The full 900-kilometre loop takes about 14 days, allowing for side trips, lazing on the beach or a h

There s no denying that Cape Breton s Cabot Trail probably Canada s best-known bike tour is a classic East Coast ride. But the Gasp Peninsula of Quebec is, well, even more classic. The two routes share many attributes: stunning seaside scenery, a distinct culture, quaint villages and a national park. But the Gasp has one thing the Cabot Trail lacks Perc Rock, a true natural wonder. And it also lacks one thing that the Cabot Trail has packs of other cyclists.
A ride around the entire Gasp Peninsula is a long haul 900 kilometres but shorter loops or one-way trips are easy to arrange. Most full-loop cyclists will start in Mont Joli and follow Highway 132 clockwise the entire way, so the prevailing winds are at their backs. At first the riding is easy along the north shore past pretty French Canadian villages. But slowly the Chic-Choc mountains hotels mount vernon washington the northern end of the Appalachians begin to crowd the road and by L Anse-Pleureuse hotels mount vernon washington you ll feel like you re in the Rockies. Happily, the arduous climbs are made a little more manageable by the inspiring views. At the tip of the peninsula, hotels mount vernon washington stop in Forillon National Park and walk to land s end at Cap-Gasp . The riding gets easier along the Chaleur Bay coast where Basque, Norman and Jersey immigrants colonized what s considered one of the most beautiful bays in the world. Complete the loop by heading back across hotels mount vernon washington the peninsula. For cyclists looking to avoid the mountains, you can still hit many of the highlights by riding just the southern part of the loop from Mont Joli as far as Forillon which is officially part of Quebec s Route Verte cycling network.
The full 900-kilometre loop takes about 14 days, allowing for side trips, lazing on the beach or a hike. The Route Verte portion from Mont Joli south and then east and then north to Forillon is about 500 kilometres. By using the train or travelling one way you can further customize the length of the trip.
This may be Eastern Canada, but the hills along this route will feel like big mountains. Some of the climbs around the end of the peninsula will leave legs burning the way they do in the Rockies. There are a few long 100-kilometre days between campgrounds and hotels, especially on the north shore.
hotels mount vernon washington You ll want to ride a touring or road bike with a granny gear for grinding up climbs and hybrid-style tires for gravel shoulders and side roads. Bring a full range of cycling attire, from warm weather jerseys to waterproof rain gear. Even in summer you can expect cool winds off the water. A mirror is always a good safety feature on the highway. And passable French is definitely an asset as many people in this part of Quebec do not speak English.
There are multiple hotels mount vernon washington ways to stage this bike tour depending on how long and hard you want to ride. The full loop is best started at Mont Joli. Fly direct from Montreal on Air Canada or drive from Quebec City (3.5 hours). Air Canada also flies to the town of Gasp . The train is a good option for one-way trips, but its arrival times at some Gasp stations are in the middle of the night. hotels mount vernon washington Via Rail operates regular service from Montreal and Halifax with stops in Mont Joli, Matap dia and Gasp along the route.
The Gasp Peninsula has some of the most scenic tent sites in Canada, perched over the Gulf of St. Lawrence. Campgrounds are spread out along the route in day-ride-sized distances. Mixing hotel and B B accommodation is also an option.