéroport Michel-Pouliot de Gaspé) is about 10 km (6 miles) outside the city centre at 60, rue de l'Aéroport. Enterprise and National have car rental facilities onsite. Air Canada stopped all flights to the airport in July 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Flights to Gaspé from Quebec City (1.75 hours).

By bus

 * Two routes operate daily between Gaspé and Rimouski. The routes travel as follows:
 * Route follows the St. Lawrence River along the north side of Gaspé Peninsula. Includes stops in Grande-Vallée, Sainte-Anne-des-Monts, Matane, and Mont-Joli. Travel time time to Gaspé from Matane is 5 hours, from Mont-Joli is 6 hours, from Rimouski is 6.5 hours.
 * Route follows the south side of the Gaspé Peninsula to near the provincial border with New Brunswick and travels inland to and from the St. Lawrence River. Includes stops in Percé, Chandler, Bonaventure, Pointe-à-la-Croix, Amqui, and Mont-Joli. Travel time time to Gaspé from Rimouski is 8.5 hours, from Mont-Joli is 8 hours, from Pointe-à-la-Croix is 4.5 hours, from Bonaventure is 3 hours, and from Percé is 50 minutes.
 * Maritime Bus operates buses to Campbellton, NB, which is a 2 km taxi ride to Pointe-à-la-Croix, QC. Maritime Bus connects communities in New Brunswick, Nova Scotia, and Prince Edward Island.
 * In the case of both routes, same day transfers are possible to and from Quebec City (involving a transfer at Rimouski) and Montreal (involving transfers at Rimouski and Quebec City). Travel time to Gaspé From Quebec City is 11.75 hours and from Montreal is 14.5 hours.
 * In the case of both routes, same day transfers are possible to and from Quebec City (involving a transfer at Rimouski) and Montreal (involving transfers at Rimouski and Quebec City). Travel time to Gaspé From Quebec City is 11.75 hours and from Montreal is 14.5 hours.

By bike
The main trunk line of the Route Verte — the largest network of bicycle routes on the American continent, with tentacles stretching over the entire province of Quebec — passes through the Gaspé Peninsula. Route Verte 1 largely follows the course of Provincial Route 132, though construction of bike lanes and other infrastructure is not yet complete throughout the entirety of the route. Indeed, Gaspé is accessible by bike from Percé and points south by way of a bike lane along the side of Route 132, but approaching from the other direction along the St. Lawrence, cyclists along 132 must ride directly in traffic lanes for 82 km (51 miles) between Sainte-Madeleine-de-la-Rivière-Madeleine and Rivière-au-Renard, where the roadside bike lanes finally re-emerge.

For details of Route Verte 1's trajectory through the city of Gaspé itself, see the corresponding section below.

On foot
The International Appalachian Trail (IAT; in French Sentier international des Appalaches or SIA) traverses Gaspé at the tail end of the North American mainland portion of its route. For long-distance hikers approaching from the west, the scenario is at first a continuation of the relatively easy and flat terrain they've been enjoying for the past several kilometres (miles): after crossing into the Gaspé city limits, the trail first hews closely to the coast and/or Route 132 and then, after a brief but steep climb about 2.5 km (a mile and a half) past Grand-Étang, passes along the crest of a high ridge slightly inland. There, you can link up if you like with the Windmills Trail (Sentier éolien), a 6.3 km (nearly 4-mile) loop through the Cartier Énergie Éolienne wind farm. After that, it's a slow and gradual descent back toward the St. Lawrence, passing by the lighthouse at Pointe-à-la-Renommée on another easy stretch of trail. After L'Anse-à-Valleau, though, the script flips: you take a sharp turn inland, loping over hill and dale through dense pine and birch forest, then you turn east through a verdant river valley and continue into Forillon National Park.

Sépaq, the provincial park and wildlife service, operates a number of backcountry campsites and lean-to shelters along the Québécois portion of the IAT. See below for information on the ones within Gaspé.

By boat
Located at 10, rue de la Marina, the marina at the accommodates visitors arriving by boat with over 90 slips just outside of the city centre. In 2017, non-members were charged $1.55 per foot per day for docking, with longer-term visitors enjoying a 50% discount for every third day. If you're rigging your sailboat to a boom instead, it's $18/day. Launch fees apply as well; see the marina's website for details on those.

By train
Gaspé's (Gare intermodale) is located at 8, rue de la Marina, just across from the city centre. Train service into Gaspé provided by VIA Rail ' s Montreal-Gaspé line, has been suspended since 2013  Though VIA Rail intends to resume service once repairs are made, there's no timetable for when that might happen, and the Montreal-Gaspé line may just be eliminated.

Get around
Walking would be a fine way to get around for those who don't intend to venture beyond the city centre, but let's face it — in a place like the Gaspé Peninsula, that's true of almost nobody. That being the case, a car is pretty much a necessity for getting around these parts.

By bike
In the city of Gaspé, Route Verte 1 exists in three discontinuous segments:

 * From Rivière-au-Renard, roadside bike lanes along Route 132 extend eastward for 10 km (6½ miles) into L'Anse-au-Griffon, then divert inland along a gravel-paved off-road trail through Forillon National Park. At the other end of the park, it's another 19.5 km (12 miles) of bike lanes along 132 between La Penouille and the corner of Rue Louise, just outside of Gaspé town centre.
 * Beginning at the rear parking lot of the Carrefour de Gaspé shopping centre near the harbour, Route Verte 1 picks back up, following the course of an asphalt-paved off-road "rail trail" for 10 km (a little more than 6 miles) through Sandy Beach and into Haldimand, terminating at the intersection of Route 132 with rue de la Plage. This is arguably the most pleasant of the three segments, with nice views across the bay toward Forillon and precious few hills to contend with.
 * A short distance west of Haldimand, on-road bike lanes re-emerge along Route 132 and continue southward past the airport, through Douglastown, and across the city line into Percé.

In the breaks between these segments, the trajectory of Route Verte 1 nominally proceeds along Route 132. However, for the time being, cyclists must ride directly in traffic lanes through these discontinuities as bike lanes and other infrastructure have yet to be constructed.

Bike rental is available from:

 * Auberge Griffon Aventure, in L'Anse-au-Griffon at 829, boulevard du Griffon — from early May through mid-October, at a rate of $10 per half-day (9AM-12:30PM or 1:30 PM-dusk) or $20 all day.
 * the (Pavillon des sports Marcel-Bujold), on the campus of Gaspé Peninsula and Îles de la Madeleine Community College (Cégep de la Gaspésie et des Îles) — call +1 418-368-6939 for rates and availability.

By taxi
Taxi service is available from:

By bus
The parking lot of Place Jacques-Cartier shopping centre in downtown Gaspé serves as the main hub for RéGÎM, the regional public bus network serving the Gaspé Peninsula and the Îles de la Madeleine. No fewer than six of the system's bus routes begin, end, or pass through this nexus.

Routes that are contained entirely within Gaspé's city limits include:

 * Route 20, which departs every weekday at 6:30AM from the (Bureau de poste de l'Anse-à-Valleau) at 922, boulevard de l'Anse-à-Valleau, passing through Petit-Cap, Rivière-au-Renard, and Saint-Majorique and arriving at Place Jacques-Cartier at 7:33AM. Return trips depart daily at 4:47PM and arrive in L'Anse-à-Valleau at 5:36PM.
 * Route 21, which departs every weekday at 6:29AM from at 2, chemin du Portage in L'Anse-au-Griffon, passing through Forillon National Park and Saint-Majorique and arriving at Place Jacques-Cartier at 7:35AM. Return trips depart each weekday at 4:47PM and arrive in L'Anse-au-Griffon at 5:38PM.
 * Route 23, a loop through Gaspé's western outskirts including the communities of Wakeham, Sunny Bank, and York. There are two trips every weekday: a morning run that departs Place Jacques-Cartier at 7:40AM, returning at 8:25AM, and an afternoon "express" run (passing over most of the stops within Gaspé's city centre) that departs at 3:45PM and returns at 4:19PM.
 * Route 24, a loop through Gaspé's southeastern outskirts including the communities of York, Haldimand, and Sandy Beach. Buses depart Place Jacques-Cartier every morning at 7:40AM, returning at 8:30AM.

Routes that arrive in Gaspé from outlying towns include:

 * Route 22, which departs every weekday at 6:40AM from L'Anse-à-Beaufils, stopping at Place Jacques-Cartier at 7:38AM, and ending its run a short distance east of the city centre at (École C.-E.-Pouliot) at 7:47AM. Return trips depart the high school at 5:50PM, pass by Place Jacques-Cartier at 6:02PM, and arrive in L'Anse-à-Beaufils at 7:02PM.
 * Route 26, which runs Friday only, departing at 8:45AM from Murdochville, stopping at Place Jacques-Cartier at 10AM, and ending its run at Gaspé Hospital in York at 10:25AM. Return trips depart the hospital at 4PM, pass by Place Jacques-Cartier at 4:25PM, and arrive in Murdochville at 5:15PM. There's also an abbreviated midday run between the hospital and Place Jacques-Cartier only, with departures from the former at 1PM arriving at the latter at 1:25PM, and in the reverse direction departing at 1:20PM and arriving at 1:45PM.

Fare is payable in cash ($4) or with tickets ($3 apiece, available in books of ten from participating retailers or directly from the bus drivers). If you're planning on making heavy use of RéGÎM during your stay in the Gaspé Peninsula, it might be useful to buy a prepaid Access Card (available online for $5), which are good for a whole month and entitle you to the same discounted $3 fare as tickets.

Museums and history
The Gaspé Peninsula is first and foremost an outdoor destination: the stunning views of forest-cloaked mountains and wave-battered shorelines visible from every window practically command visitors to emerge into the fresh air and majestic wilderness. But of course, the weather in this part of the world isn't always cooperative — and if you've got a rainy-day hankering to switch gears and learn a little more about the region's fascinating history and culture, the city of Gaspé is the place to be.

