The Scotch Cap Mountain

With its Scottish cap shape, this mountain pays homage to the Scots who colonized the region, yet it is much older than their arrival in the region!

With an altitude of 553 meters, Scotch Cap Mountain stands very close to the lake. It is named by the Native Americans "the one who watches over the marsh". Being part of the Appalachian Mountains, it has been there for a long time, then much larger, before the passage of glaciers. The Paleo-Indians travelled its lands, and it most certainly witnessed the passage of the expedition of the American general Benedict Arnold to Quebec. 

The Scotch Cap is part of the Route des Sommets, a 193 km tourist route that connects the highest mountains of the Megantic region, from the municipality of La Patrie to Saint-Adrien.

The Trails of the Scotch Cap are a must at any time of the year no matter if you are walking, running or snowshoeing. They show sumptuous viewpoints where you can follow the evolution of the seasons.

The view at the top overlooks the lake Megantic and its tributaries.

We can see the Arnold River, where the American general Benedict Arnold passed to invade Quebec around 1775. It flows into the Décharge des Joncs, which flows into the lake of the same name. We can also see the Bergeron River, which loses itself into the meanders of the marsh.

The Lac Mégantic marsh is the largest wetland in the south of the St. Lawrence River due to its position and the basin-shaped valley. The path of the prevailing winds favors the accumulation of clouds that release precipitation at the head of the lake and in the Woburn Valley. Close to the water flow line that originates from the Appalachian Mountains, the marsh is continuously fed. These are the perfect conditions for a diversified flora and fauna.

Popular for hunting and fishing, the marsh is home to a diverse fauna. You can meet, among others, ducks, bustards, moose, roe deer, otters, beavers, muskrats, frogs, kingfishers, owls, herons, geese and all kinds of fishes and birds.

In the section of the marsh on the side of the municipality of Frontenac, there is also an archaeological site, the Méganticois. There are traces of the first Paleo-Indians who passed there about 12,500 years ago.

Prepare your hiking shoes, the Scotch Cap mountain invites you on its very accessible and well marked trails. Just at the entrance to the trails, you will find a map and some information signs. The summit is only a mile and a half away on the shorter route, but if you really want to enjoy it, exploring the various trails will make for a hike of several miles! For locals, the Scotch Cap is a year-round must-see because it's always accessible and busy enough that its trails are always well-maintained, even in the dead of winter!

The Scotch Cap is part of the Route des Sommets, a 193 km tourist route that connects the highest mountains in the Mégantic region, from the municipality of La Patrie to Saint-Adrien. At an altitude of 553 meters, the Scotch Cap stands very close to the lake, named by the Native Americans "the one who watches over the swamp". As part of the Appalachian chain, the mountain has been there for a long time, then much bigger, before the passage of the glaciers. Paleo-Indians traveled through its lands, and it certainly witnessed the passage of the American General Bénédict Arnold's expedition to Quebec.

At the top, the mountain offers a privileged view of the largest wetland south of the St. Lawrence River, formed by the marsh and the head of the lake. They host a diverse and important fauna. This ecosystem also plays a crucial role in the quality of the lake's water.

In the marsh, there is also an archaeological site called Méganticois. There are traces of the first humans who passed through there about 12,500 years ago.