Just outside Chéticamp, this trail follows the path of an old railway line that once hauled gypsum from the nearby mountain to the harbour below. The mine operated from 1908 to 1939 under the direction of Anselme Boudreau—who, as it happens, was my great-grandfather. Alongside the fisheries, the gypsum mine provided steady work and helped shape the community’s early economy.
The trail itself is wide, flat, and welcoming to just about everyone. Once a rail bed, it now sees hikers, bikers, ATVs, snowmobiles, and even the odd horse and buggy. It’s been cleared and regraded, making it a pleasant stroll or ride to the base of the mountain where the mine once stood.
A short climb up a marked path brings you to what’s now a stunning spring-fed lake. Once a bustling gypsum pit, the site has filled with crystal-clear water and turned into a local swimming hole, especially popular with Cheticamp’s youth. The contrast of bright blue water against white gypsum cliffs is striking—and reason enough to bring a camera and maybe even a towel.