Quebec

Hike, Bike & Kayak the Border Country of Quebec & Vermont

Program No. 22010RJ

Bike southern Québec with stops for wine and cider tasting, kayak the calm waters of Lake Memphremagog and hike Vermont’s historic Long Trail on this expert-led outdoor adventure.

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6 days

5 nights

14 meals

5B 4L 5D

Check-In, Registration, Welcome Dinner, Orientation

Glen Sutton, QC

Hiking, Walking on the Sutton Massif

Glen Sutton, QC

Bike the Border Line, Inspector Gamache Rides Into Vermont

Glen Sutton, QC

Half will kayak other half will hike

Glen Sutton, QC

Lake Brome, Quebec (Kayaking), Vermont (Biking)

Glen Sutton, QC

Program Concludes after breakfast

Glen Sutton, QC

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At a Glance

National Geographic calls Vermont’s Northeast Kingdom "the most desirable place to explore in the country" and named Québec's Route Verte "the best bicycling trail network on the planet.” What more do you need to know? Let’s get active! Bike, hike and kayak across this region to experience its many outdoor riches. Pedal some of the finest bike rides in Canada’s East and Vermont's Northeast Kingdom, hike trails blazed by European settlers and paddle pristine waterways with experienced instructors. Located in the Eastern Townships and bordering the Northeast Kingdom, the Outdoor Lodge in Glen Sutton is your ideal home base during your adventure.

Small Group

Love to learn and explore in a small-group setting? These adventures offer small, personal experiences with groups of 13 to 24 participants.

Best of all, you’ll…

Visit Devil's Gulch on a hike along Vermont's Long Trail, the oldest long-distance walking trail in America.
Bike on traffic-free back roads to wine and ice cider tastings, fascinating museums or a local monastery to hear some Gregorian chanting.
Paddle a kayak in safety on flat water under the watchful eye of expert instructors who provide tips for kayakers of all levels.

General Notes

Due to the nature of this program, listening devices will be unavailable.

Featured Expert

All Experts

Stephen Giesler

Stephen Giesler lives for the outdoors and all the sporting pleasures that can be found there. As an instructor and active participant in Road Scholar’s outdoor programs, he is the person you want with you when you’re ready for an adventure. He has been downhill skiing since he was three, is a multiple Gold Bar Canadian Ski Marathoner, and has white water kayaked on four continents. Along with his wife Joy, they organize outdoor experiences in the countryside of southern Quebec and northern Vermont.

Please note: This expert may not be available for every date of this program.

Stephen Giesler View biography

Suggested Reading List (15 books)

Visit the Road Scholar Bookshop

You can find many of the books we recommend at the Road Scholar store on bookshop.org, a website that supports local bookstores.

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Reading the Forested Landscape, A Natural History of New England

by Tom Wessels, Brian Cohen (Illustrator), Ann Zwinger (Introduction)

In this entertaining, informative book, the history of the New England forest unfolds like a mystery novel. Wessels examines the character of the central New England forest through the clues left behind by fires, logging, storms and economic fads.

Walking

by Henry David Thoreau

Slip this pocket edition of Thoreau's meditations on the spiritual benefits of this most civilized form of travel in your daypack for inspiration.

New England Wildlife

by James Kavanaugh

This laminated, fold-out, pocket-size guide features illustrations of almost 150 species of fish, birds, reptiles, amphibians and mammals.

The Story of Vermont, A Natural and Cultural History

by Christopher McGrory Klyza

This second edition of the classic text examines the geologic, ecologic, and cultural forces that came together and produced contemporary Vermont.

Still Life

by Louise Penny

Louise Penny’s award-winning debut novel is also the first in the mystery series starring Inspector Armand Gamache. In this initial installment, Inspector Gamache must investigate a suspicious death in the rural, forested village of Three Pines.

The Nature of Vermont, Introduction and Guide to a New England Environment

by Charles W. Johnson

Opening with a discussion of the geologic history of Vermont, Johnson provides a lively introduction to major habitats, plants and animals of the state. An excellent survey of natural history.

