No matter which route you take, driving from Ontario to the Maritimes is going to be a long journey. Yes, the views are amazing, and yes, it is alot shorter than the drive out west, but, without breaking it up a bit, you may start to lose focus on the road and that isn’t fun for anyone. So, without further ado, here are a few spots to stop, get out of the car, and stretch your legs.
1. Jacques-Cartier National Park: Les Loups Trail and Lookout – Quebec
If you take a look at the feature photo for this post, you’ll quickly realize why this trail is a must-see on the way out east. The views are breathtaking, the trail is challenging (about 3 hours up and down the mountain), and the surrounding nature is absolutely gorgeous.
So, where is this tremendous trail? Les Loups is located in Jacques-Cartier National Park, situated about 45 minutes north of Quebec City, and the trail is a further 10 minutes drive into the park. This location makes it the perfect start to a day of travelling either from Quebec city or between Montreal and New Brunswick. On my trip we stayed in Quebec City and then went to the park in the morning before continuing on to Fredricton, New Brunswick.
Other than the amazing lookout at the top of the trail, you’ll also find springs and small streams trickling down from the mountain, and plenty of plants, mosses, and tree species to check out. If you do plan on visting, remember to book your visit in advance and have your day pass ready when you arrive at the front gates. You can book your visit and find out more about the park at https://www.sepaq.com/pq/jac/index.dot.
2. Maliseet Trail – New Brunswick
This next trail is a fair bit easier (just over an hour in and out) than Les Loups but no less beautiful. The Maliseet Trail in South-western New Brunswick passes through a lush Acadian forest before ending at Hays falls (pictured above).
The falls are some of the most spectacular falls I have visited. And while they don’t have a huge volume of water like some others, the way the creek trickles down the rock wall is absolutely stunning and creates a natural plant wall all around the gorge surrounding the falls. And, if you look closely in some of the pools up and down the falls, you may find some new friends like the little guy pictured below.
This trail is a perfect stop between Halifax and Edmunston or Fredericton and Quebec City as it is located just off of the highway along the St John river. There is no fee or registration required to use the trail, but try to get there early as the parking area is quite small.
3. Crooked Creek Falls – New Brunswick
This trip has really changed my perspective on New Brunswick. I once thought of it as a drive through province on the way to Nova Scotia and PEI, but wow, there is some fantastic hiking and nature to explore. One spot that is a must-see is Crooked Creek Falls located in the UNESCO Fundy Biosphere Reserve.
Once at the parking area, you can check out the lookout and get a stunning view of Caledonia Gorge. Then, you can walk down a very steep trail to the falls and enjoy an afternoon of swimming in the deep pool below the waterfall. Also, if you feel like a long walk (or bumpy drive), you can go further down Crooked Creek road and exlore the old covered bridge left over from the areas logging days.
So, there you have it, a few of my new favorite spots to stop on the way out east. Please do not hesitate to reach out if you have any questions, or want to recommend any other trails. Thanks for reading!
DavisJacome 
beautiful photos, can’t wait to check these out on my next road trip out east!
LikeLike
impressive! 84 2025 Roadtrip to PEI? Here are a few trails to check out along the way charming
LikeLike