Discovery Trail: the Laurentians

Walking or mountain biking route: this circular loop around the Sainte-Marie Trench starts at the Esplanade de Cap Découverte and offers a bird’s-eye view of the trench. It passes through the Bassin de Nicou and Lac des Laurentides.
We will also follow the botanical garden and its wetland, home to water irises and water lilies.
Finally, we’ll finish this walk by crossing the Parc des Titans, then taking a section of the Charbon au Soleil interpretive trail in the Parc du Carbonifère.

Details

9788052
Creation:
Last update:
Last review:
  • Walking
    Activity: Walking
  • ↔
    Distance: 3.65 mi
  • ◔
    Average duration: 1h 50 
  • ▲
    Difficulty: Easy

  • ⚐
    Back to start: Yes
  • ↗
    Ascent: + 210 ft
  • ↘
    Descent: - 203 ft

  • ▲
    Highest point: 1,060 ft
  • ▼
    Lowest point: 840 ft

Photos

Description of the walk

Park near the Cap Découverte welcome area.

(S/E) With your back to the welcome area, head left, walk past the administrative offices and follow the tarmac path of the GR© 36 long-distance hiking route. Turn left and continue towards the sports ground, along a path overlooking it, and follow it to the next point. Follow the yellow markings.

(1) Turn right onto the tarmac road leading down towards the Bassin de Nicou.

(2) At the junction, go round the lake and take the path that runs alongside it, then head back up.

(3) In front of the zip line pylon, turn right. When you reach the road, stay on the path on the right and join the wide tarmac road, turning left and following it for about 200 m.

(4) Turn right (from here, you can continue on the right towards Lac des Laurentides). Follow the track on the left, which shares the route with the “Terre d’ombres et de Lumières” trail.

(5) At the hairpin bend, stay on the same path. After 500 m, take the path on the left, go down to the small pond (water lilies, water irises, frogs) and follow the gentle slope that runs the length of it.

(6) Continue straight on to the entrance of the Parc des Titans. Take the steps on the left leading to the chalet and go back down the track to the roundabout near the Hostel.

From the roundabout, walk past the Hostel, cross the bridge and return to the starting point (S/E).

Waypoints

  1. S/E : mi 0 - alt. 971 ft - Esplanade and football pitch
  2. 1 : mi 0.18 - alt. 961 ft - Tarmac path
  3. 2 : mi 1.48 - alt. 840 ft - Lake
  4. 3 : mi 1.84 - alt. 886 ft - Zipline tower
  5. 4 : mi 2.29 - alt. 919 ft - Terre d'ombres et de lumières trail section
  6. 5 : mi 2.63 - alt. 1,014 ft - Hairpin bend
  7. 6 : mi 3.06 - alt. 1,024 ft - Parc des Titans
  8. S/E : mi 3.65 - alt. 971 ft - Esplanade and football pitch

Reviews and comments

4.8 / 5
Based on 3 reviews

Reliability of the description
5 / 5
Ease of following the route
4.7 / 5
Route interest
4.7 / 5
Albine
Albine

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Apr 06, 2026
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

A varied trail around the open-cast mine. The Titan Park offers a glimpse into the machinery of the mining past.

Machine-translated

JamyAlbi
JamyAlbi

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of your route : Sep 21, 2022
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

Hello,
A very easy and straightforward walk, but enjoyable

Machine-translated

Canelle
Canelle
• Edited:

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Jun 20, 2021
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : Yes

A very pleasant walk, but best avoided in hot weather as there are many sections in the sun.

Machine-translated

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