Shadows on the Rock

by Willa Cather

Set at the end of the 17th century in rural Quebec, this beautifully realized novel highlights the struggles of the Parisian widower Auclair and his young daughter to adapt to their new land.

The Basic Book of Sea Kayaking

by Derek C. Hutchinson

A brief guide to the fundamentals of sea kayaking by a leading authority -- a useful introduction for the beginner and a review for experienced paddlers. With 50 color illustrations.

National Audubon Society Field Guide to New England

by Brian Cassie, Peter Alden

A compact, easy-to-use overview of 1,000 New England's trees, wildflowers, mammals, insects and other flora and fauna. It also provides an extensive overview of the area's geology, weather patterns and natural sites.

Dishing Up Vermont, 145 Authentic Recipes from the Green Mountain State

by Tracey Medeiros

A collection of recipes from a broad range of cooks dedicated to sustaining and enriching local culinary traditions, this book celebrates the classic taste of the Green Mountain state.

Disappearances

by Howard Frank Mosher

Mosher's award-winning first novel is the enchanting story of a young man and his whiskey-smuggling father and their adventures in the wilderness of northern Vermont in 1932.

Wandering Home, A Long Walk Across America's Most Hopeful Landscape

by Bill McKibben

On a three-week walk from Vermont's Mt. Abraham to his former home in the Adirondack Mountains, prominent American ecologist McKibben meets with environmentally conscious folk, including activists, writers, organic farmers, a vintner and a beekeeper, to discuss important questions about nature and climate change.

A Traveller's History of Canada

by Robert Bothwell

A readable and admirably concise march through Canadian history from prehistory to today, including a timeline.

A People's History of Quebec

by Robin Philbot, Jacques Lacoursiere

This swift overview of Quebec’s 450-year history by a leading historian covers everything from the earliest days of colonization to the province’s recent efforts to gain independence. Includes a helpful timeline.

New England Autumn

by Ferenc Mate (Photographer), Candace Mate (Photographer)

Magnificent photographs of farmsteads, pastures, forests, wharves and villages from Maine to Connecticut are paired with the poetry and literature of Dickinson, Thoreau and Waldo Emerson in this pictorial celebration of season. With a 14-page section of maps and practical travel information.

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6 days

5 nights

14 meals

5 B 4 L 5 D

DAY

Check-In, Registration, Welcome Dinner, Orientation

Glen Sutton, QC

Outdoor Lodge in Glen Sutton

Afternoon: Due to the remote location of this program, a scheduled complimentary shuttle is available from the airport in Burlington, VT, departing promptly at 3:30 pm. Check-in time is 3:00 - 5:00 pm for those arriving independently. All levels are welcome. Meet your hosts and fellow Road Scholars in the commodious Great Room with its fireplace and extensive library that provides a casual and comfortable spot for refreshments and lively conversation.

Dinner: Dinner is at the lodge in the open format kitchen and dining room. Enjoy high-end homestyle cooking with menus designed and prepared by our team of chefs. Dinner is a plated meal and will consist of salad or soup, entrée, and dessert. In this age of fast cuisine, we think you’ll appreciate the effort that the dining team puts into their “from scratch” delicacies. Special dietary needs must be noted on the Participant Information Form. If you do not advise us of your requirements or special needs well in advance of your program, we may not be able to accommodate your requests once you arrive on the program.

Evening: Orientation: Around 7:30 pm we gather for a general introduction of guests and a detailed outline of the week. Following that there will be a talk about Glen Sutton, the Eastern Townships and the general scene in this part of the world. Please be aware that local circumstances may require adjusting program elements for weather or other circumstances. In the event of changes, we will alert you as quickly as possible. Thank you for your understanding. Free time is reserved for your personal independent exploration. Evenings at leisure offer opportunities to make the program more meaningful and memorable through personal independent exploration, engaging in available activities on your own, or simply relaxing and making new friends among fellow participants. The Group Leader will always be happy to offer suggestions. Continue getting to know your fellow Road Scholars, settle in, and get a good night’s rest for the day ahead.