Your first stop should be...

Then, if you want to dig deeper, you might also check out the following attractions.

Art

 * In Memory of Her (En mémoire d'Elle), on the grounds of the Gaspé Regional Museum, see above.

On the water
Surrounded on three sides by water, Gaspé boasts aquatic fun in myriad forms.

Beaches

The shore of Gaspé Bay is dotted with beaches that are popular summertime destinations for locals and visitors alike, including three within the city of Gaspé itself:

 * (Plage municipale d'Haldimand) is the most beautiful, the most centrally located, and the most crowded beach in Gaspé. Here you'll find pristine water, luscious white sand, a playground for the kids, and even a beachfront restaurant serving Mexican specialties, all a quick ten-minute drive from downtown. Lifeguards patrol the waters in high season (late June through late August), and an annual sand castle competition draws crowds of onlookers in late July.
 * For those in search of a more private beach getaway, (Plage de Douglastown) lies further south, on the other side of the lagoon. Douglastown boasts a setting almost as beautiful as Haldimand's — and an even greater length, a sand spit fully a kilometre and a half (a mile) long — yet its more off-the-beaten-path location and lack of any amenities means it's more often than not just you, the rustling dune grass, and the crashing waves.

 * Finally, in the shadow of Forillon National Park is found (Plage de Cap-aux-Os), the smallest of the three. The water here tends to be a bit chillier, but that doesn't stop folks from coming down to enjoy swimming, sunbathing, a quick meal at the snack bar, or kayak rental courtesy of Cap Aventure. Public washrooms are offered, and leashed pets are welcome.

Fishing
As you've probably gathered from reading thus far, fishing is a really big deal around these parts. Indeed, the fishery was the region's economic lifeblood for centuries, and although tourism has since usurped that status for the most part, it retains a good deal of importance even today.

But fishing isn't just an industry here — it's a way of life, for locals and visitors alike. Fishing in Gaspé can be as simple as finding a wharf or a dock and casting your line into the water, which can be done any time of year without a licence. Mackerel and smelt are popular with Gaspesian wharf fishers: the former are most plentiful in late July and early August, while smelt fishing is strictly a wintertime pursuit — ice fishing shacks are a common sight on Gaspé Bay starting in January, when freeze-up typically occurs.

Away from the shore, brook trout teem in the waterways of inland Gaspé. Locals generally don't bother with trout fishing, which has led to an abundant population — some say an overpopulation — in the fast-flowing streams and crystal-clear lakes of the Chic-Chocs. You can easily reel in some whoppers up here in the mountains; 2-kg (4½-pound) specimens are not at all uncommon. However, unlike wharf fishing from shore, trout fishing does require a licence from the Quebec Ministry of Forests, Wildlife and Parks (Ministère des forêts, de la faune et des parcs du Québec). This costs $20.19/$39.56 per day or $46.30/$148.57 annually, for Quebec residents and nonresidents respectively. Please also see the Ministry's website for information on other regulations that may apply to the specific body of water you're planning to fish.

But if there's one single species that comes to the mind of fishing connoisseurs when they hear of the Gaspé Peninsula, it's the Atlantic salmon — a species that, thanks to the efforts of the Quebec Salmon River Management Federation (Fédération des gestionnaires de rivières à saumon du Québec or FGRSQ), is on the rebound after decades of decline. With 22 world-renowned rivers managed by that organization, you're hard-pressed to find better salmon fishing anywhere — and you'll find two of those rivers within the city of Gaspé itself.

 * The Saint-Jean River Wildlife Reserve (Reserve faunique de la rivière Saint-Jean) is the city's premier salmon-fishing venue, with a season that extends from May 25 through September 30 (catch-and-release only through the end of July up to a maximum of three fish per person; one catch-and-keep per person is permitted thereafter; size limits may also apply). The Saint-Jean flows eastward through Gaspé's southern precincts before emptying into Douglastown Bay, and is divided by the FGRSQ into three different zones, each with their own regulations. In Sector 1, which begins at the Route 132 bridge and extends about 10 km (6 miles) inland, the number of fishermen on any given day is limited to eight; for Sector 2, which extends further inland beyond the city line, regulations are still more stringent at two per day. Advance reservations are required, and you're best off booking as far ahead as possible. Day passes allowing fishing on the Saint-Jean cost $34.60/$67.20 in Sector 1 and $46.99/$91.98 in Sector 2, for Quebec residents and nonresidents respectively.
 * The Dartmouth River Controlled Harvesting Zone (Zone d'exploitation contrôlée de la rivière Dartmouth) runs roughly parallel to the St. Lawrence along the northern part of the peninsula's interior spine and empties into Gaspé Bay a few kilometres (miles) northwest of the city centre. Like the Saint-Jean River, the Dartmouth is divided into seven zones, with Sector 1 comprising almost the entirety of the portion of the river within Gaspé's city limits. Though this sector features "unlimited access" — with no maximum number of fishermen allowed in the water simultaneously — the season is shorter (June 1 through August 31) and catch limits are no less stringent. In addition, a short stretch of river near the western boundary of the city falls within Zone 2, where you're back to the advance-reservation system with two anglers on the river at a time. Day passes for salmon fishing on the Dartmouth cost $41.02/$60.51 in Sector 1 and $73.75/$109.63 in Sector 2, for Quebec residents and nonresidents respectively.

Day passes can be purchased at the at 25, boulevard de York Est, which is open daily from 8AM-6PM, and the quoted fees are in addition to that of the provincial fishing licence mentioned above.

If ocean fishing is more your thing, the folks at Auberge Griffon Aventure run 2½-hour excursions aboard the Balbuzard where you can angle for mackerel along the coast or, weather permitting, head out to the deeper waters of the Gulf of St. Lawrence in pursuit of the Atlantic cod. Departures happen twice daily from mid-June through mid-September, at 6:30AM and 5PM, from Cap-des-Rosiers Marina. Additional departures may also be added to the schedule based on demand. Tickets cost $70 for adults, $50 for kids 17 and under, $220 for families of two adults and two kids, or $250 for families of two adults and three kids. Rods and tackle are provided, and — most convenient of all — no licence is necessary!

Boating
Of course, fishing isn't the only thing you can do on a boat here: from kayaks to sailboats to stand-up paddleboards, the waters surrounding Gaspé teem with fun-seekers of all different stripes. The colonies of grey and harbour seals that congregate on the shore of the bay, in Forillon National Park, are a popular destination for boating excursions departing from Gaspé.

Canyoneering
The folks at Auberge Griffon Aventure describe the guided canyoneering excursions they offer on Chesnay Creek as "like an outdoor waterpark designed by nature" — and indeed, there's hardly a more fun way to spend five hours in Gaspé than donning a wetsuit and helmet and slip-sliding down foaming river rapids into emerald green pools of crystal-clear water. Gear is provided for you (but do bring a bathing suit to wear underneath your wetsuit, as well as a pair of non-slip waterproof shoes); tours leave rain or shine, but may be cancelled in the event of high water levels in the canyon. Every day at 9AM between June 22 and September 2 (or later in the year, weather-depending), tour groups depart from the parking lot of Restaurant Chez Ron on boulevard de York; beginning July 16, one additional departure daily at 11:30AM occurs on high-demand days. Rates are $71 for adults and $61 for kids age 8-17.

Golf

If "full-size golf" isn't your thing, Gaspé also boasts a pair of mini-golf courses.

Horseback riding

In the winter
Although National Geographic magazine has ranked the Gaspé Peninsula among the Top 10 cold-weather destinations in North America, the wonders of wintertime in this part of the world remain a well-guarded secret. Don't be fooled by the dirt-cheap hotel rooms and ghost-town feel in the streets: there's plenty to do in Gaspé offseason. (That goes double if you're a winter sports fanatic.)

Buy
No, it's not the wonderland of souvenir trinkets that you'll find just down the road in Percé. However, being the largest city in the region by far, Gaspé naturally has a respectable range of shopping opportunities of a somewhat more conventional bent. These are concentrated principally in and around the city centre — especially along the surprisingly fashionable shopping street of rue de la Reine.

Shopping centres
A case in point of the above. If you're the type of person whose tastes run toward the name brands and well-known designers that are sold at chain clothing stores, Gaspé is pretty much the only game in town on the peninsula that shares its name.

Eat
The restaurant scene is one area in which Gaspé definitely does not lag behind other cities on the Peninsula in terms of interest to visitors. For instance, if you've come to the region to check out Bonaventure Island and Percé Rock, sure you could stick around for dinner in one of Percé's overpriced, touristy eateries — but if you're in the mood for a more refined and distinctive experience, Gaspé is the place to go.

Northern outskirts
Away from downtown, dining options get less fancy and high-concept, but no less appealing. If an unpretentious casse-croûte (snack bar) serving local fare is what you're after, seek it out in Gaspé's outer precincts.

Grocery stores
Self-caterers in Gaspé have an abundance of options.

Drink
To the extent that nightlife exists in the Gaspé Peninsula, you'll find it mostly in Gaspé — or, to be more precise, in Rivière-au-Renard, home of two of the three places listed below.

Sleep
Except where indicated, all rates quoted in these sections are for double occupancy in high season (July and August).

Hotels and motels
Most often, bedding down for the night in these parts means either checking in to a charming old gîte or roughing it in a campground. Not so in the Gaspé Peninsula's urban core: here traditional hotels and motels predominate.

City centre and around

Northern outskirts

Gîtes
The Gaspé Peninsula is a romantic kind of place, a perfect fit for those looking for a peaceful getaway somewhere that brims with historic character, with friendly and accommodating hosts that start each day off for you with a hearty breakfast and knowledgeable words of advice on what to do around the local area. That's where the gîte du passant — or just gîte for short — comes in. Proportionally speaking, in the Gaspé Peninsula (if not necessarily in Gaspé itself), gîtes are an even more popular lodging choice than bed & breakfasts (basically the same concept) are in the English-speaking world. You'll find a decent selection of them in the hamlets ringing Forillon National Park, especially Cap-des-Rosiers.

