Visiting and climbing in the Laurentians - Tyroparc and Sentier des Cimes
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Ottawa is lucky enough to be close to a mountain range- the Laurentians. Whether it's skiing at Mt Tremblant in the winter, or hiking in the summer, many people in the capital region visit the area at one point in the year. I love these mountains, as they offer a whole new range of activities. I recently went to Tyroparc and Sentier des Cimes near St. Agathe des Monts.
When we arrived at Tyroparc in the morning, the first thing I saw was the obstacle course for kids. This consists of a series of ziplines and climbing ropes that towers over the center. In the backdrop, I could see the green Laurentians with a few cliffs of exposed white Canadian shield. This is where I would be climbing. I met our guide, got strapped in, and began hiking to the destination.
After a short uphill walk, we arrived at the Via Ferrata- a long cable pathway along the side of a cliff with small protruding metal steps on which to grip your feet. We attached our harnesses, and began the climb.
I quickly got the hang of navigating the cable, and enjoyed the quick problem solving of looking for places to put my hands to keep moving. As I looked down, I saw the trees getting increasingly distant as we ascended, still feeling extremely confident in my harness. Eventually, we reached an altitude at which I could see the obstacle course in the distance, as well as the highway, and even a nearby town.
We stopped for a few moments to fully observe the beauty of the Laurentians. I enjoyed seeing the familiar yet always pleasant view while holding on to a mountain itself, it somehow felt more interactive. We then continued the tour, climbing ladders and walking on thin wooden planks as bridges, before reaching the top.
It was now time to unbuckle our harnesses and continue hiking even higher, to the first of two mega ziplines. When we arrived, I strapped on top of the platform, and was released, rapidly flying through the air with no visible end. As always, I made sure to take in my surroundings while rapidly cutting through the wind around me. When I made it to the end, it was a quick hike to the next platform, where I did it again.
On the second zipline, many people opted for the tandem option, making it fun for friends and couples. Once I reached the bottom, we thanked the staff at Tyroparc and went to the hotel, spending a nice evening in the town of St. Agathe des Monts.
The next morning, it was time to visit another elevated sightseeing spot- Sentier des Cimes, a treetop boardwalk. We arrived at the place, and noticed many old buildings. It turns out that Sentier des Cimes is built on the site of a fish farm from the 1930s, and has a museum dedicated to its history. We checked that out after finishing the trail.
We then went to the first tower, which led us to the wooden trail, elevated above the forest and offering nice views. It was around a one kilometer uphill climb, with no steps and an elevator allowing for full wheelchair accessibility. Along the way, we saw many birds and even a deer! We then arrived at the highlight of the walkway- a 40 meter high panoramic tower.
This tower is essentially an elevating coil of the walkway, remaining wheelchair accessible as you walk in circles to ascend. We did this, and enjoyed the increasingly wide views of the mountains. Along the way, we passed some equipment that is reserved for LA-HAUT, an 35 minute aerial acrobatic show that takes place inside the tower every morning and evening until mid September. This is one of the most unique uses of the panoramic tower, and offers one of the only circus shows with fresh air and mountainous scenery.
Finally, we reached the top of the tower, where we slowly walked around to get as many photos as possible. There is also a net in the center of the platform with nothing between it and the ground. Naturally, me and many younger children excitedly walked onto this mesh of ropes, with hesitant parents following. Once we had finished taking a final look at the Laurentians, we walked all the way back, where we finished off the day by checking out the fish museum.
All in all, we had a great time visiting the region that so many Ottawa residents limit to Mt. Tremblant. I would highly recommend Tyroparc and Sentier des Cimes for capital teens and families.
For a great experience in the Laurentians this summer, check out Tyroparc and Sentier des Cimes. Tyroparc offers various packages offering combinations of the ziplines, via ferrata, hiking and aerial obstacle course. Most of these remain available in the winter, and also include snowmobiling and skiing. Sentier des Cimes costs between $21-31 depending on age for a one day pass, and also offers various combo packages and the high flying show.
