Chutes Coulonge Aerial Adventure Park
/One aspect of the modern world that fascinates me is to see the laborious parts of our past become leisure in the present. For thousands of years, most people farmed to survive, and now, agro tourism has arisen. Chutes Coulonge is another example of this trend. Having supported the region with its waterfalls that transported the fruits of a booming logging industry, it is now the beautiful site of an aerial adventure park. I recently visited Chutes Coulonge to experience this scenic part of history.
I got strapped in, and began heading to the river. We climbed down the ladder on the edge of the cliff, where I first saw the beautiful view of the rapids below and the mountains around. I would be seeing this canyon from all angles throughout the morning. My guide gave instructions on how to grab the zipline, and then use my glove to slow myself down near the end following a signal. Once I understood, it was time to go.
On my first run, I was able to feel the mist from the waterfall as I flew across the canyon, spending a few seconds appreciating my surroundings before looking ahead for my sign to stop. I put my glove down and smoothly arrived at the opposite mountain, where I was unhooked. The first of three zipline runs went smoothly.
We then took a quick hike up and down the rugged terrain to get to the next zipline. After a few minutes, we arrived and I attached my harness. On my guide’s signal, I was released over the river, and again looked at the scenery around as I hurtled to the platform. After a few seconds, I landed where my first guide met me.
It was now time for the via ferrata, but in order to get to the cliff face, we had to traverse the first zipline once more. At this point, I was getting comfortable with the hooking and unhooking, so this third run was the easiest yet. Now that we were done with ziplines, it was to maneuver the exposed Canadian shield above the river.
The way the via ferrata worked was simple. One of my two clips had to be attached to a hook at all times, slowly moving along the path by switching hooks. We slowly made our way along the side of the cliff, pausing at times to see the scenery around us. The via ferrata lasted around 20 minutes, offering a unique view not comparable to anything else.
After finishing the via ferrata and being back on land, I decided to check out the physical features that give the park its name- the waterfalls. On a wooden platform, I observed the magnificent waterfalls which fueled the rapids I had been seeing all day. Having been formed in the ice age, these waterfalls were the driving force of the local economy in the 19th century with log drives.
Once I was out of my harness, we learned that people can also stay overnight at Chutes Coulonge. Although we would be heading back that same day, we decided to check out one of the yurts that can accommodate up to 6 visitors at a time. Inside, there were bunk beds, a fireplace, and other amenities. It has the perfect balance between modern comfort and access to nature for an overnight stay, particularly for large groups.
Finally, we checked out the logging museum which covered the history of how this site was used. From transporting wood, to attracting tourists, the Coulonge waterfalls have played a critical role in the region's history..
If you too want to see some great views, have an adrenaline rush, learn some history, and maybe even stay overnight, check out Chutes Coulonge park in Pontiac, Quebec. Via Ferrata Packages including zip lines are between $94-$134, while the kids adventure park is $44-$69. The yurts cost $160 per night, with up to 6 people staying and splitting the bill. For more information, click here.
David is a fifteen-year-old aspiring adventure and travel writer living in Ottawa. Skydiving is on his bucket list. David received free tickets to experience this activity but all thoughts are his own.