Northern outskirts

Cottages and vacation homes
Whereas hotels and motels are the most popular lodging option in the city centre, and gîtes tend to cluster in the northern outskirts toward Forillon, vacation cottages predominate south of downtown. If a convenient homebase between Gaspé and Percé is what you're after, read on.

Campgrounds
Relative to neighbouring towns, Gaspé has a surprising paucity of campgrounds. If none of the options listed here are to your liking, check out what Forillon National Park has to offer.

Backcountry camping
Sépaq, Quebec's provincial park and wildlife service, maintains a provincewide network of 35 unserviced campsites and shelters that are open by prior reservation to hikers on the International Appalachian Trail. In all cases, these sites are open from June 24 through October 11, full payment must be made in advance, and hikers should have their ID and proof of reservation on hand at all times to show to any officials who may happen by. Hikers must bring all their own supplies, including sleeping bags, mattresses, flashlights, toilet paper, matches, and cooking and eating utensils, and clean up after themselves upon departure. A portable cookstove might also be a good idea, as fires are allowed only in specified areas, and only if forest fire danger is listed as low or moderate. In addition, all sites are located near a water source, but said water might not be potable; best practice is to boil thoroughly before drinking.

There are three Sépaq IAT shelters within the city of Gaspé (not including those in Forillon National Park). From west to east, they are:

Hostels and guesthouses
Rounding out the gamut of lodging options in Gaspé is a pretty respectable range of hostels and accommodations of a similar bent.

Connect
Gaspé, along with the rest of the peninsula, is served by area codes 418 and 581. Ten-digit dialling is mandatory for local calls, so to reach a number within Gaspé or the immediate vicinity, it's still necessary to dial the area code first. To call long-distance within Canada or to the United States, dial 1, then the area code, then the number. For international calls, dial 011, then the country code, then the city code (if applicable), then the number.

Gaspé's main post office is located downtown in the (Immeuble Frédérica-Giroux) at 98, rue de la Reine, and is open weekdays 8:30AM-5:30PM. Branch post offices can be found in Cap-aux-Os, Cap-des-Rosiers, Douglastown, Fontenelle, L'Anse-à-Valleau, Petit-Cap, Rivière-au-Renard, Saint-Maurice-de-l'Échouerie, and York Centre.

Media
Le Pharillon is a free weekly newspaper covering local news, culture, sports, and events in Gaspé and the neighbouring cities of Percé, Chandler, and Grande-Vallée.

Health care
(Hôpital de Gaspé) is just outside of downtown at 215, boulevard de York Ouest.

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 * While the points of interest listed in this article are all well worth your time, it would be a shame to leave Gaspé without experiencing its most prominent tourist attraction by far: Forillon National Park. Though inside the city limits, Forillon seems a world away: 242 km² (94 square miles) of rugged forest sandwiched between Gaspé Bay and the St. Lawrence Estuary, with a mind-boggling diversity of landscapes and ecosystems packed inside. Hikers, nature lovers, whale-watchers, watersports enthusiasts, and even history buffs will all find something of interest here at the bout du monde (end of the world).
 * Just south of here you'll find Percé, an unabashed tourist town that's the perfect antidote to Gaspé's button-down, all-business vibe. Rather than the hustle and bustle of urban life (or as close as you can come to that around these parts), on tap in Percé are all the souvenir shops, ice cream stands, and miscellaneous touristy bric-a-brac you could want — not to mention Percé Rock (Rocher Percé), the iconic arch-shaped rock formation that's the Gaspé Peninsula's main tourist draw by far, and which, together with the seabird haven of Bonaventure Island (Île Bonaventure), make up yet another entry in the region's roster of national parks.
 * Heading the other way along Route 132? The next major town, about two hours' drive away, is Sainte-Anne-des-Monts. Here in the Upper Gaspé's main population centre, salmon fishermen who were impressed by their catches in the Saint-Jean and the Dartmouth will find more of the same along the Sainte-Anne River, kitesurfers flock to the windswept Cartier Beach (Plage Cartier), and the annual Driftwood Festival (Fête du Bois Flotté) is an end-of-summer haven for sculptors working in an offbeat medium. However, Sainte-Anne-des-Monts is best known to tourists as the gateway to...
 * Gaspésie National Park, the rooftop of the Gaspé Peninsula, perched at the summit of its highest interior mountains about half an hour south of Sainte-Anne-des-Monts via Route 299. If you thought the Gaspé portion of the International Appalachian Trail was remote, wait till you get a load of the Grande Traversée, a 100-km (62-mile) backcountry adventure that passes through the territory of the only remaining caribou herd south of the Saint Lawrence on its way to Mont Jacques-Cartier, the highest peak in the Chic-Chocs. And if you're a skier who (understandably) found Mont-Béchervaise less than impressive, you can hit the slopes here in five separate ski and snowboard areas.

title: Gaspé


text:
Gaspésie National Park

Gaspésie National Park (parc national de la Gaspésie) is a Quebec provincial park in the heart of the Gaspé Peninsula. The main attraction of the park is the Chic-Choc mountains, one of Quebec's highest mountain ranges, part of the Appalachian Mountains (les Appalaches).

Understand
Gaspé Peninsula is a sparsely populated region. Most settlements are on or near the coast, meaning that the interior of the peninsula is rather untouched. The park is one of the southernmost places in North America where caribou can be seen in their natural environment and the only place where caribou live in Quebec to the south of St. Lawrence river. The place is also full of moose.

By car
From Montreal, take Highway 20 and then Route 132 to the east. The trip takes approximately 8 hours. If you have the stamina and an early starting time, you can do the trip in a day. Otherwise, it is very pleasant to take two days and discover some of the towns along the way. Once you reach Sainte-Anne-des-Monts, the turn-off for the park is signposted with a small brown sign with its French name "Parc national de la Gaspésie" in white. Look for the Tim Horton's - it is on the same road that you need to drive down. Getting to the Gîte du Mont-Albert will take about half an hour's further driving. The times will vary to get to the different camping grounds. If you want more information before driving into the park, there is a tourist centre in Sainte-Anne-des-Monts but it is only open during summertime.

By bus
Orleans Express stops at Sainte-Anne-des-Monts, the closest town to the park, located to the north. From the end of June to September, there is a shuttle between Sainte-Anne-des-Monts and the park once a day (approx. $7). There is no shuttle in winter.

Get around
A car is advisable.

See
The Chic-Chocs mountain range offers very scenic views, especially atop the mountains.

Do
Hike. Climbing mountains (there are many paths) or walking around the Mont Albert are popular activities (though the last one lasts about 6 hr).

Budget

 * Visitor's Interpretation Centre -- Includes a shop with supplies for those camping and/or hiking, including camping packet foods, cooking fuel, other camping necessities and water.
 * Sainte-Anne-des-Monts -- Approximately half an hour from the park, this town has all the usual convenience stores, fast food eateries and local restaurants.

Mid-range

 * Gîte du Mont-Albert -- The dining facilities here are superb and the food is prepared by a chef using local produce and in many cases, it is organic. It is advisable to book, as it can get very busy here with guests already seeking tables as part of their package deals. This establishment also has a bar in the front entrance area that non-guests are welcome to use.

Budget
You can sleep at the park by camping. If you don't have camping equipment, you can rent a hut, but you should reserve early. Some camping equipment can also be rented.

Connect
Gîte du Mont-Albert has Wi-Fi.

Stay safe
The usual precautions apply. Use snow tires during winter and drive carefully. You will probably see the snow piled into embankments on either side of the road due to diligent snow-plowing but take extra care when plowing has not taken place. During summer, be aware that there are black bear in this region. Moose during rutting season should be avoided and drive carefully when visibility is poor, or it is dark, to avoid a possible moose collision. The Park enforces strict rules on hiking near caribou territory for the protection of the caribou herd - ask at the Visitor Interpretation Centre for more information.

license: Creative Commons - Attribution Share-Alike - https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/

title: Gaspésie National Park


text:
Gaspé Peninsula

The Gaspé Peninsula (La Gaspésie), in southeastern Quebec, Canada, is sandwiched between the Gulf of St. Lawrence and the adjacent St. Lawrence estuary on the north, and Chaleur Bay (la Baie des Chaleurs) to the south.

The Gaspé is a sparsely populated region, but it boasts among the most beautiful scenery Quebec has to offer: tiny fishing villages and lighthouses cling for dear life to the shoreline as the majestic Chic-Choc Mountains plunge precipitously into the sea below. Inland, tree-covered mountains and salmon-filled rivers are even more remote.

The Gaspé is a popular warm-weather destination, with the peak season in July and August (book your accommodations early!), but the summer traffic has done nothing to diminish the warm and welcoming nature of the locals, nor the authentic slices of Québécois and Acadian culture to be found here. Winter presents a whole different side of the Gaspé, with skiers and snowshoers taking to the Chic-Chocs and snowmobilers riding the trails.

Regions
The Gaspé Peninsula's official tourism board, the Gaspé Tourist Association (Association touristique de la Gaspésie), divides the peninsula into five regions:

Cities

 * — the largest town in the Matapédia Valley is a commercial centre surrounded by bucolic farmland quite atypical of the Gaspé Peninsula.
 * — the beating heart of Acadian culture along Chaleur Bay, containing the massive Quebec Acadian Museum.
 * — the gateway to Forillon National Park. Gaspé doesn't have much of interest to visitors, but its status as the Peninsula's largest town and main service centre means you'll probably pass through anyway.
 * — a small industrial city that serves as the terminus of the easternmost ferry crossing of the St. Lawrence.
 * — on the Gaspé's western border with the Bas-Saint-Laurent region, Mont-Joli is a regional transportation hub (with an airport, train station, and important highway crossroads) and also contains a museum dedicated to the art of weaving.
 * — this tourist town at the eastern tip of the peninsula is most famous for its namesake, Percé Rock — an arch-shaped rock formation just off the coast swarmed constantly in the summer months by tour boats (and seabirds!)
 * — nestled in a majestic setting on the St. Lawrence coast, this largish town is the gateway to Gaspésie National Park and offers a range of accommodation and services.

