Allumettes Island and the Outaouais River
From the information centre at
Dubeau Grocery in Waltham where the PPJ Cyclopark ends, you will
follow the Outaouais River to discover Allumettes Island. The Island
is approximately 20 km long by 10 km wide, giving it a surface area
of 190.19 km2. The population of Allumettes Island is 1492. The
centre of the Island is made up of agricultural farmlands and
forests. Chapeau is the main town on the Island where services like
the CLSC can be found. The Island also boasts the beautiful church
of St-Alphonsus of Liguori.
From Pembroke :
Follow Highway 148 to Waltham.
From Portage du Fort :
Follow Highway 301 towards Bryson. At Highway 148, turn left towards
Fort Coulonge and Waltham. In the centre of the village of Waltham,
on the same side as the lake, is the starting point of the bicycle
path.
From Hull :
Take Highway 148 towards Fort-Coulonge to Waltham.
Waltham :
In the centre of the village, on the side of the lake, you will find
the beginning of the bicycle path. You will also find a parking spot
and a picnic area.
This part of the bicycle path is
19.7 km. The return trip is a 39.4 km. It is also possible do an
excursion and make a circular loop by returning by the Allumettes
Island Escapade which is 62.5km.
Unlike the rest of the bicycle
path, this section was not created from the bed of the railroad
track. It was built along the side roads that travel next to the
magnificent Outaouais River.
Construction on the bicycle
path will be near completion in 2001. The road which runs beside the
new path is used little by vehicles, and it is possible to see the
new addition to the path by taking parts of the completed path as
well as parts of the old road. These parallel routes allow you to
discover historical sites and magnificent beaches. Road signs will
be posted by the end of 2001.
Brochures are now available in
both French and English. You may find them at the tourist
information booth on Allumettes Island. You may also call
1-800-665-5217 for a mailing or e-mail at :
sadc@commercepontiac.ca
You may leave your vehicle in
Waltham near the rest area of the PPJ Cyclopark. At the end of the
72 km bicycle trail, take the Main Street, for approximately 0.9 km,
to Highway 148. You will arrive at the bridge that crosses over a
branch of the Outaouais River and takes you to Allumettes Island. In
the course of the next two years, cyclists will have their own strip
of pavement added to the bridge and it will run beside Highway 148.
For the moment, however, you must cross the bridge on Highway 148
and continue along this highway for 3.3 km until you reach the East-range road on your left. From this location, you will travel
along a peaceful, little-traveled road that runs beside the river.
You will follow this road, cross wooded areas and marshlands full of
beavers, turtles, frogs, foxes, and on occasion, fleeing bears and
wolves.
At Pk 79 (7 km from
Waltham) a road on your right will lead you to Highway 148 where you
will attack a small hill which will lead you to a plateau that
overlooks the Outaouais River. The view of the countryside changes
from prairies to forests.
At Pk 80.3 (8.2 km from
Waltham) and on many other sites along the trail, you will be able
to admire the Outaouais River, its rapids, and the widening of the
river called Lower Allumettes Lake.
At Pk 81.4 (9.4 km from
Waltham), you will pass by Boire’s Campground. Here you will find
a place to pitch your tent by the water, a convenience store,
showers, and electricity – all in a pleasant, natural setting.
At Pk 83 (11 km from
Waltham) follow a small, paved cottage road. You will cross over a
small wooden bridge and see a traditional farm with several old
houses made of sqared logs.
The trail will lead you through a
wooded area.
After a short ride, with a view of
prairies on your left, you will arrive at the beginning of a new
addition to the PPJ Cyclopark. This construction was completed in
the fall of 2000. From Pk 89.1 (17.1 km from Waltham), you
can ride on the new section of the trail. This trail is situated
away from the road and its stone-dust surface is approximately 3
metres wide. By the end of 2001, 85% of the length of the trail
should be completed.
If you continue to along the
cedar-forested trail for 2.6 km, you will arrive at the end of 91.7
km of the PPJ Cyclopark (19.7 km from Waltham).
You will arrive at the log tourist
information booth which marks the end of the PPJ Cyclopark. You will
be on the side of Highway 148, near a service station and a
convenience store. Parking is available at this location.
Highway 148 crosses Morrison
Island and leads to Pembroke.
Event
First annual Tour de l'Île
May 20th 2001
.
Le Tour de L’Ile
A 62.5 km Tour de
l’Ile will allow you to
discover the beauty of the countryside, the village of Chapeau, and
the majestic St-Alphonsus of Liguori Church.
St-Alphonsus of Liguori Church
Everyone, especially architecture
and art enthusiasts, will be delighted to see the St-Alphonsus of
Liguori Church. The building contains a pipe organ made by the
Casavant brothers of St. Hyacinthe, balconies and a pulpit imported
from France which are replicas of the ones in Notre Dame de Paris, and
beautiful windows and sculptures. The church was built to become a
cathedral for a new diocese, however the diocese never came about.
The church may be visited each day from 8 a.m. to 7:30 p.m.
Oiseau Rock
For those who discover the PPJ
Cyclopark from the waterway, a rest area called Oiseau
Rock is available for the enjoyment of its exceptional view and
its regional history. Upstream from Fort-William, a 152 metre cliff
falls straight down to the Outaouais River. Rupestrian paintings
were once visible here, however graffitti has disfigured the site.
Picnic tables are located on the beach for your use. A trail allows
you to climb to the summit of the cliff for a unique point of view
of the area. An Indian legend tells of a baby that had fallen from
the cliff and was saved by an eagle. The site was therefore given
the name Oiseau Rock because « oiseau » means
« bird » in English.
See also :
Nicabeau
Fort-William,
its beaches and its trading post
The
hydroelectric station in Waltham
Waltham
