The year 2024 was a record year for the Chemin du Québec with strong attendance not only from Quebec, but also from abroad. It is estimated that more than 600 registered walkers hiked this 1,200-kilometer circuit linking Montreal to Gaspé.
In reality, that number is likely much higher, officials say, because walkers are not required to register and many people walk the path independently.
“The Chemin du Québec was born from the philosophy of Compostela. It is the only community hiking trail in America with the values of Compostela,” explained Pascal Auger, coordinator and initiator of the Chemin du Québec.
In the foreground, Pascal Auger, coordinator and initiator of the Chemin du Québec, with a group of hikers accompanying him.
Photo Pascal Auger
To carry out this circuit, which became official in 2019, those responsible identified trails which cross some 100 municipalities in Quebec.
“We made a route that starts from Montreal and takes hiking trails, cycle paths and country roads. We pass through villages that people often discover for the first time because they are not on traditional tourist circuits,” added Mr. Auger.
Walkers, who are not afraid, can take on the challenge of completing the 1200 km, between 45 and 60 days. Others choose to walk just one step. Everyone goes at their own pace.
“There was a lady from New Caledonia last summer who did it in 60 days,” says the man who walks between 4,000 and 5,000 km per year.
Summer and winter alike, the Chemin du Québec welcomes hikers looking to recharge their batteries.
Photo Pascal Auger
Nearly 80% of the Chemin du Québec is accessible all year round.
-“If there are small stretches of road that are not open, we have alternatives,” adds the spokesperson.
Logistical question
In Quebec, the logistics surrounding meals and overnight stays are somewhat different from Compostela where the network of “albergues” has welcomed pilgrims from around the world for centuries.
“There is always a restaurant, a convenience store or a grocery store in the villages we pass through. The crux of the matter, for us, is going to bed,” underlines the organizer.
“We are currently working very hard with the communities to have an offer where we can sleep for $20 a night.”
More and more communities are getting involved, because of course, they discover advantages in terms of economic spinoffs.
The complete map of the circuits offered.
(Map taken from the Québec Compostelle website)
Motivation
For several years, Mr. Auger has accompanied groups on the paths to Compostela or on the Chemin du Québec.
“We say “community hiking” because in Quebec, even today, when we say the word pilgrimage, it scares people. They imagine that we walk on our knees from one church to another with a cross on our back. We are democratizing everything with a more Quebecois and more modern term.”
For many walkers, this experience allows them to take a break from everyday life, to find the strength to recover from a difficult period or even it marks a transition. The objective is to make the Chemin du Québec known to community hiking enthusiasts around the world, by 2040.
The Chemin du Québec in figures
- More than 100 municipalities crossed
- More than 600 walkers registered in 2024
- A network of more than 250 welcoming people for walkers
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