Other destinations

 * Bonaventure Island and Percé Rock National Park (Parc national de l'Île-Bonaventure-et-du-Rocher-Percé) — a two-for-one: the Gaspé Peninsula's iconic offshore rock formation, and a sanctuary for millions of squawking seabirds with a preserved 19th-century fishing village in the middle
 *  (Parc national du Canada Forillon) — hiking trails winding through a surprising diversity of landscapes, another preserved fishing village, and majestic shoreline scenery at the Gaspé's final "land's end"
 *  (Parc national de la Gaspésie)
 *  (Parc national de Miguasha)

Understand
The Gaspé Peninsula covers an area of over 40,000 km2 (15,400 square miles). Almost all of its population of about 130,000 live along the coast. (Though that is the St. Lawrence you see as you drive along Highway 132, make no mistake: this is no river, it's the sea, with salt water, tides, and whales!) Its name comes from the Mi'kmaq word gespeg, meaning "land's end" and referring to Cap Gaspé, the peninsula's eastern tip.

Belying its reputation as a summer paradise, in 2012 National Geographic magazine rated the Gaspé one of its Top 10 Winter Adventures in North America. This is just the latest in a growing string of NatGeo awards the region has racked up lately: in 2011, it was listed in their Top 20 Best Destinations in the World (the only Canadian place to be so honoured), and in 2009 as #3 in their best destinations for sustainable development and among the top 50 essential places to visit in one's lifetime. As well, the Québécois people named Percé Rock, the Gaspé's marquee attraction, in a Léger Marketing survey to identify the Seven Wonders of Quebec.

If you're driving there from more populated parts of Quebec, keep in mind that the Gaspé Peninsula is pretty far-flung: it's a nine-hour, 750-km (450-mile) drive from Quebec City to the tip of the peninsula at Percé; add another 2½ hours and 250 km (150 miles) if you're coming from Montreal. For best results, don't try to do the Gaspé in a day or two: this place deserves at least a week to work its charms on you.

Talk
There's a heady mix of regional cultures in the Gaspé, including two distinct French-speaking groups that both go back to the 17th century. France had three main colonies in North America: Quebec, Louisiana much further south, and Acadia in what are now the Maritimes and parts of Maine. The British took Acadia in the early 18th century and soon expelled much of the French-speaking population; many of them ended up in the Gaspé, where they retained some of their culture and accent. The first large group of English-speaking immigrants were United Empire Loyalists who left the United States around the time of the American Revolution; their descendants are mainly in the south of Gaspé, in a handful of communities along the shore of Chaleur Bay.

The historic diversity is reflected in the language spoken in the region. Thanks to its isolation, the distinct Gaspesian accent is a lot more similar to 17th-century French than to what you'll hear in Montreal or Quebec City (let alone modern-day Paris). Those who've been charmed by the Acadian twang will be similarly pleased with the dialect here. In the south, near Chaleur Bay, you'll experience a true linguistic mix: the English that's still spoken by some of those old Loyalist descendants mixes freely with French, and you'll see signs for streets named Notre-Dame and de la Montagne running through towns with names like Carleton and New Richmond.

If you don't speak any French, you should be fine in larger towns like Gaspé and (especially) Percé, but may run into trouble off the beaten path. See Wikivoyage's French phrasebook for help. If you do speak French, don't worry — despite the distinct regional accent, Gaspesians will have no trouble understanding you. Standard French is the language used on radio and television, in schools, and in all other official capacities, and the locals are used to hearing it.

By car
By far the most popular way to get to the Gaspé Peninsula is by car and motorcycle, and it's not hard to see why: the enchanting drive through a nearly endless chain of windswept coastal fishing villages, each more picturesque than the last, is a road tripper's dream come true.

Those who are coming from points west, i.e. the vast majority of travellers to the Gaspé, will arrive via Autoroute 20 (A-20). The longest and most important of Quebec's freeways, it links Montreal with Quebec City and onward along a trajectory that roughly follows the south shore of the St. Lawrence. A-20 does not enter the Gaspé directly, though: the freeway portion dead-ends about 95 kilometres (59 miles) before the Gaspé's western frontier, and eastbound travellers continue via the two-lane Route 132 — with the exception of a 31-kilometre (19-mile) bypass of Rimouski where A-20 reemerges. (Plans are to eventually connect these two discontinuous segments.)

If you're coming from the Maritimes or perhaps Maine, the Trans-Canada Highway northward through New Brunswick is an alternative route. At the Quebec-New Brunswick border, it becomes Route 185 (soon to be supplanted by Autoroute 85), which links with A-20 near its eastern end in Rivière-du-Loup. Another option for Maritimers is the route from Campbellton, New Brunswick across Chaleur Bay and through the Matapédia Valley — an arcadian expanse of gently rolling farmland quite unlike the stereotypical Gaspé — to Mont-Joli.

There is also a car ferry that crosses the St. Lawrence estuary from the North Shore. See the By boat section below for more information.

By plane
Arriving in the Gaspé Peninsula by plane usually means flying into Montreal's Pierre Elliott Trudeau International Airport (Aéroport international Pierre-Elliott-Trudeau de Montréal), the province's largest airport which serves 40,000 passengers every day on their way to or from 130 destinations worldwide, and then settling in for the long drive up A-20. A possible alternative is Quebec City's Jean Lesage International Airport (Aéroport international Jean-Lesage), which serves 32 destinations mostly in Canada, the U.S., and the Caribbean, but some as well in France.

Those who are coming from elsewhere in the region — and who don't mind paying an arm and a leg — also have their choice of three small airports within the Gaspé itself that handle scheduled passenger flights. The largest of these, Mont-Joli Airport (Aéroport de Mont-Joli), is located in the town of the same name and serves eight destinations in Quebec (Baie-Comeau, Havre-Saint-Pierre, Îles de la Madeleine, Montreal-Trudeau, Montreal-Saint-Hubert, Quebec City, and Sept-Îles) and Labrador (Wabush). As well, Michel Pouliot Gaspé Airport (Aéroport Michel-Pouliot de Gaspé) and Bonaventure Airport (Aéroport de Bonaventure)  are located in the towns of the same name and each serve a handful of Québécois destinations.

By bus
The tentacles of the Orléans Express bus network extend all over Quebec, including the Gaspé Peninsula. Tickets run about $130 from Montreal to Gaspé with transfers in Quebec City and Rimouski, and about $120 from Quebec City. Passengers are allowed two pieces of checked baggage and one carry-on bag free of charge; additional checked bags cost $5 each up to a maximum of four total.

By boat
There are no bridge crossings of the St. Lawrence River downstream of Quebec City, but fear not: the Quebec Ferry Company (Société des traversiers du Québec) operates two year-round car ferry routes that serve the Gaspé Peninsula. The Camille-Marcoux makes one or two departures each day, depending on the season, from the North Shore at Baie-Comeau and Godbout to Matane. Fares are $18 per person (less for children and seniors), plus $31.25 per motorcycle, $44 per car, and more for large trucks or if towing other vehicles. Bikes travel free! In winter, it's even possible to take the ferry with a snowmobile.

Those who'd like to combine a trip to the Gaspé with a visit to the Îles de la Madeleine might be interested in a cruise on the M/V CTMA Vacancier. Fifteen cruises per year — both "classic cruises" and themed voyages focusing on health and wellness, Madelinot cuisine, Acadian history, and other specialties — take place between mid-June and late September, leaving from Montreal and taking in the beautiful shoreline scenery of the St. Lawrence River and estuary before making a one-hour stopover in the Gaspé Peninsula at Chandler at 10PM on the second night. After spending Days 3, 4 and 5 on the Îles de la Madeleine, the ship turns back upriver, with a longer stopover in Chandler on the morning of Day 6 (complete with a shuttle to Percé) before visiting the Charlevoix and Quebec City on its way back to Montreal. Those who don't want to take the whole cruise can take advantage of one-way service between the different stopovers. Prices start at $434 per cabin for the two-day Montreal-Chandler route, plus $205 per car and $25 per bike; those who want to visit the Îles before disembarking at Chandler on the way back pay $730 per cabin, plus $519 per car and $50 per bike. For those taking the entire cruise from start to finish, rates start at $999. All prices quoted here include meals and onboard activities but exclude taxes, service fees, port costs ($82 plus tax), and a $300 deposit that's refundable if cancelled at least 60 days in advance.

If you have your own boat, you can berth in one of the many marinas located all along the three coasts of the peninsula, both in the St. Lawrence and Chaleur Bay. Nautical maps are available for identifying marinas, harbours and other places to anchor, as well as other relevant information.

By train
For safety reasons related to the poor condition of the Gaspé Peninsula passenger train service east of Matapédia was suspended in August 2013, and the train stopped running entirely in 2017. VIA Rail plans to resume service once the necessary upgrades are completed, which are expected to be completed in 2026 as of 2023.

By car
The main road through the Gaspé Peninsula is Route 132, the single-carriageway extension of Autoroute 20. The road's lasso-shaped trajectory takes it eastward from the south shore of the St. Lawrence Estuary, turning south at the far end of the peninsula through Gaspé and Percé. After Percé, Route 132 curves back west along Chaleur Bay as far as Pointe-à-la-Croix, then proceeds northward through the Matapédia Valley and doubles back on itself at Sainte-Flavie.

As you might imagine, it's sometimes confusing to navigate a circular road where the signs read ouest (west) and est (east) rather than "clockwise" and "counterclockwise". When you're heading eastward along Route 132 at Sainte-Flavie, you'll see a fork in the road where both directions are signed "132 Est" (turn right for the Matapédia Valley and Chaleur Bay; keep going straight to stay on the shore of the St. Lawrence). And, at some point north of Percé, you might notice the direction on the signs has changed from est to ouest (or vice versa) even though you haven't made a U-turn! It pays to have a map handy.

