Mont Écho, Quebec 10/29/2026

During a short trip to Quebec this week, we spent a day hiking Mont Écho in Sutton. The trails on Mont Echo are part of the Les Sentiers de L'Estrie network, and we started our hike from the Chemin de la Falaise Trailhead. At the trailhead, we paid the $9 day use fee and started down the trail. After traversing lowlands for a bit, the trail began to gradually climb the northwest slope of the mountain, passing a narrow and deep gorge along the way. The trail was extremely well constructed with sturdy bridges, switchbacks, and excellent drainage the entire way.

Bridge near the start of the trail

A small gorge next to the trail

Upon reaching a trail junction in the saddle between Mont Écho and Mont Singer, we turned left towards Mount Singer to do a short out-and-back section of trail to Passe du Diable (Devil's Pass) and L'Etang des Mallards (Mallard Pond). Devil's Pass is a rugged gap in the mountains with steep rocky sides, and lots of fallen boulders. Just beyond the Pass, Mallard Pond is a tiny pond with steep slopes and cliffs surrounding it on almost every side. These two spots were very rugged and beautiful, and they were well worth the side trip.

Devil's Pass

Mallard Pond

A large boulder along the trail

After the short detour, we continued up Mont Écho. The trail remained mostly at easy grades with a few short moderate sections. It wound its way up the mountain along a rather circuitous route, and we were treated to glimpses of the tall cliff face above us, to which the trail would eventually lead. We turned right at a trail junction near the summit, and soon reached the top of the mountain. Here there was a clearing with the remains of an old chairlift from the ski area which used to operate on the mountain, along with a view towards Mont Brome. Just beyond the clearing were the remains of a second chairlift, which we passed on our way to the end of the trail at an impressive cliff-top viewpoint. This viewpoint offered excellent views to the south, east, and north. Besides many peaks in Quebec which were visible, a large portion of the northern Green Mountains in Vermont could also be seen.

The summit

Remains of one of the two old ski lifts near the summit

The clifftop viewpoint

View east

View south towards Vermont

We enjoyed the beautiful view as we ate lunch, and then headed back down the way we came up. After returning to the bottom of the mountain, we continued past the trailhead a short distance to beautiful waterfalls and a deep gorge with 3 observation decks. Unsurprisingly, Mont Écho turned out to be another excellent Quebec hike, and I hope to come back to explore more of the mountains in the Sutton region!

The first waterfall along the short section of trail to the west of the trailhead

Cascades in the gorge at the end of the trail

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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

Mosher Hill Falls & Walrath Woods 8/12/2026

Our short outing today brought us to two pieces of land which were recently conserved by the High Peaks Alliance, Mosher Hill Falls in Farmington and Walrath Woods in Strong.

Mosher Hill Falls has long been a popular destination for Farmington locals with a small informal network of trails. Since their acquisition of the property, the High Peaks Alliance has formalized the trail network, creating a short blue-blazed lollipop loop around the falls and gorge. They have also constructed two sturdy aluminum bridges across the stream. Although there wasn't much water going over the waterfall today, it was still a nice little walk to check out the newly improved trails!

New signage at Mosher Hill Falls

One of the new bridges

In the gorge

Mosher Hill Falls

Located on Route 149 in Strong, Walrath Woods protects over a mile of the Sandy River's eastern bank, and it is now home to the only official non-motorized recreational trail in Strong. We started from the northern trailhead, and followed the trail south. It first passed through a red pine forest on an old woods road, before narrowing as it approached the riverbank. The southern half of the trail closely followed the river, below a steep slope. Just before its end at the southern trailhead, we took a small spur leading to a rock ledge beside the river. At just 0.8 mile long each way and with no steep slopes, a walk on this trail to the ledge is a great outing for hikers of any ability!

The northern trailhead at Walrath Woods

Passing through the red pine forest

Sandy River

Sandy River

Lookout Rock 7/10/2026

Today's hike was a pretty straightforward one up to Lookout Rock in Township C. It had been a few years since I had hiked it, and the trail seems much the same, with the notable absence of the former trailhead sign (only the post remains). The trail itself is a moderately steep 0.6 mile long trail, marked with both blue blazes and flagging tape. It climbs to a ledge-top viewpoint on the side of an unnamed peak.

Start of the trail up to Lookout Rock

The lower part of the trail passes through hardwood forest.

The upper part of the trail is mostly in softwood forest

On our hike today, we found that the trail was pretty well maintained and easy to follow. We were treated to excellent views through Black Brook and Sawyer Notches, as well as of the South Arm of Lower Richardson Lake.

View towards Old Blue Mountain

View towards Black Brook & Sawyer Notches

View towards C Bluff Mountain and the South Arm of Lower Richardson Lake

After descending, we stopped by Silver Ripple Cascade for a swim. We had the cascade mostly to ourselves, and we also visited the adjacent Devil's Den.

Silver Ripple Cascade

Silver Ripple Cascade

Devil's Den

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