There are many wonderful hike all over the Gaspesie region. (Office du Tourisme et des Congres de Gaspe)

The hike up Quebec's Mont Jacques-Cartier and back takes four to five hours and is rated as difficult, yet roughly 10,000 people do it every year.

Many are drawn by the rare opportunity to see the only caribou herd south of the St. Lawrence River.

Mont Jacques-Cartier is in Parc national de la Gaspesie, near the south shore of the St. Lawrence. While it covers 802 square km, this provincial park occupies but a fragment of the largely empty interior of the Gaspe Peninsula.

Besides the caribou, the park is special because it contains 25 mountains more than 1,000 metres high. Park director Francois Boulanger says it's unusual in Eastern Canada to be able to enjoy the panoramic views that come from being above the tree line.

The park guide lists 15 hikes, their length, vertical drop, and degree of difficulty. I asked Boulanger to pick three, one easy, one intermediate and one difficult. His choices: Lac aux Americains, a 90-minute round trip, which he describes as scenic because you are looking up at mountains; Mont Ernest-Laforce, a two-hour loop, whose summit affords views looking down on other mountains; and Jacques-Cartier, at 1,270 metres Quebec's second highest peak after Mont d'Iberville in remote northern Quebec.

Boulanger says there are rangers on site every day during hiking season (June-Sept.) and that they spot caribou 75% of the time.

We overnighted at Gite du Mont-Albert, a lodge operated by Parcs Quebec. The room was disappointing, considering the high-season rate was nearly $200 a night, but the dining room certainly lived up to its good reputation.

Besides an a-la-carte menu, there was a $42 per-person table d'hote one (three courses and coffee) and a more elaborate tasting menu.

For more info, contact Parcs Quebec at 1-800-665-6527, or visit parcsquebec.com.