Despite that, Route 132 is a pleasant drive — and with the exception of the stretch between Sainte-Flavie and Pointe-à-la-Croix, it's got all the stunning seaside scenery you could ever ask for. Most of the towns you'll pass through have their own halte municipale (municipal rest stop), which are usually situated at an especially scenic spot and provide picnic tables, washrooms, and, occasionally, tourist information kiosks.

To see an entirely different facet of the Gaspé Peninsula, take Route 299, which cuts through the virgin wilderness of the peninsula's interior alongside the Grande-Cascapédia and Sainte-Anne Rivers, from New Richmond through Gaspésie National Park to Sainte-Anne-des-Monts. Like Route 132, Route 299 is incredibly scenic — but rather than fishing villages and salt air, these 138 kilometres (85 miles) are just you, the towering Chic-Choc Mountains, and maybe one or two passing logging trucks.

Other roads are few and far between. Route 195 serves as a shortcut around Mont-Joli for those heading from the Matapédia Valley and/or New Brunswick toward the northeastern part of the peninsula; it splits off Route 132 at Amqui and links back up with the main road at Matane. Also, Route 198 begins at L'Anse-Pleureuse and cuts eastward through the interior, providing a quicker if much less scenic route for those heading east to Gaspé or Percé.

Car rental
If you're flying directly into the Gaspé Peninsula via one of its three airports, you will in all cases find at least one rental car facility nearby: Thrifty has a location in Bonaventure directly adjacent to the airport there, while in Mont-Joli Discount is a 4-kilometre (2.4-mile) taxi ride from the terminal. In Gaspé, you have your choice of National, Enterprise, or Discount.

Elsewhere in the Peninsula, rental cars are available in Matane (two locations of National and one of the Québécois chain Bleu Pelican), Sainte-Anne-des-Monts (Bleu Pelican and Sauvageau, another homegrown company), Grande-Rivière (Thrifty), Chandler (Discount), New Richmond (Discount and Sauvageau), and Amqui (Discount).

By bus
While the bus is by no means the fastest way to get around the region, it's comfortable, affordable and far more amenable to sightseers than the train. Two Orléans Express buses per day follow Route 132 eastward around either side of the peninsula, meeting up again in Gaspé. Best of all, not only do they stop at all the little towns along the way, but passengers who don't have checked luggage can also be dropped off by the roadside at any point along the route, subject to the discretion of the driver. Check Orléans Express' website for information about schedules, fares, and fees.

Another alternative is RéGÎM (Régie Intermunicipale de Transport, or Intermunicipal Transportation Board), a rural public transit network with about a dozen routes that cover most of the Gaspé Peninsula, except the Matapédia Valley. Bus fare can be paid in cash ($4), tickets ($3, available in books of ten from participating retailers around the region and from the bus drivers themselves), or via a prepaid monthly Access Card ($3; the card itself is $5 and can be bought online). RéGÎM's scheduled departures are infrequent and, for the most part, timed for the convenience of commuters (buses run Monday through Friday only), which makes this a less convenient service for tourists than Orléans Express. However, private trips (including evenings and weekends) can be arranged at rates based on distance and availability; visit the website or call for details. Also unlike Orléans Express, RéGÎM drivers never let passengers on or off the bus anywhere other than designated stops.

By thumb
Hitchhiking is not the most popular way to get around the Gaspé Peninsula, but for folks who know some French, have a little bit of patience, and want to meet and socialize with locals, it can be an appealing and budget-friendly option. Hitchhiking is allowed on all roads in the region, including Route 132, as long as you stay on the shoulder and out of traffic lanes.

By bike
Inaugurated in 1995, the Route Verte is the largest network of bicycle routes on the American continent, with over 5,000 kilometres (3,100 miles) of on-road bike lanes and off-road trails traversing the entire province of Quebec, including the Gaspé Peninsula. Route Verte 1 consists, for the most part, of a bike lane along the paved shoulder of Route 132, though from time to time there are detours (oftentimes even more scenic than 132 itself!) along secondary roads and directly through village centres that are bypassed by the highway. Keep in mind that the Route Verte is still under construction, and there are many sections within the Gaspé Peninsula that have not yet been completed. These include several discontinuities between Matane and Cap-Chat, as well as the entire 83-kilometre (51-mile) stretch between Sainte-Madeleine-de-la-Rivière-Madeleine and Rivière-au-Renard. But don't let that cancel your bike trip around the peninsula: Route 132 itself is easy and safe enough for cyclists.

It bears repeating that the Gaspé Peninsula is a sparsely populated region, and distances between towns can sometimes be long. Accordingly, cyclists on the Route Verte should remember to keep enough water handy to avoid dehydration. A little pre-planning goes a long way. The Route Verte's website includes a map and an itinerary planner to help with logistics, as well as information on attractions, cyclist-friendly accommodations, road construction, and other hazards along the trail.

By train
VIA Rail trains serve the Gaspé Peninsula three times weekly. But despite the romantic, majestic experience you may be picturing, the train is decidedly not the best way to see the Gaspé. For one thing, it eschews the most scenic parts of the region, cutting across the peninsula through the bland Matapédia Valley and along the only marginally more impressive Chaleur Bay. For another, a majority of the trip takes place in the dead of night — the train crosses into the Gaspé Peninsula at 00:30 and arrives in the city of Gaspé at 13:15.

Note: as of March 2018, rail service on the Montreal—Gaspé line remains suspended indefinitely due to malfunctioning signals and the poor condition of the track. Repair work is ongoing, but there's no timetable for the resumption of full service.

See
When it comes to tourist attractions per se, the Gaspé Peninsula is somewhat lacking — but don't be fooled. To a large degree, the appeal of this place lies in long, lazy drives along the coast and in the mountains, letting the landscape of towering crags, wild rivers, and seemingly endless shores leave you agape at every turn. The Gaspé is a place to wander wherever your car (or bike, or feet) lead you. Rest assured, you'll never be steered wrong.

As for specific destinations: in case it's not clear from what you've read thus far, in the Gaspé Peninsula the great outdoors is king. That's natural enough: in a place like this, who wants to stay inside? Most notably for outdoorsy types, the Gaspé Peninsula boasts four national parks (note: in Quebec, the term parc national is also used for provincial parks, with Canadian national parks specified as parcs nationaux du Canada; the count includes both). From the rugged backcountry adventuring and world-class fishing of Gaspésie National Park (Parc national de la Gaspésie) with the only herd of caribou south of the St. Lawrence, to the 8-kilometre (5-mile) Les Graves Trail at Forillon National Park (Parc national du Canada Forillon) that passes old fishing shacks and placid pebble beaches on its way to Cap Gaspé, to the 370-million-year-old fossil cliffs of Miguasha National Park (Parc national de Miguasha), these preserves are arguably the area's top destinations of any type. And, of course, worthy of special mention is the Gaspé Peninsula's marquee tourist attraction, Bonaventure Island and Percé Rock National Park (Parc national de l'Île-Bonaventure-et-du-Rocher-Percé), which lies off the shore of its eastern tip and is comprised of Percé Rock (Rocher Percé), the iconic rock formation "pierced" through the bottom by a 15-metre (49-foot) arch, as well as Bonaventure Island (Île Bonaventure), home of the world's largest breeding colony of gannets as well as thousands upon thousands of cormorants, puffins and murres. Outside the realm of national parks, the small seaside village of Grand-Métis boasts the internationally-renowned Reford Gardens (Jardins de Métis), which contain 3,000 species of flowering plants — including their pride and joy, a collection of beautiful, mysterious Himalayan blue poppies — and play host each year to the International Garden Festival.

And on those days when your outdoor adventures get rained out, why not take some time to learn about the Gaspé Peninsula's vibrant mélange of cultures? In Bonaventure, the Quebec Acadian Museum (Musée acadien du Québec) is a sprawling complex on the wave-lapped shore of Chaleur Bay that boasts artisans' shops, a café, and, at its nucleus, an interpretive museum that retells the saga of the Acadian settlers of Quebec. Down the road apiece in New Richmond, the Gaspesian British Heritage Village (Village gaspésien de l'héritage britannique), affectionately known as "Britville", is even larger: a recreation of an 18th-century Loyalist town with twenty authentically reproduced period-style buildings including houses, a school, a general store, and even a lighthouse.

Do
Whether it be white-water rafting or mountain biking in the summer, leaf-peeping and wildlife spotting in the fall, or world-class skiing and snowmobiling in the winter, the Gaspé Peninsula is a twelve-month-a-year destination for adventurers from all over the world. In the Gaspé, outdoor enthusiasts can indulge their passions in style.

Summer
The Gaspé Peninsula's roster of golf courses, including links in Amqui, Bonaventure, Carleton-sur-Mer, Chandler, Gaspé, Matane, Métis-sur-Mer and Sainte-Anne-des-Monts, all have one thing in common: their majestic setting. Golfers can play with the majestic Chic-Choc mountains as their backdrop, or the wide seaside vistas of the Gaspesian coast — or maybe even both.

For ATV fanatics, almost 2,600 km (about 1,600 miles) of trails crisscross the Gaspé Peninsula, linking seaside villages and penetrating the rugged interior too. Gaspésie Trails (Sentiers Gaspésie) has a website whose map of ATV trails around the peninsula is comprehensive and updated annually. Use of all ATV trails, in the Gaspé Peninsula and elsewhere in Quebec, is free of charge — but you first have to purchase a trail pass either directly from the Quebec Federation of ATV Clubs (Fédération québécoise des clubs quads) or from a local FQCQ member club. Also, it's best to avoid riding the trails in the fall, which is moose-hunting season.

