geedee

Getting fed up with doing the usual, I had a scout around google earth for new places to take the family, including dog, at the weekend.

I found an area with lots of lakes, about an hour and a half to the North.

Off we went. Our dog, a Newfie, loves swimming and I thought we'd all have a great day out.

Imagine our disappointment when we couldn't actually get to the lake... all private lots with summer cottages and big "Private" signs on plots and roads.

We tried a couple of others nearby, and it was the same thing. We eventually decided to trespass on a vacant lot (for sale) to get to the water, and let the dog have a swim. We didn't stay long because, being virgin woodland, we were bitten to death by all sorts of bugs.

I've found this just about everywhere... beautiful swathes of countryside that's fenced off and Private. In fact, I've yet to find somewhere that you can just pull over in the car, and take a stroll in natures glory. It seems that it's all for viewing from a distance.

Certainly there are Nature parks / reserves, but they are so highly regulated here, and very commercial (parking fee, entrance fee, little shopping area!) that it spoils the experience.

I do so miss the New Forest, or Dartmoor, or the lakes etc.

Is there anywhere, in the world's second biggest country, where you can just park up and stride out? Is this just a Quebec thing?

Your ideas appreciated.....

Kirstine

There's lots of that here in Alberta, although we're kinda fortunate too in the area we are there's lots of other lakes that ain't private, it's a shame though that some of them are private as some of them are beautiful and it would be nice to be able to enjoy them.

geedee

Don't get me wrong....! I have no issue with private ownership; I wish I could afford a house AND a summer cottage (which a lot of people seem to do!).

But by the same token, there should be some "state owned" land, like Crown Land in the UK, that is accessible to all and without all the nonsense commercialisation that they have in QC. Maybe there is, and I just haven't found it yet.....

Settlers_Unlimited

We had the same disappointment even when being here on vacation. The solution is to get prepared and invest some time in research. Look for conservation areas, but not those shown on provincial maps - most of those will impose big fees on you (I'm not talking about provincial parks - those are always expensive). I think also that many provincial parks are just paid beaches or something like that. Algonquin or Bruce are exceptions.

For Ontario, I used http://www.ontariotrails.on.ca - there should be something similar for QC.

JonboyE

99.99999999% (approx) of BC.

Kirstine

Same here, I love those little housing areas on lakes but I have been the same as you and dissapointed when visiting lakes only to find I can't access them. I guess we're lucky here though to have access to loads of lakes and parks as well as the river banks. I'm sure you'll find somewhere good, Quebec looks beautiful especially in fall! I'm jealous you can drive to Vermont in less time that me!

geedee

That's great.... we'll have to visit sometime. It's really different over this side. Looks beautiful.... but don't touch!

geedee

I'll keep looking. It's a matter of suck it and see, as there's very little info available.

Quebec is beautiful in the fall... but the roads are jam packed with people going to shut their cottages down! Try and get to Tremblant in September... forget it!

What's so great about Vermont?

Kirstine

I think it's hard anywhere knowing where to go, like even here I find it hard to know what to do half the time, the Rockies seem like the obvious choice but it ain't that close, I end up ordering loads of tourist information brochures from online, picking up publications when I'm out and about plus we found a book recently on Amazon about day trips from Edmonton that were all within 2 hours of the city which has been pretty handy, our local tourist information office is good too.

Me and my partner have a love of things like covered bridges, old country stores, antique stores, orchards, etc, there should be plenty of that sorta thing in Quebec if you like stuff like that? Google is usually our friend for finding those things.

As for Vermont, we've been there twice now, really love it, love all of New England to be honest. We usually go yearly but since discovering the price of domestic flights here we decided to drive it eventually, just wish it was closer!

JonboyE

To be honest, I tend to stick to the parks and the more well traveled trails. There is so much back country and some of it is quite scary to a wuss like me.

In the urban areas there is more private land, but even in Vancouver the majority of waterfront is public access. In the southern interior there are vast cattle ranches that are private though you probably would not have much problem crossing them if you act appropriately. The same applies to native land. These rest of BC is Crown Land so you can do exactly as you suggest - park at the side of the road and get hiking.

printer

Exactly what we loved about the place. There are so many places locally to us where you can stroll, cycle or swim and more often than not park for free.

dbd33

Same problem in Ontario.

geedee

Thanks for the link, SU. I'm still looking but all the trails I've found so far are for Ski-Doo's or skiers!

Piff Poff

From what I understand (from what a realtor told me) Here in Alberta (or it could just be this one particular lake) the crown own a a few foot of land all around the lake - even the bits where houses back onto the lake, so technically you can walk all around the lake - even through peoples back yards. You see if you want to put out a boat dock from your back yard into the lake you have to ask permission to do so.

dboy

I've heard this a lot outside of BC, its simply not the case here. I have always taken access to the outdoors here for granted, much like the UK.