Chutes Coulonge by bike

Length of the jaunt

24 km return

You will take the paved road also travelled by cars. Put your kilometer counter at zero (0) at the starting point. As you follow the same road as proposed, you will be able to identify the different points all along the road.

Starting point : Pk0 (kilometer point 0)

When you cross Fort-Coulonge by bike using the PPJ Cyclopark, you will take a road that passes a big stone church called St-Pierre. This is the beginning of your journey.

The Manor Drive (Pk3)

Continue on the main road till you reach the four-way stop also called « The Manor Drive ». Turn right, passing the Caisse Populaire Bank and the Post Office. Further down on your right, you will discover beautiful stone manors. Two of them stand out with their beauty and original construction. Built around 1872 by the Bryson Family, the «Lumber Baron », they are still kept intact after all these years. The one called « Spruce Holme » is now a restaurant-hotel. It still houses its antique furniture so take some time and visit its history. Further on your left, you will see a beautiful Presbyterian Church called St-Andrews also built by the Bryson Family in 1890.

The Red Covered Bridge (Pk 2.8)

This road turns to the right (Pk 1.4) and is now called the « Pont Rouge Road ». This takes you to the covered bridge. Just before you cross on the covered bridge, take a rest and admire the Pont Marchand Bridge as well. (Pk 2.8).

This is the second longest covered bridge in Quebec and the third longest in Canada. It was built in 1898 by Augustus Brown of Beachburg and was an important road for the lumberjack camps. There were other bridges before but they were demolished each spring by the raging waters and the terrible wood jams. The bridge is 129 meters long and is supported by 6 pillar beams. Pine was used for the walls and the roof to avoid its deterioration and it seems to be working! When you cross the bridge, you will understand why in spite of its wooden frame it is still there, for it is built security with intersections of big beams well gathered to insure its solidity

The Bryson House (Pk 3.3)

Once you cross the bridge, turn left on the Highway 148. Stop about 10 meters further and there on your right is the Bryson House. Built in 1854 by Georges Bryson, this is a unique house. This house is a « L » shape made up of many other buildings beside. You could find a blacksmith, a cold storage room, a stable, shed and a supplies room. The little stone house located at the end of these buildings was built around 1845 and was the office of the Bryson company. George Bryson controlled the economic activities of the region in the 19 century. Today, all these buildings belong to the Mansfield municipality and you will find among other things a municipal library.

Continue on Highway 148. At Pk 5.1, turn right on to the Chutes Coulonge Road. At Pk 9.5 just before the Jim Lake crossroad, you will see a buffalo breeding farm that displays impressive looking animals. Continue straight ahead towards the Coulonge Chutes.

The Coulonge Chutes (Pk 12)

You are now at the Coulonge Chutes (Coulonge Falls). The three 48m waterfall cascades through a narrow rock-walled canyon more than 1000 m-long. Wooden walking paths, footbridges and look-out points allow you to discover a breath-taking scenery surrounded by the remarkable sights and sounds of white water roaring through a canyon of prehistoric rock. This natural beauty is not the only thing that you will also discover here. There is a collection of fascinating history of the region inside the big cottage. You can observe artefacts, an exhibition, a movie about the logging history and the interpretive tours that you will find all along the path. As well, enjoy the shaded picnic areas that are available to take a rest.

To come back to Fort-Coulonge, take the opposite direction.