There are trails for hikers, too: hundreds of kilometres of them, along the coast as well as in the mountains. The most famous of these is a segment of the International Appalachian Trail (Sentier international des Appalaches), the whole of which extends for some 3,000 km (1,900 miles) from Newfoundland to Mount Katahdin in Maine, where it links with the Appalachian Trail proper. The Quebec leg of the IAT crosses the Gaspé Peninsula from Matapédia, on the border with New Brunswick, to Cap-Gaspé in Forillon National Park, and passes through the Matapédia Valley and Gaspésie National Park and along the St. Lawrence coast. For more information, check out the website of the Quebec Hiking Federation (Fédération québécoise de la marche), in French only.

On the water
Being the Gaspé Peninsula, naturally a lot of what there is to do in the region during the warm months is on the water. Whether it's fishing, boating, water sports, or just lazing around on the beach, the waters of the St. Lawrence estuary, Chaleur Bay, or the many pristine mountain streams and lakes in the interior have you covered.

To the delight of anglers worldwide, the once-scarce Atlantic salmon is on the rebound in Quebec, and that includes the Gaspé — there are no fewer than 22 rivers in the peninsula, many of them internationally renowned, where salmon can be easily caught. Salmon fishing requires a licence and permit, and the season runs from June to September. For more information on fishing regulations and the Gaspesian salmon fishery, check out the official websites of the Quebec Salmon River Management Federation  (Fédération des gestionnaires de rivières à saumon du Québec) and the Quebec Ministry of Energy and Natural Resources (Ministère de l'Énergie et des Ressources naturelles du Québec).

Canada may not be what you think of as a diver's paradise, but there are a couple of places in the Gaspé Peninsula worth checking out for scuba divers. Facilities exist at Percé Yacht Club (Club nautique de Percé), Grande-Grave in Forillon National Park, Saint-Martin Beach in Port-Daniel, and Paspébiac Municipal Beach. You can even explore the depths of the inland Matapédia Lake from the beach at Bois-et-Berges Park (parc des Bois-et-Berges) in Val-Brillant.

Winter
The fun doesn't stop when the snow starts flying. Far from it — the Gaspé Peninsula is one of the best winter-weather destinations in North America, according to National Geographic magazine. Why? For starters, the region makes up part of Quebec's snow belt, with the mountain landscape transformed into a winter wonderland perfect for fans of skiing, snowmobiling, and the like.

The skiing scene in the Gaspé flies under the radar compared to other Québécois destinations like the Laurentians, the Charlevoix, and the Eastern Townships. Other travellers' loss is your gain — the 6 metres (20 feet) or more of snow a year that fall on the Chic-Chocs make for some of the best downhill slopes Eastern North America has to offer. The Peninsula's best skiing can be had at Gaspésie National Park, accessible via Route 299 south from Sainte-Anne-des-Monts. Other favourites include Chic-Chac in Murdochville, the Chic-Choc Mountain Lodge (Auberge de montagne des Chic-Chocs) in Cap-Chat, Mont-Comi Park near Mont-Joli, Pin-Rouge Resort (Station touristique Pin-Rouge) in New Richmond, Ski Chic-Choc in Sainte-Anne-des-Monts, and Val-d'Irène Regional Park near Amqui.

Like the bicyclists, hikers and ATVers who come in the warmer months, snowmobilers in the region can take advantage of an extensive network of trails — almost 3,000 km (about 1,850 miles) in the Gaspé alone, with many thousands more extending into neighbouring areas such as the North Shore (via the Camille-Marcoux ferry which runs year-round) and the Bas-Saint-Laurent, and all over the province. The Quebec Federation of Snowmobile Clubs (Fédération des clubs de motoneigistes du Québec) is your resource for snowmobiling in the Gaspé Peninsula and elsewhere in Quebec: it's got a regularly-updated trail map as well as information on popular routes, hotel accommodations, and snowmobile rental. Gaspé Snowmobile Information  (Info Motoneigiste Gaspésie) is another useful website; they publish updated reports on trail conditions that are a must for the snowmobiler in the Peninsula. As with other trails in the Gaspé Peninsula, you need a trail pass to ride the snowmobile trails — you can check with the Quebec Federation of Snowmobile Clubs or a local branch club, or send away for one via the Gaspé Snowmobile Information website linked above.

Eat
The Gaspé Peninsula's restaurants run the gamut, including everything from gourmet haute cuisine to humble roadside snack bars. The Gaspé Tourist Association's website has a search engine that displays restaurants by location and price.

The Gaspé Peninsula's local cuisine is heavy and hearty, the better to see the early inhabitants through the long, rough winters. The most famous dish native to these parts is cipaille (a French adaptation of the English term "sea pie", an old colonial-era dish popular in Eastern Canada), also known as six-pâtes. This delicious meal contains three or four types of cubed meats, potato chunks, and onions layered one over another and baked into a pie crust. An even more typically Gaspesian variation substitutes fish such as salmon, cod or haddock for some or all of the meat.

Produits du terroir (locally-sourced foods) are growing more and more popular in Quebec, and in the Gaspé Peninsula, first and foremost that means seafood. The Gaspesian economy has historically been based on the fisheries of the St. Lawrence, Chaleur Bay, and the interior rivers, and while it's not the dominant monolith it once was, fishing is still an important sector of the regional economy. That means that the seafood you can find in the Gaspé — at local restaurants, specialty fish markets, and even right on the docks — is as fresh as it gets. Local specialties include halibut, lobster, scallops, crabs, and — above all — Atlantic salmon.

The poor soil and somewhat harsh climate of the area make much of the Gaspé Peninsula unsuitable for farming. An exception is the shore of Chaleur Bay, where there are a few farmers' markets and other outlets to pick up fresh produce direct from growers, as well as a nascent agritourism industry. Berries are a Gaspesian specialty — raspberries, blueberries, black currants, and to a lesser extent, strawberries — and in season you can buy them at roadside stands all over the region. As well, like pretty much everywhere else in Quebec, the peninsula's forests are chock full of maple trees. Maple syrup is harvested during "sugar season", a beloved annual ritual of early spring.

If you're a foodie, you can use the Gaspé Gourmet (Gaspésie gourmande) website to design your own culinary tour of the Gaspé Peninsula. It has a wealth of information about Gaspesian cuisine, specialty food shops, opportunities to buy locally sourced produce, and special events.

Drink
Quebec's robust craft beer industry is represented in the Gaspé Peninsula by a trio of microbreweries — Frontibus in Rivière-au-Renard, Le Naufrageur in Carleton-sur-Mer, and Pit Caribou in L'Anse-à-Beaufils — which each produce a dozen or so beers available in bars, restaurants and shops around the region.

Stay safe
The vast majority of the Gaspé Peninsula is a remote wilderness, especially away from the coasts. If your plans include camping or hiking at Gaspésie National Park, it goes without saying that you should educate yourself about the type of terrain you'll be traversing, drink plenty of fluids, and perhaps bring along a first-aid kit. Even if you're simply heading down Route 299 into the interior of the peninsula, it's a good idea to fill your fuel tank beforehand and take along a tire repair kit — there are no gas stations or other services anywhere on the road, and if you blow out a tire it will likely be a very long time before you see another car. Cell phone service is nonexistent.

Wild animals are something visitors to the Gaspé Peninsula should keep on the lookout for — this is especially true in the interior, but it's still applicable in more populated areas too. See Dangerous animals for a general discussion of these hazards.

Black bears are common in the region, but your encounters with them probably won't go much further than watching a bear rummaging through the garbage at your campsite. You can prevent this nuisance by hanging garbage up in three or four layers of sealed plastic bags, at least 5 metres (16 feet) off the ground and at least 100 metres (330 feet) downwind of your campsite; the same should be done with food, cooking utensils, and anything else whose scent might attract bears. However, it's also not completely unheard of for black bears — especially mothers protecting their cubs — to attack humans. If you see a bear, try clanging a pair of garbage can lids together or making some other loud noise to scare it away; if that doesn't work, back away from the animal slowly, talking calmly to it throughout. Contrary to popular belief, bear repellent spray is legal in Canada so long as the package clearly states that the product is intended for use against animals.

Moose are arguably even more of a hazard in the Gaspé than bears. Though a mother moose can be as aggressive as a bear in defending her cubs against human interlopers, the greater danger by far is on the roads. Every year, scores of Gaspesians are injured or killed when their cars collide with moose: these animals are much taller and heavier than deer and other types of roadkill you may be familiar with, meaning they are likely to collapse onto the top of your car on impact, making for greater potential for damage. If you're behind the wheel, it pays to keep to a reasonable speed, always wear your safety belt, and at night, use your high beams for illumination if it's safe to do so. Moose are especially active in the autumn and around dawn and dusk, so be extra cautious during these times.

The Gaspé Peninsula is as wondrous a place in winter as in summer, but during the cold months extra measures should be taken to stay safe on the roads. It pays to slow down, keep your distance from the vehicle in front of you, and be flexible in adapting your itinerary to changing conditions. Vehicles with Quebec license plates are actually required by law to be fitted with snow tires between December 15 and March 15, and while out-of-province vehicles are exempted, it's a good idea to follow the locals' lead. An emergency kit can also be a godsend. See Winter driving for more tips.

