Local wonders: Naturally spectacular Pontiac awaits discovery

5. Culture of Pontiac
George Bryson was a wealthy lumber baron based in Fort Coulonge whose 1854 mansion, Bryson House, is a museum celebrating Pontiac's early lumber industry. Across from it, stroll the 1898 Marchand Bridge, the longest covered bridge in Quebec. Such bridges were called kissing bridges because their sheltered sides and roofs offered lovers privacy from prying eyes.

Then check out the extraordinary Coulonge Chutes,  where the Coulonge River blasts through a narrow, 800-metre chasm. Here, you can walk the interpreted trails and try the ziplines. And don't even think of missing the site's little museum, where you will see video footage of daring lumberjacks skilfully felled trees with hand-held saws and, with teams of horses, haul logs to frozen rivers

6. Riding about
Who knew the Pontiac is a hotbed of equine enthusiasts? With your own horse, join the Pontiac Wagon Train. Here, draught horses pull covered wagons while outriders ride their mounts for a week of activities and camping.

Biking's popular, too. Cycle the 92 km Pontiac Cycloparc PPJ from Wyman to Waltham, watching for wildlife and pastoral farmland as you pedal the former Pontiac Pacific Junction railway track.

7. Food, camping & inns
Not surprisingly, campgrounds flourish amid Pontiac's woods and quiet lakes. Choose from Base Macrocarpa, overlooking the Ottawa River, or Leslie Lake Campgrounds, where you'll hear the call of the loon and can paddle the lake. Or, rent a log cabin at Les Cabines de la Chute.

Like your comforts? Choose Spruceholme Inn, a bed and breakfast that was originally built for George Bryson Jr. Proprietors Glenn and Marlene Scullion have lovingly restored the heritage stone mansion and delight in showing guests the home's Canadiana antiques.

Dining? Year-round, enjoy delectable cuisine at Café 349 in Shawville. During summer, head to Esprit Rafting's international dinner nights and watch the sunset over the Ottawa River.


Page 2 of 2 -- What attraction has 363 square kilometres with over 180 km of trails? Find out on page 1.