Mont Albert Hike in the Chic Chocs

These markers would be very helpful on a foggy day
These markers would be very helpful on a foggy day

What an unexpected treat the Le Mont Albert hike in the Chic Choc Mountains of Quebec turned out to be. The Chic Chocs, a narrow mountain range that forms the northern extension of the Appalachians, are located inland on Quebec’s Gaspé Peninsula in Gaspé National Park.

There are 25 peaks in the Chic Choc Mountain range over 1,000 metres high, but only two were of interest to me – Le Mont-Jacques-Cartier and Le Mont Albert.

Le Mont-Jacques-Cartier has a certain appeal

Le Mont-Jacques-Cartier, the tallest mountain in southern Quebec, tops out at 1,268 m (4,160 feet). It’s home to the last remaining herd of woodland caribou south of the St. Lawrence River. Chances of caribou sightings are very high compared to hiking Mont Albert. Access though is strictly controlled.

The trail to the summit is only open from June 24th until September 30th and you can only hike between 10 AM and 4 PM.

Another off-putting factor is the fact you must take a shuttle to the trailhead, and that’s at least a 40-minute drive from the Visitor’s Center.

Mont Albert – an enormous flat-topped mountain with a super-sized summit plateau

Mont Albert shares the same opening dates as Le Mont-Jacques-Cartier but you can do the Mont Albert hike at any time of the day. It’s reportedly a harder hike but the trailhead is just a walk from the Visitor’s Center and it’s for this reason I elected to hike it. I’m told by a fellow hiker I won’t regret my decision.

And I don’t!

A representation of the summit
A representation of the summit 
The steep section of trail is littered with boulders on the way up
The steep section of trail is littered with boulders and roots

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Options for the Mont Albert hike

There are two options depending on when you plan to do the Mont Albert hike. 

The first option – in place from June 11 – October 10, 2023 – is an 11.4 km out and back hike to the summit of Mont Albert with 850 metres of elevation gain.

The second option, available from July 1 – October 10, 2023 is a 17.4 km loop hike with 850 m of elevation gain that can take anywhere from 6 – 8 hours.

Both hikes would be considered difficult. I think the second option is the more interesting one.

Boardwalks over soggy ground near the summit of Mount Albert are helpful
Boardwalks over soggy ground near the summit of Mount Albert are helpful

The hike to the summit of Le Mont Albert

First I had to find the trail which I eventually do. All trail signs are in French.

In total the loop hike is 17 km (10.6 miles) long. It’s recommended that you allow 6 – 8 hours to do it.

I chose to start the Mont Albert hike with the steepest part of the loop. After an hour of what feels like a non-stop stair stepper workout, I’m wondering what I’ve got myself into.

I like a rigorous work-out but I’m not a fan of hikes where you see nothing but trees. And except for a few peek-a-boo views that’s all it’s been so far.

View from part way up down to the Gites- a 4 star hotel I stayed in
View from part way up down to the Gites I stayed in – a 4 star hotel
The first views from the top
The first views from the top 

The summit of Mont Albert

After 5 km of hiking and 885 metres (2,904 feet) of elevation gain over two solid hours of hiking, I emerge from the trees. The transition is abrupt.

One minute there are trees, the next alpine tundra.

The summit of Mont Albert is a landscape of lichen-covered rock, hardy alpine flowers, stunted spruce trees and bog. But that’s not all.

As you ascend the last few hundred meters of trail the vistas open and one of the biggest surprises of my hiking life unfolds.

I have never seen a summit like that of this one in the Chic Chocs. Massive barely begins to describe Mont Albert’s summit. Its 13 km across, over 20 square km in size and home to two summits – Albert North (1,070 m) and Albert South (1,151 m.) 

Most of the summit plateau is boggy –and next to impossible to hike if you’re a human, but perfect if you’re one of the woodland caribou that hang out here.

Looking in another direction from the summit of Le Mont Albert
Looking in another direction from the summit of Mont Albert
A summit that's 20 square kilometres in size
A summit that’s 20 square kilometres in size
Clouds start building early in the day
Clouds start building early in the day

The north summit of Mont Albert

Mont Albert North is where I’ve arrived at and I’m quite happy to park myself on one of the wooden benches scattered around the summit.

I could sit for hours admiring the 360 degree views but threatening clouds to the north shorten my stay on top.

Just before beginning my descent I chat with some fellow hikers. They’ve hiked both this one and Le Mont-Jacques-Cartier and tell me I have chosen the prettier, less traveled peak.

These markers would be very helpful on a foggy day
These markers would be very helpful on a foggy day (that’s the shelter on the ridge)
Boardwalks traverse soggy ground on Mont Albert
Boardwalks traverse soggy ground on Mont Albert
I have a long way to hike from here - 10.5 km
I have a long way to hike from here – 10.5 km

A series of boardwalks lead me across the boggy sections to the start of a section on the Mont Albert hike that is steep and rocky.

The trail winds its’ way all the way around the mountain and leads me back to the Visitor Center – with interesting views for three of the four hours it takes me to descend.

But the hiking is never easy until I’m on the home stretch. In fact there is what feels like kilometres of boulder hopping. These would be slippery and miserable to deal with if they were wet.

It's a rocky descent
It’s a rocky descent
Ankle breaking, knee twisting boulders for what felt like kilometres
Ankle breaking, knee twisting boulders for what felt like kilometres
You can fill up your water bottle at the river
You can fill up your water bottle at the river
Finally run into some signage near a shelter
Finally run into some signage on Le Albert hike near a shelter
Back into the trees
Back into the trees
Chute du Diable
Chute du Diable
A set of waterfalls I pass near the end of of Le Mont Albert hike
A set of waterfalls I pass near the end of Le Mont Albert hike
The beautiful, easy final stretch of trail
The beautiful, easy final stretch of trail

Final thoughts on Le Mont Albert

The Mont Albert hike is one of the most surprising and rewarding hikes I’ve ever done – and that’s without a caribou sighting.

But the reality is that it should only be attempted by seasoned and prepared hikers. Choose Mont-Jacques-Cartier for an easier alternative. If the weather gets bad, the summit wouldn’t be a fun place to be.

A few things to take on the hike

Don’t forget water purification tablets or a water bottle with a built in filter. There are some summer days where you need to drink an incredible amount of water.

Want something comfortable to sit on at lunch time. Don’t leave home without an inflatable seat cushion

I like using hiking poles, especially when a stream crossing or a steep descent is involved. Invest in a collapsible pair, and the lighter the better in my books.

I always pack a buff as it’s got so many purposes – neck warmer, keeps hair off your face, good in dust or smoke, dip it in water to cool your neck, and 99 other things.

Where to stay close to the Le Mont Albert hike

I stayed at Gîte du Mt-Albert – the closest hotel to the trailhead. It wasn’t fancy but I sure loved the location.

If you want to be surrounded by hiking trails the Auberge de Montagne des Chic-Chocs in the heart of the Chic Choc Mountains would be an excellent choice.

Further reading on things to do in Quebec in summer

Click on the photo to bookmark to your Pinterest boards.

The 17 km Mont Albert hike in Quebec's Chic Choc Mountains

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