Chartierville, Quebec Camping & Hiking 9/22–9/25/2026

This year, our annual Quebec camping trip brought us to the small village of Chartierville.

 

On Tuesday, after getting groceries in La Patrie, we went for our first hike of the trip on the Sentiers Frontaliers network of trails. This short hike on Sentier principal vers le Mont Mégantic brought us to a massive old white pine. Along the way, we passed through a sugarbush and had to ford a small river. After reaching the tree, we had lunch beside the river, before heading back.

Starting our hike to the huge pine tree

The river that we forded

The massive white pine

We then drove to Camping du Ruisseau in Chartierville. This municipal campground has 8 RV sites and 6 tent sites, and when we arrived, none of them were occupied! We chose Site 3, the most secluded and private site tucked into the dense forest. After setting up camp, we played the municipal miniature golf course, located next to the campground, and walked around the village. We found it to be a picturesque Quebecoise village, and the near peak foliage made the mountain scenery especially stunning.

Sign for the campground

Frosty Wednesday morning

We awoke Wednesday morning to a heavy frost blanketing the landscape. Sierra opted to spend the day at the campsite, while Sampson and I went for a hike. We returned to the extensive Sentiers Frontaliers trail system to hike to two peaks on the Canada/United States border. We started our hike on Le sentier des 40 colons which brought us through a basin between the mountains. The trail was well built and marked, but seemed lightly trafficked and had a wild and remote feel to it—I loved it! After a short stretch on Le sentier du Mont Trumbell, we reached Sentier principal and a lean-to for backpackers.

Staionnment Mario Dostie

View ahead towards Mont Trumbell

Lean-to near the base of  Mont Trumbell

Past the lean-to, we started the steep ascent up Mont Trumbell (Snag Pond Peak). We reached the border swath shortly before making it to the summit. There were some good views near the summit from the swath. We then descended into the saddle between Mont Trumbell and Mont D'Urban, before climbing the latter. We reached the forest summit of Mont D'Urban on the swath, and then turned around, eating lunch at a good viewpoint towards Mont Trumbell a little while later.

View towards Mont Salmon from the border swath on Mont Trumbell

Border marker

Heading towards Mont D'Urban

After ascending much of the way back up Mont Trumbell, we turned right onto Le sentier du Mont Trumbell and made our way back to where we parked. The total hike distance was 10.7 miles and we didn't see anyone else the entire way.

View back towards Mont Trumbell from Mont D'Urban

View towards Chartierville from Mont D'Urban

At the summit of Mont D'Urban

After a second night of having the campground completely to ourselves, we awoke to another cold, frosty morning on Thursday. After breakfast in camp, we headed back to the Sentiers Frontaliers for another hike.

 

Starting again from Staionnment Mario Dostie, we began hiking on Sentier principal. At the first trail junction, Sampson and I continued up Mont Salmon, while Sierra turned onto Le sentier des 40 colons to head directly to Mont Trumbell (Snag Pond Peak). The ascent up Mont Salmon was gradual at first and then became moderately steep. After reaching the border swath, the trail followed the swath along the summit ridge of the mountain. Because the true summit is located in New Hampshire, we only went as high as the trail did.

On the border swath on Mont Salmon

Hiking along the swath

One of many hunting shacks along the border

After the highpoint on Mont Salmon, we descended to the backpacking shelter, before climbing Mont Trumbell for the second day in a row. On the climb, we met up with Sierra, shortly before reaching the border swath again. We also made a short detour off of the trail to the true summit of the mountain. We ate lunch at the viewpoint towards Mont Mégantic, enjoying the peak foliage, before heading back down Le sentier du Mont Trumbell and Le sentier des 40 colons back to the car. Yet again, we had the trails completely to ourselves!

At the summit of Mont Trumbell

Summit canister on Mont Trumbell (Snag Pond Peak in the US)

View of the Mégantic Massif from Mont Trumbell

After another, slightly warmer, night at the still empty campground, we packed up on Friday morning and headed south into New Hampshire. After a slightly delayed border crossing (One of the customs officers was late for work!), we went for a short hike at Garfield Falls on the East Branch of the Dead Diamond River. The waterfall was a beautiful spot to climb around and enjoy the scenery.

Viewpoint on the highway south of Chartierville

Garfield Falls

Garfield Falls

Further along, we went for another short hike up The Roost in Umbagog National Wildlife Refuge. This short hike provided excellent cliff-top views of the Magalloway River and to the Mahoosuc Mountains. After the hike, we ate lunch in Errol before driving back to Maine. We had an excellent trip, and we especially enjoyed the solitude in both the campground and on the Sentiers Frontaliers!

