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Published on Jul 7, 2020
Very close to the American border, in the Coaticook Valley, there’s a lake that attracts visitors as much for its pristine water as for its extraordinary panorama. Welcome to Lake Lyster, a destination that in itself is worth the purchase of a camera!
by Simon Diotte
After three months of being confined in Montreal, here we are once again on our Quebec roads, taking advantage of nature and the great outdoors. Phew! It was all starting to really drag out for us!
Our first post-covid road trip destination: Lake Lyster! This oval-shaped body of water offers, in a small space, a concentration of all our favourite outdoor activities: hiking, kayaking and swimming in a pristine lake. Wow!
With my better half, Irène, and my daughters Romane and Marion, we established our base camp at Camping du lac Lyster for two nights. Our campsite is set in the middle of a forest of deciduous trees, carpeted with ferns. We’re only a few metres away from the trailhead that takes us, in about twelve minutes to the top of mount Séguin, at more than 500 m in altitude. From there, we can enjoy the fine view overlooking our playground for the next two days.
The following morning, we pull on our socks and hiking shoes to go conquer the 675 m. altitude summit of Mount Pinacle. What makes it stand out from other mountains? Its west side slope is a clean-cut cliff which spectacularly towers above Lake Lyster. Its singular profile offers us one of Quebec’s most beautiful landscapes.
We reach the Pinacle by the Harold F. Baldwin park trails, that start out from the church parking lot. By taking the shortest route, we arrive at the top in less than an hour. However, we decide to leave the beaten track to walk along the escarpments as we follow the trails taken by climbers who come to challenge these rock walls.
This trail is not for everyone. It leads over several boulders and follows a course resembling a rollercoaster ride. We jump from rock to rock, progressing slowly; we soon see that it’s well worth our efforts. The rock walls are spectacular plus, we also discover a monumental cavern. We then head out on the route that leads to the summit of the Pinacle. From there, a series of natural belvederes allow us to admire Lake Lyster from every angle. Click, click, click! my camera is overheating, but I’m not satisfied with the light. So, I decide to return the next day. The girls complain, but only a little, since they really love this hike. It’s only their pride that stops them from admitting it.
Meanwhile, I want to explore the Pinacle’s enormous walls from the lake. What a perfect coincidence, there are kayak rentals offered at the municipal beach. Girls! To your paddles! Within a half hour, we find ourselves at the foot of the hill with its 100-meter high, granite walls. From the water, we can spot climbers at work, suspended between sky and earth. I admire how bold they are.
We complete our first post-confinement road trip by overdosing on marshmallows, taking several return trips to the mount Séguin promontory, going on quiet walks by the lake, and ogling the beautiful country homes we find in the area.
Sadly, because of Covid-19, fishing in Lake Baldwin, a tributary of Lake Lyster, has been put on pause this summer, but I’ve promised myself to come back! After a season hiatus, the fish here will have gained quite a bit of weight. Plump trout, you’re not off the hook yet (no pun intended)!
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