We’re in the car, driving to our next adventure! It’s the Labour Day long weekend, giving us the perfect chance to explore a new destination. This time, we are heading northeast, about an hour from Quebec City, with one goal in mind – Hiking Mont Sugar Loaf in Parc des Appalaches.
Since it’s too far from Montreal for a day trip, we needed a place to stay for two nights. After a quick search, we booked a pod at Domaine La Charmante, a small, family-run farm.
We’ve stayed in similar pods before, so we knew what to expect – basic but comfortable, like a Ready-to-Camp or a yurt. It’s affordable, has everything we need, and can be heated if needed.
Arrival at Domaine La Charmante
Our friends arrived ten minutes before us. After a quick chat with the owners, we grabbed our things and headed to the pods. You can’t see them from the farm, and you have to walk there – but the owners provide a wheeled cart to help carry your belongings, making the journey much easier. The location gives plenty of privacy, which is great, especially if you’re traveling alone.
The setup was perfect. Lots of wood nearby, a big picnic table, and a fire pit. On one side, a grass field; on the other, the forest. You feel disconnected, but not totally isolated. That evening, we sat by the fire, talking about tomorrow’s plans. No cell service meant no weather updates. Would we get to hike? We’d have to wait and see.
Hiking Mont Sugar Loaf in Parc des Appalaches
The next morning, the sky looked good. After coffee and breakfast, we stopped at Casse-Croûte Au Coin Du Routier to grab sandwiches for the hike.
We decided to hike Mont Sugar Loaf, a short but beautiful trail with great views. The weather held up as we climbed, and the kids ran ahead, full of energy. The trail was well-maintained, with mushrooms scattered along the way. We took pictures but didn’t pick any.
The last part of the trail was the steepest, but wooden stairs made the climb easier.
At the top, the view was amazing – not a full 360-degree panorama, but still impressive. A signpost pointed to different destinations. Maybe one day, we’ll visit one of them!
We ate our sandwiches, enjoyed the view, and then started heading down. The boys ran ahead – again.
A Close Call on the Trail
At a fork in the trail, we had a scare. One path led back to the cars; the other was a 10 km loop along the river. Which way had the boys gone? The thought of chasing them for 10 km was not fun. We sped up, hoping they had waited.
Luckily, a family hiking up told us they had seen two boys running like they were chasing a horse. That gave us hope! Soon, we found them – they had followed another hiking couple by accident. If not for that couple, they could have taken the wrong turn. Maybe they learned a lesson… or maybe we did!
Cooling Off and a Perfect End
Near the end of the trail, we stopped by the river. It was hot and humid, and the water was so cool and clear. I couldn’t resist dipping in – it felt amazing and refreshed me completely.
On the way back, we stopped at Marché Asselin et Fils to get food for the evening. As soon as we arrived back at the pod, it started raining. Good timing – we’d rather have rain now than during the hike!
But just as quickly as it started, the rain stopped. And then – a rainbow appeared. It felt like the perfect way to end our adventure.
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