Start of the trail up The Roost

View from The Roost

The Mahoosuc Range

Albany Mountain 7/24/2026

On Friday, we hiked Albany Mountain in the White Mountain National Forest from the north. As usual, the trail was in excellent condition, and the beaver dam was no issue to cross.

The beaver dam crossing

Sampson at the upper trail junction

The first viewpoint looking west

It seems that this year is a bad year for mountain blueberries, due to last year's drought, and we only found a few on our hike. However, the views were excellent, and we were surprised that we only saw two other groups out on what is usually a pretty busy trail.

The summit of Albany Mountain

The view southwest at the viewpoint past the summit

The view south at the viewpoint past the summit

After the hike, we headed to Broken Bridge Pond, where we set up camp at one of my favorite dispersed sites in the National Forest. It was a great peaceful night at the campsite, and it was perfect sleeping weather!

Broken Bridge Pond

Sampson swimming in the pond

AllTrails Activity

Magic Falls Trail 7/5/2026

We spent the night of July 4th camped at MacDougall Pond Camp Sites in Caratunk. This first-come-first-served campground is rather basic, but it is affordable, the sites are large, and it has waterfronts on both MacDougall Pond and Wyman Lake. We got the last site available in the campground (Site 3), and spent the afternoon relaxing and swimming in MacDougall Pond.

Our campsite at MacDougall Pond Camp Sites

MacDougall Pond

Wyman Lake

On the morning of the 5th, we headed up to the Magic Falls Trail in Moxie Gore. This mostly easy trail runs from Take Out Road to the rapid called Magic Falls, which is one of the largest rapids on the Kennebec River. The unmarked and lightly used trail alternates between logged areas and more mature forests as it follows the rim of the Kennebec River Gorge upstream. At the rapids, the trail makes a steep descent into the gorge.

Magic Falls Trail

Magic Falls Trail

Magic Falls

We ended up timing our hike perfectly, and, when we arrived at the rapids, we watched numerous groups of rafters and kayakers run it. It was fun to watch, and we enjoyed the entertainment as we ate lunch beside the river. After lunch, we returned the way that we came along the trail. This trail definitely seems to get overlooked, and it is a nice hike with a unique destination!

Rafters running the rapid

Kayakers running the rapid

Rafters running the rapid

AllTrails Activity

Vining Lake Overnight 5/30–5/31/26

Over the weekend, we headed Downeast for some hiking and a short backpacking trip at Vining Lake Community Preserve in Cooper. 

On the way, we stopped at the short trail to Patrick Lake in Rocky Lake Public Land. At only about a quarter mile in length, this blue-blazed trail leads to a picnic area and a beautiful beach on the south shore of Patrick Lake. Sampson visited with another dog on the beach for a bit, before we headed back to the car.

Trail to Patrick Lake

Beach on Patrick Lake

AllTrails Activity

After arriving at the trailhead for Vining Lake, we were glad to see no other cars in the parking lot. We loaded up our packs and started the short hike in to the campsite near the outlet of the pond. Upon arriving, we found it unoccupied, so we set up camp. It was a beautiful spot on a point with great views across the pond. After setting up camp, we hiked the trails leading around the lake. The well-constructed loop trail is a mix of discontinued logging roads and narrower footpaths with some nice boardwalks and bog bridging. After the hike, we enjoyed an evening by the fire before heading to bed a bit early.

At our campsite on Vining Lake

Vining Lake from our campsite

On the trail around the lake

AllTrails Activity

We awoke to a beautiful, but chilly, morning. We broke camp, ate breakfast, and headed back to the car. Our first stop of the day was at Beaverdam Stream Preserve in Wesley. There, we went on a nice short hike through the forest along the stream. The lollipop loop doesn't seem to see very much traffic, but it is seemingly well marked and maintained as it passes through mature forest.

Beaverdam Stream Preserve trailhead

Beaverdam Stream Preserve

Beaverdam Stream Preserve

AllTrails Activity

Then, we headed over to Lead Mountain in T 28 MD. The road in was a bit rough, but totally doable with mid-clearance. The hike up on the jeep trail passed the old fire watchmans' cabin on the way to the summit where the former fire tower has been replaced by a cell tower. The fire tower footings remain, along with the fire tower itself, now toppled onto its side in the forest. On the south side of the summit, a short trail leads to a rocky outcropping with the base of another tower still standing; this spot is where we ate lunch. Although there wasn't much in the way of views, it was still a good hike with interesting historical sites on the mountain. 

Collapsed fire watchmans' cabin on Lead Mountain

Old telephone wire insulator along the trail

NGS marker on the summit

Old fire tower footing

Base of an old tower near the summit

Toppled fire tower in the woods at the summit

AllTrails Activity