Rocher Percé~Percé Rock

Overview

This rock is fairly unusual for eastern North America. It is the last point before the Appalachians disappear into the Atlantic so it is the most northeasterly of these mountains that start in northern Alabama and end in the Gaspé of Quebec. This area is fairly empty and has the best Maine lobsters in the whole world. They are gigantic and were less expensive then in Maine. The Gaspé Coast is a very rewarding drive-probably comparable to the California coast south of San-Fransisco but with more trees and a population density like Montana. Francois I sent Jacques Cartier to Canada in 1534 and Cartier put his ships up behind Percé Rock to ride out a big storm in the Gulf of Saint Lawrence. It is not recorded but there is a possibilty of a first non-indigenous climb of the Appalachians at this time. Meaning: pierced rock-see the hole on the Atlantic side? Pronounce as in Latin idiom in English "per-se" Looks as if you could work on some intense roofs coming out of the big hole on the seaboard side. Could make for some great pix if the surf were up.

Getting There

You can drive to this one on the Gaspé highway. We started in Quebec city, drove south across the bridge to Levis on the same cantilever bridge where there was a big accident during its construction- one section levered into the Saint Lawrence as I heard it. We then drove serveral hundred miles northeast on Canada #20 or Quebec #132 to the end ot the Gaspé . Percé Rock is basically the end of the road. My map says it's 500 miles from Quebec City to Percé Rock following Quebec route 132.

http://www.pubgouv.com/topo/022a.htm

Map

Red Tape

None that I am aware of. There might be some restrictions on the rock due to large numbers of nesting seabirds?

When To Climb

Probably the summer. It would be quite hard out of season because you would freeze your feet in the Ocean.

Camping

Camping is available at Forillon National Park just a bit north of
Perce Rock, but I am sure you could camp within a couple of mlles of the rock because its just the back woods. Forillon National Park has headlands up to 200 meters above the Gulf.


Forillon National Park
122 Gaspé Boulevard
Gaspé, Quebec
G4X 1A9 Canada

Tel: (418) 368-5505

Fax: (418) 368-6837

parcscanada-que
@pc.gc.ca

Or Try:


Camping Baie de Gaspé
Address Phone
2107, route 132
Cap-aux-Os (Gaspé), QC
G4X 6L7 (418) 892-5503
Fax
(418) 892-6133
Open
From June 1st to September 30th

L'Ille Bonaventure and Rocher Percé Park:
Park office phone: 418-782-2240

Weather

http://www.timetemperature.com/cgi-bin/getttw/getttw.cgi?place=gaspe&forecast=zandh&state=qc&country=ca&user=default&theme=default&button=Display+Forecast

Forecast

Tides and Tidal Tables

http://www.lau.chs-shc.dfo-mpo.gc.ca/cgi-bin/tide-shc.cgi?queryType=showFrameset&zone=3&language=english®ion=4&stnnum=2310
Tidal Tables

External Links

• Rocher Percé
  Pictures from Rocher Percé
  

Images

View Rocher Percé~Percé Rock Image Gallery - 24 Images