Cap de la Fée

Cap-de-la-Fée offers a hike where the landscape changes several times before you even reach the summit. From Chemin Régimbald, the trail winds through a coniferous forest dominated by firs and spruces. If you take the short “Detour Worth the Effort,” you’ll pass by a waterfall before reaching the Fée Stream and its various rapids.

The trail then leads to Lake Coutu and the Grand-Duc shelter, located about 2 km from the starting point. It’s after this relatively gentle stretch that the hike becomes more challenging. The climb toward Cap-de-la-Fée becomes steeper, and some sections may be wet.

The summit, at an elevation of 625 m, offers an unobstructed view of Lake Archambault, Saint-Donat, and the surrounding mountains, with Mount Garceau in the background. After a break at the summit, the trail continues its loop back to the starting point.

With nearly 300 m of elevation gain over 7 km, this hike in Lanaudière offers a moderate level of difficulty and a beautiful variety of landscapes. The stream, waterfalls, shelter, and final panoramic view each lend their own character to a different section of the trail.

Trail Access:

The trailhead is located on Chemin Régimbald in Saint-Donat, near 1709 Chemin Régimbald. The parking lot and trailhead are located at the approximate coordinates 46.3414, -74.2677. The parking lot has about 25 spaces. From there, follow the signs toward Cap-de-la-Fée and the Grand-Duc shelter. To follow the loop and locate the “Detour Worth Taking,” consult the Balise Québec map or the network map in Ondago.