DAY

Hiking, Walking on the Sutton Massif

Glen Sutton, QC

B,L,D

Outdoor Lodge in Glen Sutton

Activity note: Options for a gentle walk or a more demanding hike. Hikes are 4-5 hours on varied terrain. Hikes are categorized as Intermediate in difficulty: net elevation gains of about 1600'; walks are 3-4 hours over forest trails or flattish country laneways. Daypacks required. Van transfers to trail heads between 20 - 50 minutes. Hikers will be accompanied by 2 - 3 guides, walkers by 1 - 2, depending on the terrain and group size

Breakfast: Enjoy a self-serve breakfast at the Lodge offering a variety of healthy options: generally a hot option (eggs, oatmeal, hot cereal, etc.) fresh fruit bowls, yogurts, local maple syrup, variety of breads.

Morning: Gather on the porch to get the map of the day for our 9:00 a.m. departure. Hikers: Our adventure this morning is to Round Top (Mont Sutton), the local peak visible from the Lodge (it's a 25 minute drive to the trailhead). We climb through a mixed beech-maple forest to Spruce Lake where we lunch at a waterside pavilion. Walkers: We walk alongside a dancing brook that leads us gently downhill from the base of Mont Sutton towards the village of Sutton (alias Three Pines in the Inspecteur Gamache crime novels). We lunch by an old dam.

Lunch: Bag lunch near trails or on shore around noon at a pre-designated spot.

Afternoon: Hikers: We continue upwards to summit of Round Top. Descend by a different path to point of origin. Time for a visit to town of Sutton. Hiking time approximately 4 hours. Intermediate difficulty. (Note: Trail conditions or closures due to bird nesting sites or washouts may have us exploring other arteries of the Sutton massif). Walkers: The downward trail continues to Sutton. Some time to see the sights of this tourist town with 4 bakeries and a chocolate shop. Much ado about the magical natural order. Walking time approximately 3 hours. We are normally back at the Lodge between 3:30 and 4:30 p.m. where there is plenty of time for a swim, a snooze, a snack. or a pre-dinner drink (BYOB).

Dinner: Dinner at 6 pm. Drinks before dinner if so desired. The lodge is a B.Y.O.B establishment. Alcoholic beverages are not served on-site but participants are welcome to bring their own.

Evening: Evening lectures commence at 7:30 p.m. Topics might include Heart Healthy Living, Canadian History, American Invasions of Canada (1775 - 1871), Quebec Politics Since the Quiet Revolution, The Gerry Bull Story, Natural History, Native Canadian History, European Adventure Travel, International Adventure Travel Tales.

DAY

Bike the Border Line, Inspector Gamache Rides Into Vermont

Glen Sutton, QC

B,L,D

Outdoor Lodge in Glen Sutton

Activity note: All cycling takes place almost entirely on pavement. Average ride 25 miles over rolling terrain (some do more and some do less). We can adjust terrain from quite hilly to quite flat as we have a range of 20 rides to choose from. The scenery of upstate Vermont and the Eastern Townships will dazzle you. Many roads will be traffic free.

Breakfast: At the Lodge at 8:00 a.m.

Morning: Gather on the porch to get the map of the day for our 9:00 a.m. departure. Today we bike on both sides of the Quebec/Vermont border. Rental bikes are fitted as needed in early morn. We can choose from 20 different day rides which average 25 miles in length (some do more, some do less). Our sag wagon is constantly on patrol and is equipped with repair tools, spares and reserve water. A short van ride with bikes in tow and then the spinning begins. Rides are 99% on pavement and our area is renowned for good shoulders and very low traffic densities that often see more bicycles than cars on any given day.

Lunch: Meet for a bag lunch a pre-designated spot.

Afternoon: Cycling continues in the afternoon and ends around 3-3:30 p.m. Plenty of time to shuttle home, shower, nap, read, swim and have that pre-dinner drink.

Dinner: Dinner at 6 pm. Drinks before dinner if so desired. The lodge is a B.Y.O.B establishment. Alcoholic beverages are not served on-site but participants are welcome to bring their own.

Evening: We will meet for our evening lecture at the Lodge.

