New Carlisle: Coast, Culture and Trails

Almost ten kilometres of coastline, mostly made up of beaches, define New Carlisle. The town also offers trails through a bird sanctuary, historical exhibits and recreational activities. This makes it easy to tailor your stay to different interests: spend time by the water, learn about local history, or get active on hiking trails and ice rinks.

Beaches with a range of experiences

The Green is a mostly sandy beach with a wide range of amenities: a snack bar, a picnic area and toilets, as well as cabins, a children’s playground and areas for volleyball, basketball and baseball. There is also access to the boardwalk. If you’d like to combine a beach day with a variety of activities, you’ll find several options in one place here.

The Harbour is considered the sandiest beach in New Carlisle. A picnic area offers a place to take a break; the beach is near the Jean-Paul-Dubé Bird Sanctuary and can be reached at the end of Church Street. The walk through the sanctuary takes 20 to 45 minutes and passes through the dunes. You can also take the beach on your way back.

Bible Camp Beach, Wharf Beach and Christies Rock Beach offer different experiences. Bible Camp Beach is mostly sandy and quiet, with views and small waterfalls. At Wharf Beach, you can enjoy a peaceful stroll on the beach or along the railway tracks and watch the sunset. You can also walk along the beach or the tracks at Christies Rock Beach and take in the sunset; Christies Rock is visible, too.

Discover local history and culture

The Kempffer Cultural and Interpretation Centre opened in 2008. Its permanent exhibition, “De diversité et de raffinement,” explores the history of New Carlisle. The ground floor also houses “L’enfant libre: René Lévesque et la Gaspésie, de 1922 à 1937,” an exhibition created in collaboration with the Fondation de la Maison René-Lévesque. Two rooms in the basement are used for temporary exhibitions and a variety of cultural activities.

The Heritage Tour is another way to explore local history. It starts at Kempffer House, takes 90 to 120 minutes and follows 19 green signs. The stops trace the history of New Carlisle. If you’d rather pair culture with music, Héritage New Carlisle has hosted the “Les concerts à St-Andrews” concert series at St-Andrews Church since 2009 to support young artists.

Trails and recreation throughout the year

The Black Lake Recreational Trails are open year-round. When there is no snow, you can explore them on foot; in winter, cross-country skiing and snowshoeing are possible. The right activity therefore depends in part on whether you’d like to experience the trails without snow or enjoy their winter activities.

The Municipal Park has a statue of René Lévesque, a picnic area and toilets. Tennis and basketball courts add to the amenities. New Carlisle also has an indoor and an outdoor ice rink. Curling is also available in the indoor arena. You can skate at the outdoor rink during the day and in the evening; friendly hockey games are often held there, and you can join in.

Choose New Carlisle for your vacation

New Carlisle is accessible via Route 132, which circles the Gaspé Peninsula.

More destinations to choose from: Saint-Léon-De-Standon, Saint-Sylvestre, Sacré-Coeur-Saguenay, Saint-Simon-De-Rimouski, Saint-Casimir, La Pocatière, Saint-Philémon, Val-Des-Monts.

For the broader travel overview: Quebec.