Parc du Mont-Orford | The Canadian Encyclopedia

Article

Parc du Mont-Orford

Parc du Mont-Orford (established 1938, 57 km2) is a provincial park located near Magog, Québec.

Parc du Mont-Orford (established 1938, 57 km2) is a provincial park located near Magog, Québec.

Natural History

The park runs along the base of Monts Orford (881 m) and Chauve (599 m), which lie on the lower Appalachian plateau and are separated from each other by the Rivière aux Cerises as it cuts diagonally across the park. The park has 2 campgrounds, one on each lake. There are networks of trails for hiking, mountain biking and cross-country skiing as well as a golf course.

The abundant and varied vegetation is part of the Laurentian maple groves. Fauna include a major deer population and an impressive beaver colony.

Facilities

The escarpments of the 2 main massifs have made possible the development of a celebrated downhill ski area and the park's huge hydrographic network is ideal for water sports, especially on Stukely and Fraser lakes.

The Jeunesses Musicales du Canada established the Orford Art Centre, a music camp and cultural centre, in 1951. The centre's concert hall, a 500-seat amphitheatre, opened in 1960, and 2 modern residences were added in 1970. The Orford String Quartet was formed by 4 students in 1965.