Go next

 * The remote Îles de la Madeleine (Magdalen Islands) lie in the middle of the Gulf of St. Lawrence, accessible from the Gaspé Peninsula by plane out of Mont-Joli Airport, via the M/V CTMA Vacancier cruise ship from Chandler, or by private boat. If you're a fan of the sea, you probably loved the Gaspé, and the Îles de la Madeleine offer more of the same: windswept cold-water beaches perfect for windsurfing, kiteboarding, and other pursuits, ringed by stunning red sandstone cliffs and topped by handsome lighthouses. As well, the Madelinot people are a hardy breed of Acadians (though the islands also host some of Quebec's oldest English-speaking communities) with a distinct local culture that's quite unlike the rest of Quebec.
 * Across Chaleur Bay is New Brunswick, the best-kept secret of the Maritimes. Travellers likely know it as little more than a place to pass through quickly on their way to Nova Scotia or Prince Edward Island, but New Brunswick has plenty of charms of its own: the charming old-fashioned seaside resort of St. Andrews, the muddy bogs and seal-strewn beaches of Kouchibouguac National Park, and a robust Acadian culture on the shore of the Northumberland Strait, one of the few truly bilingual regions of Canada. Like the Gaspé, New Brunswick's interior is a remote wilderness, but many people say the salmon fishing on the Miramichi River is the best in the world.
 * Was the Gaspé just not remote enough for you? Why not head across the St. Lawrence Estuary to the even more wild and rugged North Shore? Here the mountains are even craggier, the shore is even rockier, and the tiny fishing settlements — some not even accessible by road — cling even more precariously to the land. The North Shore also includes Anticosti Island, an outdoorsman's paradise of world-class salmon fishing, plenty of moose and white-tailed deer for hunters, and remote trails that wind through rugged canyons and over rocky hills.
 * On the way back to Quebec City and Montreal, you'll pass through the Bas-Saint-Laurent (Lower St. Lawrence) region. Here, the broad valley of the St. Lawrence River cuts a watery swath through an arcadian expanse of fertile farmland, picture-perfect small towns, and, further from the river, dense forests. The Bas-Saint-Laurent is a place to hit the river on a whale-watching cruise, count as many lighthouses as you can find along the Lighthouse Trail (the one at Pointe-au-Père is particularly gorgeous), or just let the bucolic charm of the villages along Route 132 bring you under their spell.

title: Gaspé Peninsula


text:
Gastonia

Gastonia is a small city in the Piedmont of North Carolina, about west of the major United States city of Charlotte. In 2016, Gastonia had a population of 75,535, making it the third largest city of the Charlotte Metro.

Gastonia is the principal city and county seat of Gaston County, a large county comprising of several small towns. The population of Gaston County was 213,445 in 2015.

Get in
Gastonia is located 15 minutes west of Charlotte Douglas International Airport. Gastonia has a municipal airport for small jets and prop driven aircraft.

Interstate 85 and U.S. Highways 321 and 29/74 provide highway access.

While rather inconvenient, it is possible to travel to Gastonia by train. Amtrak serves the town via its Crescent train between New York City and New Orleans, however trains arrive in the middle of the night. The unmanned is located at 350 Hancock St.

A Greyhound station is located just east of downtown.

Get around
Although there is a city bus system and taxis are available, a car is practically necessary for effectively visiting Gastonia.

See

 * Downtown Gastonia is home to numerous historic buildings from the early 20th century, the Gaston County Courthouse, and other County and City administrative offices. The downtown area has been the backdrop for several movie and TV productions due to its consistent historic look.
 * The Schiele Museum of Natural History includes a planetarium, numerous collections pertaining to natural history and geography, national traveling exhibits, and a Nature Trail including a Backcounty Farm, Grist Mill, and Catawba Indian village with demonstrations of historically applicable crafts and skills.
 * The Gaston County Museum of Art and History is in adjacent Dallas in the historic Hoffman Hotel and has exhibits on local history, art from around the region, and one of the largest collections of carriages in the country.

Buy
There are two prominent shopping areas located in Gaston County (both in the city of Gastonia along Franklin Boulevard), but most visitors and residents of the greater Gaston County area travel to Carolina Place Mall in nearby Pineville.

Below are the two shopping areas of Gaston County.

Eat
Gastonia and greater Gaston County is home to numerous local and chain restaurants. Of special note is Milano's for Italian, Tequilas in downtown for Mexican, Rodi for continental, and Shrimp Boat for southern-fried-food.

Local specialties of Gaston County include:

Fish Camps - Fish Camps are a fried seafood lover's dream. The decor and service are simple, but the food is great.

Livermush - Livermush is similar to sausage and often served with breakfast or on sandwiches. Livermush is available in many local 'dive' style eateries.

Barbeque - BBQ in Gastonia is predominantly 'Western NC' style. R.O.'s has become nationally known due to its unique spicy slaw that is the dominant ingredient in R.O.'s style of BBQ.

| Tony's Ice Cream - Consistently voted the best ice cream in the Charlotte Metro, Tony's makes their own ice cream in a variety of flavors on-site and distributes to numerous retailers across the region.

Drink
Gastonia has liquor by the drink, as to most surrounding towns, and numerous restaurants and bars serve liquor, beer, and wine. Outside those establishments, beer and wine are available in grocery stores, gas stations, and other stores, but liquor is only available in state-licensed ABC stores.

SunDrop, a highly caffeinated citrus flavored soft drink, originates in St. Louis, Missouri, but is bottled in Gastonia and is a hometown favorite. Sweetened iced tea ("Sweet tea") is another local favorite.

Sleep
There are a variety of comfortable chain hotels located between the New Hope and Cox Road exits on Interstate 85 and at the intersection with U.S. 321 including a Courtyard by Marriot, Fairfield Inn, Comfort Inn and Suites, Hampton Inn, Holiday Inn Express, Ramada Limited, Motel 6, Days Inn, and Micotel Suites.

Numerous additional hotels are located 15-20 minutes away in nearby Charlotte.

Go next
The city adjoins and is often considered a larger part of several smaller towns on its periphery. These towns are not a part of Gastonia and are their own municipalities in greater Gaston County. They are listed below. Additionally, two towns of interest are in the broader region:
 * McAdenville - "Christmas Town USA" hosts a nationally renowned Christmas light display as the entire town is decked out in millions of lights and decorations and visited by thousands every year. This quaint mill town is experiencing dramatic growth and renewal and is on the South Fork river.
 * Belmont - A suburban town of roughly 10,000 with a very walkable revitalized downtown that is home to numerous shops, bars, and restaurants. Also home to Belmont Abbey College, including a monastery and nunnery designed in the Gothic style.  Belmont is also home to the nationally recognized Daniel Stowe Botanical Gardens.
 * Bessemer City - A suburban town of roughly 5,000 people that was laid out on a perfect grid system. Home to FMC's 'Lithium' facility that manufactures numerous products derived from lithium including batteries, electronics, and pharmaceuticals.
 * Mount Holly - Located on the South Fork River across from the U.S. National Whitewater Center (artificial river with rapids) and convenient to I-485.
 * Dallas - The oldest incorporated town and the original county seat of Gaston County. Dallas has numerous historic buildings including the Old Jail, Historic Courthouse, Hoffman Hotel, and many buildings on the historic courthouse square.  The Hoffman Hotel houses the Gaston County Museum of Art and History.
 * Cramerton - Home to the exclusive Cramer Mountain Country Club.
 * Lowell, Ranlo, and Spencer Mountain - Former mill towns that are indicative of small piedmont textile towns.
 * Rock Hill–Small city of similar size with variety of restaurants and outdoor activities.
 * Pineville–Fast-growing suburban town with large shopping mall.

title: Gastonia


text:
Gatchina

Gatchina is the biggest city, and also the center, of Gatchinsky District in Leningrad Oblast. Its population is 92815 (2010 info).

By train
It is very easy to get to Gatchina from Saint Petersburg by train. Trains depart from the Baltysky Railway Station.

By car
The R23 highway, connecting Saint Petersburg and Pskov, crosses Gatchina from north to south. Distance is 45 km.

By metro
You can get here from Saint Petersburg using:
 * From "Moskovskaya" metro station: 100, 18 and 18a.
 * From "Prospekt Veteranov" metro station: 613.

title: Gatchina


text:
Gateshead

Gateshead is a town in Tyne and Wear in the northeast of England. It stands on the south bank of the River Tyne looking across to Newcastle upon Tyne on the north bank. It's industrial and in 2011 had a population of 120,046. It was historically in County Durham, but in 1974 became part of the metropolis of Tyne and Wear.

Understand
"No true civilisation could have produced such a town…, it was designed "by an enemy of the human race""

- JB Priestly, English Journey 1934

Gateshead stands on a hill on the south bank of the River Tyne and was industrial from the 14th century through coal mining. This was sufficiently lucrative for the north bank city of Newcastle to attempt a takeover; but the coal was from shallow bell-pits that soon became unworkable, where upon Newcastle's interest waned. The main deep-mining belt was south towards Durham, and those pit owners became stinking rich, while Gateshead developed metal-bashing and other traditional smokestack industries. It never had much architectural heritage, and that little was blown away by the great fire and explosion of 1854 when a burning worsted mill set off sulphur and other combustibles in a nearby warehouse. So great were the devastation, the deaths and the mutilation of survivors, that special trains had to be laid on for all the thousands of trippers thronging to enjoy the spectacle.

Gateshead was further assaulted in the 20th century by industrial decline and by modern "brutalist" architecture. However, in the 21st century, it was revived, along with Newcastle, by attractive developments. Sage and the Baltic Gallery are on the riverfront near the Millennium Bridge, and The Angel of the North stands guard by the motorway from the south.

Get in
For long-distance routes see Newcastle upon Tyne.

By train
Gateshead doesn't have its mainline station. But from Newcastle Central, it's a short walk, bus, Metro or taxi ride into the town centre.

By Metro
Gateshead is on both lines of the Tyne and Wear Metro:

 * The Green Line runs from the airport via Jesmond, Newcastle city centre and Central Station to Gateshead, then heads south to Sunderland.
 * The Yellow Line makes a grand loop from the city centre around the north bank towns and burbs, circles back to Jesmond, the city centre, Central Station, Gateshead and Heworth, then follows the south riverbank to Jarrow and South Shields.

Trains run every 10–15 min between 5:30AM and 11:30PM. Gateshead is in Fare Zone A, so in 2022, an adult single from the city centre is £2.30. The airport is in Zone C so that's £3.90.

By road
By road from north or south follow A1, which bypasses the conurbation to the west. Exit onto A184 to come into Gateshead.

By foot
The Tyne bridges, Sage and Baltic are all within a 15-minute walk, with the International Stadium a little further.

