It is a beautiful, brand new refuge, accessible only by hiking or snowshoeing. Miracle, it was possible to get it for a long weekend off. Getting your hands on a dream shelter is not an impossible mission. There are several strategies to achieve this.
Posted at 11:30 a.m.
Book early
There are no secrets here. The more you plan in advance, the more likely you are to get the shelter of your choice. That could mean months in advance.
“It is better to circle on your calendar the date of the opening of reservations for long hiking stays in refuges, so as to be among the first to reserve the coveted refuge,” advises SEPAQ spokesperson, Simon Boivin .
For the winter season, reservations opened on September 10.
“For summer and fall 2025, reservations will begin on Tuesday, February 25 at 9 a.m.,” says Mr. Boivin.
He specifies that reservations for shelters are only made by telephone to SEPAQ, to allow attendants to communicate essential information about stays in shelters.
Plan your shelter getaways in SEPAQ parks
Broaden your horizons
It’s not just SEPAQ that offers stays in shelters. You can also look at regional parks and outdoor clubs. Organizations such as the Poisson Blanc regional park, the Montagne du Diable regional park, the Appalaches regional park, the Forêt Ouareau regional park, the Vallée Bras-du-Nord, the Traversée de Charlevoix and the Club de plein air de Saint-Donat offer this type of rustic accommodation. Simply visit the websites of these parks and organizations to find out how to book.
Be flexible
PHOTO MARTIN CHAMBERLAND, LA PRESSE ARCHIVES
A refuge in Mont-Tremblant National Park
Obviously, shelters are particularly in demand during the weekends.
“If your schedule allows it, choose a weekday stay,” says the Montagne du Diable regional park on its website. The trails will be quieter, and availability better. »
The park also suggests aiming for low season, such as spring or early November, to avoid crowds.
“Check the trail conditions before reserving, however, reminds the Montagne du Diable. These seasons are magnificent, however, due to the sometimes rainy weather, the trails may be more difficult to pass. »
Be on the lookout
This is about taking advantage of last minute cancellations. “Regularly check the park’s website or call reception directly to find out the latest availability and last-minute cancellations,” advises Montagne du Diable.
Some organizations, such as the Poisson Blanc regional park, announce sudden availability on their Facebook page.
It’s also a good idea to follow Facebook groups for selling and buying used outdoor gear. It is common to see members offering shelter stays that they had reserved, but which they can no longer use for one reason or another.
“The best strategy remains to subscribe to our newsletter, because it is via this communication channel that we share new developments and information relating to the opening of reservations,” declares Marilou Pelletier, communications director. at the Poisson Blanc regional park. Also, the availability calendar is updated online based on cancellations. Therefore, if visitors have specific dates in mind, it’s worth taking a look from time to time. »
This is how it was possible to get our hands on this famous brand new refuge for a long weekend off: the park had waited until its construction was finished before offering it for rental. Only those who closely followed developments at this park were aware of this novelty.
To plan
PHOTO EDOUARD PLANTE-FRÉCHETTE, LA PRESSE ARCHIVES
One of the joys of long-distance hiking is arriving at the refuge at the end of a beautiful day.
To plan an unforgettable stay in a refuge, you also need to carefully plan the route to get there. “Consult the trail maps to adapt your route to your level,” reminds the Montagne du Diable.
You can choose to stay in a refuge for a few days and use it as a base camp for hikes in the surrounding area. Or, you can book two or three different shelters and move from one to the other. On its website, SEPAQ offers route suggestions for its different parks, with mileage and degrees of difficulty, to help with planning. In certain national and regional parks, you can use a luggage transport service to save weight.
“Good planning and good knowledge of the options available make it possible to better target the preferred locations when opening reservations,” notes Simon Boivin of SEPAQ.
With a good strategy, you can create an unforgettable refuge experience.
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