Located a few miles north of Fort Coulonge, the waterfall at Chutes Coulonge Adventure and Historical Park is a beautiful must-see, the historic site is managed and maintained by a non-profit organization.
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They use all of the money collected through admission, souvenir sales and canteen sales to preserve, maintain and develop this site and the various activities hosted annually.
The history of the Coulonge Falls is closely associated with the great era of squared timber and log drives.
In the 1840s, lumber baron George Bryson bought up much of the timber rights along the banks of the Coulonge River, including the area in the immediate vicinity of the falls. Then, as now, the area was rich in pine. The massive pine logs, which were cut on-site into 60-foot (18-metre) lengths, were transported to the market by driving them downstream to the Ottawa River.
We have been to Chutes Coulonge a few times in the past but this was the first time we had brought the children since moving back to Canada. We didn’t have the pleasure of witnessing too many waterfalls in Europe so this was a great treat for them.
The path is clearly marked, the fences are sturdy and high. We left the kids to go ahead of up, knowing they were perfectly safe even if out of eyesight. The beauty of this place is that it is never busy. Each time we have been here, it felt like we were the only ones on the property.
We had seen a few people flying by on the zip line, to which the children asked when it was their turn…when I’m not with you, that’s when you get to fly around. Without anyone to bother, the children were able to be as loud as they wanted, exclaiming that they found a butterfly or got wet from the mist of the waterfall… or found the next number to show us we were on the right path.
There are information plaques along the trail, to show the different kinds of trees and plants in the area. Some had historical information about the founders of the log run and how they started this business. For the most part, though, the kids weren’t too concerned with learning about the history of Chutes Coulonge. Which is fine, they are young. As long as they can be respectful while everyone else tries to learn something.
At the end of the trail, there is a picnic area, splash pad and rock climbing wall for all ages. It was a great way for the kids to cool off and get out that last bit of energy before the drive home.
The main building has a souvenir shop, slushies and ice cream for sale, and a set of restrooms. This is usually where the staff go to hide from the heat during the summer and wait for the next Zip Line adventure guests to arrive.
For more information on Chutes Coulonge Park, contact: Chutes Coulonge, 100 Promenade du Parc-des-Chutes, Mansfield, QC J0X 1V0.
Tel.: (819) 683-2770 or toll free 1 (888) 683-2770.
Fax: (819) 683-2770. Email: [email protected]
Or visit the park’s website at www.chutescoulonge.qc.ca.
Things To Do Near Chutes Coulonge
Bonnechere Caves
Only 80 minutes from Ottawa, the Bonnechere Caves have been welcoming people from all over the world for over 55 years.
5 Span Bridge in Pakenham, Ontario
We saw a sign for a Five Arch Stone Bridge just outside of Arnprior, we made the short 2-km detour off of Highway 417 to County Rd. 29. We weren’t disappointed by the views. Dating back to 1903, this is the only bridge of its type in North America.
There is a parking space and picnic area nearby.