DAY

Half will kayak other half will hike

Glen Sutton, QC

B,L,D

Outdoor Lodge in Glen Sutton

Activity note: Three sports, four days: Today the group will be divided in half, one half will be hiking and the other will be kayaking. Kayakers will visit the northeast part of Vermont to paddle the length of Lake Willoughby (3 - 4 hours). Hikers will climb Mount Pisgah (intermediate difficulty) one of America's finest, this area is known as the Switzerland of Vermont, . Mount Pisgah is a 50 minute drive.

Breakfast: At the Lodge.

Morning: Gather on the porch to get the map of the day for our 9:00 a.m. departure. Hikers: Mt. Pisgah is about a 50 minute drive to the trailhead in Vermont, stunning overlooks of 1,000' cliffs make this day special. The hike has a vertical rise of 1,491', 4 to 5 hour hike. This is the first site in Vermont to which the peregrine falcon returned after the DDT crisis of the mid 1900's Kayakers: behold Lake Willoughby! A 3-4 mile long feast for the eyes. Depending on the wind (direction/speed) we may run the entire lake or explore sections from beaches at either end. Much ado about directional intent, loose hips, paddle subtleties, with the possibility of surfing. This is a high adventure kayaking day.

Lunch: Bag lunch on the summit of Mt.Pisgah (hikers) and by Lake Willoughby's shore (kayakers)

Afternoon: Outdoor activities continue. Hikers: Another 90 minutes or so will have us off the mountain - perhaps to enjoy a swim in Lake Willoughby, before heading to The Toasted Bun for a cool-down ice cream. Kayakers paddle onto the lake's end, reload the kayaks onto the trailer, then rendezvous with nearby and journey back to base.

Dinner: Dinner at 6 pm. Drinks before dinner if so desired. The lodge is a B.Y.O.B establishment. Alcoholic beverages are not served on-site but participants are welcome to bring their own.

Evening: Free evening. Each week has one free evening where guests can sample our world-class movie collection, play bridge, or sample some local theatre.

DAY

Lake Brome, Quebec (Kayaking), Vermont (Biking)

Glen Sutton, QC

B,L,D

Outdoor Lodge in Glen Sutton

Activity note: Kayakers: A 30 minute van ride to Lake Brome, 22 miles to explore the lovely Quilliams Marsh. All kayaking equipment provided. Cyclists: A 20 minute van ride to Green Mountain summit, 14 miles, where we will start a 6 mile decent.

Breakfast: At the Lodge.

Morning: Gather on the porch to get the map of the day for our 9:00 a.m. departure. Cyclists: Passports ready! A short 20 minute van ride to a high point of the Northern Green mountains. Zoom downhill for about 6 miles to the classic Jay Country Store. Quiet country roads with a couple of modest climbs. Kayakers: after a shoreline paddle (0.5 miles) we enter the splendor of Quebec's most enchanting march: wild rice, black ducks, herons, sunning turtles, perhaps an eagle.

Lunch: Kayakers return to start point for a lakeside lunch. Cyclists celebrate lunch at the Toasted Bun a renowned roadside eatery.

Afternoon: Outdoor activities continue: Kayakers: options now abound: tour millionaires row (highest density of millionaire wealth in all of Canada), a hardy boys hideaway, and end with a deep-water lake traverse to the marina for a little cool down drink at the Tiki bar. Cyclists: Back to Quebec and approximately a 12 mile easy valley return to Glen Sutton along the Missisquoi Valley road.

Dinner: Farewell dinner at 6 p.m. Drinks before dinner if so desired. The lodge is a B.Y.O.B establishment. Alcoholic beverages are not served on-site but participants are welcome to bring their own.

Evening: Farewell evening.

DAY

Program Concludes after breakfast

Glen Sutton, QC

Breakfast: Enjoy our final breakfast together at the Lodge.

Morning: Departures after breakfast according to individual travel plans. The airport transfer will depart at 9:00 am; approximate arrival at the Burlington airport is 10:30 am. Check-out is 10:00 am for those departing independently. This concludes our program. We hope you enjoy Road Scholar learning adventures and look forward to having you on rewarding programs in the future. Please be in touch via the Road Scholar Social Network, where you can share memories, pictures and comments. Best wishes for all your journeys.