Mont Megantic
Mont Megantic National Park boasts Mont Megantic which is one of the highest mountains in Quebec’s Eastern Townships at 1105m. and Mont Saint-Joseph (1,065 m). Surrounded by plains, the geological formation of Mont Megantic is called a monadnock, meaning that it is a completely isolated rock hill or small mountain that rises straight out of plains or gently sloping ground. The park has a network of easy hiking trails which are also available for cross country skiing come winter. Much of this trail system allows mountain bike access as well.
There is also the Mont Megantic Observatory. This park was created in 1994 and is a popular year round outdoor destination. It is the only scientific attraction of its kind in Québec. Inside the observatory there is a telescope that visitors are welcome to use, it is a 1.6 meters long telescope that is called the Ritchey-Chretien telescope. There used to be a problem in the area with light pollution making it difficult to see the night sky and to combat this, an organization called the International Dark-Sky Association was formed. It helps protect over 5500 square kilometers of area from any light pollution. The area that is protected from light pollution is known as the Dark Sky Reserve, and has helped with the visibility in the area.
The park attracts quite a few different events to the area. One of the more well-known events is the Tour de Beauce which is a men’s cycling race that is held every June. One of the main features of the bike race is that it goes to the top of the Mont Megantic. Anyone visiting the observatory in the summer time will find themselves in luck for viewing shooting stars. There is an annual festival held at park Mont Megantic that celebrates shooting stars and encourages visitors to bring their own chairs and sit in the lawn to watch. Another activity held every year at the park is the Mont Megantic Astronomy Festival. The festival encourages visitors to learn more about astronomy and all that it has to offer, the observatory has even put together an educational animation to encourage learning more about astronomy.
Besides all of the events in the area and taking advantage of the observatory, there are also plenty of different activities to participate in. The area is great for dog sledding and during the wintertime a dog sledding group is always available for registration. Of course, the park is a wonderful area to go for a relaxing hike. The new Franceville sector in the north-west part of the park, has about 11 km of trails. 
Savor an exceptional experience exploring the spectacular Franceville rock crest and the magnificent view of the valley of the Ruisseau de la Montagne. There are 30 kilometres of multi-purpose trails and 20 km of hiking trails that lead to spectacular vantage points at the summits of Mont Mégantic and Mont Saint-Joseph.
There is plenty to learn about at Mont Megantic. Whether it be about the night time skies or the history of the area, there will always be something new to absorb. The mountains are special to the area because of the uniqueness of the geological formation, it also offers the perfect spot for the observatory, Tour de Beauce, and hiking excursions. Get out there and discover!
