Description
The 600km /400-mile-long (each way) route is entirely paved. Driving at night is fine, although this should be avoided to see the best part of the trip - the scenery.
The South Shore / Gaspé loop starts at Quebec City, described in the North Shore trip. Following A-20, Riviere-du-Loup is quickly reached, where the freeway ends and the Trans-Canada turns towards the Maritimes. From there, QC-132 travels through rolling French farms until Mont-Joli, where the ends of the peninsular loop meet. Continuing up the shore, the road hugs the coast tenaciously, in and out of coves. Signs abound warning of waves. The peninsula consists of the northern tip of the Appalachians, as the plunge into the Atlantic. This is keenly demonstrated at the tip, also the site of Florillon National Park. Near the park is the village of Gaspé, built on a steep hill. The road to Percé is hilly and twisting, a fabulous drive. At Percé is the enormous and famous rock arch that is hundreds of feet high and navigable underneath at high tide. Tours out onto the promontory and by boat are available in summer months. From Percé the route follows the north shore of Chaleur Bay, where Cartier landed in 1508. The Bay ends at the outlet of the Matapedia River. The route turns inland to cross the mountains and follows the Matapedia Valley, sometimes clinging between hillside and river. Eventually the loop is completed again at Mont-Joli on the South Shore.
Getting There
Quebec City can be reached via A-40/A-55 or A-20 from I-87, I-91 and I-93. Alternatively, Quebec City may be reached via A-73 and US-201 from Maine. Unless combined with more extensive Maritime Touring the trip is a loop which returns to Quebec City.
Alternatives / Spurs
Instead of crossing the peninsula and closing the loop via QC-138 and the Matapedia Valley, NB-17 and the Trans-Canada can do the same job. NB-17 is nicely rugged, while the TCH is quite tame of course.
The Gaspe trip can be combined with the Maritimes Tour to coastally circumnavigate the entire area.
Much of the south shore trip can be combined with a trip on the North Shore or TLH via a year-round ferry crossing at Matane to Baie Comeau. The ferry trip is 2.5h long and particularly beautiful at sunset.
Sights / Attractions
Quebec City, skiing, whalewatching at Riviere-du-Loup, Bic islands, Florillon National Park, Roche-Percé, Appalachians.
Claims to Fame
The Gaspé coast was the site of some of the few North American naval battles with the Nazis. Battlements in Florillon National Park can still be toured.
Estimates
Allow 2 days each way from NYC (18 hours driving one-way). Allow an extra day for more sight-seeing around Gaspé village and Roche-Percé.
Ideal time is probably the spring through fall when attractions are open, but certainly a winter trip would not be difficult.
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