By bus
The main bus routes are by Go North East:
 * Bus 1 to Newcastle, North Shields and Whitley Bay
 * Bus 21 to Angel of the North, Chester-le-Street and Brandon
 * Bus 49 and 96 / 97 to Metrocentre and Blaydon
 * Bus 51 / 52 to Heworth and Newcastle

See

 * , opened in 2001, is a cyclist and pedestrian tilting bridge. It's often called the Blinking or Winking Bridge for the way the footpath deck tilts up to allow river traffic to pass. That's an infrequent occurrence: Gateshead Council lists upcoming tilts. They'll even let you request a tilt for free, given 7 days notice, at any hour 365 days a year. They're more likely to grant such a request if you turn up with a vessel of mast no taller than 23.9 m.
 * Cross this or any other bridge for sights in Newcastle upon Tyne.
 * St Mary's on Oakwellgate next to Sage is a former parish church and now a small museum. It's open Tu-Sa 10AM-4PM.
 * is a Victorian confection, now the centrepiece of Saltwell Park. There's a visitor centre and tea room.
 * : see Beamish for this heritage steam railway on the boundary with County Durham.
 * is a Victorian confection, now the centrepiece of Saltwell Park. There's a visitor centre and tea room.
 * : see Beamish for this heritage steam railway on the boundary with County Durham.
 * : see Beamish for this heritage steam railway on the boundary with County Durham.
 * : see Beamish for this heritage steam railway on the boundary with County Durham.
 * : see Beamish for this heritage steam railway on the boundary with County Durham.

Do

 * Cinema: Vue Cinema is next to the Interchange.
 * is multi-use, and its sports facilities can be used by members. It has its own Metro station.
 * Football:
 * Golf: local courses are Ravensworth and Whickham. Heworth GC only accepts visitors as competitors in occasional open competitions.
 * Derwent Walk follows a former railway trackbed for 12.5 miles beside the River Derwent. It starts in Derwenthaugh Country Park just west of Metro Centre and heads southwest via Gibside to Shotley Bridge and Consett.
 * Derwent Walk follows a former railway trackbed for 12.5 miles beside the River Derwent. It starts in Derwenthaugh Country Park just west of Metro Centre and heads southwest via Gibside to Shotley Bridge and Consett.

Eat

 * Beneath Tyne Bridge are Träkol (below), Windows on The Tyne (within Hilton Hotel) and Raval.
 * Low Fell two miles south on the old Durham road has a strip with Primavera, Rosa 12, The Bank, Imperial and Ilbay's.
 * Plenty more in Newcastle just across the bridge.
 * Plenty more in Newcastle just across the bridge.

Drink

 * The central pub cluster (often with live entertainment) includes The Black Bull, The Central, Grey Nag's Head, Metropole, Curley's, Ye Old Fleece and William IV.
 * Hadrian Border Brewery on Hills St has its own pub, Station East.
 * Steampunk Spirits produce gin and rum. No tours.

Sleep

 * See also hotels north of the river in Newcastle upon Tyne.

Connect
As of July 2021, Gateshead has 5G with EE and 4G from the other UK carriers.

Go next

 * Walk across a bridge to Newcastle upon Tyne
 * Take a Metro east to Jarrow and South Shields
 * Southeast to Washington and Sunderland
 * South to the attractive cathedral city of Durham.
 * West to Hadrian's Wall: the best sections are between Hexham and Haltwhistle.
 * The Northumberland coast becomes attractive from Alnwick, with battered castles and the Holy Isle of Lindisfarne.
 * Beamish has an extensive open-air industrial museum.

title: Gateshead


text:
Gates of the Arctic National Park

Gates of the Arctic National Park is a national park in Northern Alaska. It is the northernmost US national park, lying entirely north of the Arctic Circle, and the second largest—at it is roughly the size of Switzerland or Maryland! The park is also one of the most remote national parks in the United States with no established roads or trails entering or within the park. As such, it is primarily visited by adventurous souls who backpack by foot or travel along the handful of wild, scenic rivers which run through the park. The park is one of the last truly wild places left in the US.

History
The park's name comes from a nature activist named Robert Marshall who, while exploring the North Fork of the Koyukuk River, saw two mountains (Frigid Crags & Boreal Mountain) flanking the river on each side and gave this portal the name "Gates of the Arctic". The region was first protected as a national monument in 1978 and was upgraded to a national park in 1980.

Landscape
The majority of the park is located within the Brooks Range mountains. Arete-topped mountains and glacier-carved valleys are the predominate landscape.

There are six national "Wild and Scenic Rivers" in the park:
 * Alatna River 83 miles (134 km)
 * John River 52 miles (84 km)
 * Kobuk River 110 miles (177 km)
 * the North Fork of the Koyukuk River 102 miles (164 km)
 * part of the Noatak River
 * Tinayguk River 44 miles (71 km)

Flora and fauna
There is little in the way of vegetation as most of the land is Arctic tundra. Mosses and grasses survive and bloom in the summer months. There are almost no trees in the park.

Fauna include moose, barren-ground grizzlies, Dall sheep, black bears, wolves, and caribou. Birders can find a wide variety of birds common to Alaska within the park, such as ptarmigan, grouse, loons, and raptors. A total of 145 species of birds have been observed in the Park and Preserve over the past 30 years.

Climate
The entire park lies north of the Arctic Circle, thus the park has a short, cool summer (June-August) and a long, harsh winter (September-May). Temperatures in the summer, when most people visit the park, average around 50°F (10°C) while winters average around -30°F (-35°C) with temperatures below -60°F (-55°C) very possible... even before factoring the wind chill! The best (and certainly safest) time of year to visit is June-August, while April-May & September are bearable for hearty souls. Snow can fall at any time of year!

Visitor information

 * Park website

By road
There are no established roads or trails leading to nor within the park. However, the Dalton Highway passes within 5 miles of the park's eastern side. The National Park Service maintains a small visitor's center in Coldfoot (which lies on the Dalton Hwy) between Memorial Day and Labor Day (i.e. end of May–beginning of September). It is possible to park far off the highway and hike into the park or you can perhaps make special arrangements to be dropped off and picked up by the Dalton Highway Express bus service.

By air
There are several Native Alaskan villages within the park which all have small airstrips, which can be reached by air taxi (regular service or charter). The largest village and most used airstrip is located at Anaktuvuk Pass, which has regular air taxi service. The village is used to tourists visiting the park and some services as well as a NPS office can be found here. Air taxi services generally fly from Fairbanks, Coldfoot, or Bettles (although just getting to the latter two generally requires travel by air taxi). Some air taxi services also offer fly-overs of the park, flying a route such as Deadhorse-Anaktuvuk Pass-Bettles-Coldfoot at 2,000 ft and perhaps spending the night in the Inupiat village of Anaktuvuk Pass. This is a great option for the time-pressed or less-adventurous and, compared to other options into the park, is not terribly expensive. It is also great for spectacular photography!

Another option for remote locations is by bush planes which may either use the airstrips or land on a remote lake. By hiring a bush plane, you have greater flexibility (at a price). You will typically organize a custom trip where you are dropped off on a lake on a specific day and the plane returns to a specific rendezvous point a couple days or a couple weeks later to pick you up. Thus for most wilderness backpackers in the park, this is your best (but certainly not cheapest) option to explore the wild side of the park.

Many outfitters based out of Fairbanks or Anchorage offer trips into the Park. Typically, most of these fly from the east side of Fairbanks airport (across from the main terminal). There are regularly scheduled flights to Bettles and Anaktuvuk Pass. Bettles has a dirt strip, a store, and loding. From Bettles, one can take a wheeled plane to land on a sandbar on one of the rivers. Or, one can take a float plane, which is based about a few kilometers from Bettles. These will land at Summit Lake (for the Koyukuk), or Circle Lake (for the Arrigetch Peaks.) The latter are one of the most remarkable mountain formations in the world; it is an 13 km (8 mile) hike through brush, tussocks, and rock falls gaining about 600 m (2000 feet) elevation, to a meadow along Arrigetch Creek. From there, one can day hike to the headwaters of Arritgech Creek, to a cirque with a glacial lake below, or to the base of the peaks themselves. Plan on 2 days hiking to the meadow from the Alatna River, for while the distance is not great, the tussocks, the climb, brush, rock piles make it very slow hiking. There is a campsite about 3 km (2 miles) in, on a knob, and two other campsites a few kilometers further along the trail. All of these have water available from Arrigetch Creek.

Fees and permits
Unlike most other national parks, there are no required fees or permits for entry into Gates of the Arctic NP. Given the little information available about the park and the extreme environment, it is advisable to talk to the park rangers at one of the following offices prior to travel:

Get around

 * Hike
 * Raft/Canoe
 * Air (see above)

See
Viewing the Northern Lights or experiencing the Midnight Sun are sometimes possible.

Do
Popular activities include backpacking, hiking, rafting, canoeing, birding, photography and hunting.

Buy
The park is a wilderness, so anyone expecting stores will be sorely disappointed.

Eat and drink
All food must be brought into the park as no supplies are available. Drinking water is plentiful. You may consider purification downstream of the few settlements.

Proper food storage is required while visiting Gates of the Arctic, a requirement that can be met by using bear resistant food containers. National Park Service Ranger Stations in Bettles, Coldfoot, Anaktuvuk and at the Alaska Public Lands Information Center in Fairbanks have containers on loan free of charge; call ahead to check availability.

Sleep
There are no developed lodgings or campsites in the park, but camping is allowed. Because this is remote wilderness, be sure to be prepared with supplies and pack everything out that you take in, including garbage. Also keep in mind that, like the rest of Alaska, this is bear country... take appropriate precautions.

Stay safe
Dangers in the park come from the wildness and remoteness. File a plan with the park service so that if something happens to you that someone will know where you are. Practice bear safety, be aware of extreme weather conditions, and do not set out without basic wilderness survival skills.

Go next

 * Bettles
 * Dalton Highway
 * Fairbanks
 * Kobuk Valley National Park — a similar Arctic park in northwestern Alaska

title: Gates of the Arctic National Park