Science and serenity meet on the trails of Mont Pinacle

By William Crooks

Local Journalism Initiative

The Harold F. Baldwin Park, nestled in the hills of Baldwin Mills near Coaticook, has unveiled its 2025 edition of Les Rendez-vous du Pinacle—a season-long series of guided activities designed to connect visitors to both the natural world and their own well-being. Running from June through October, the initiative offers birdwatching, stargazing, citizen science, climbing, forest mindfulness walks, and more.

“This year’s programming is really focused on physical and mental wellness, along with science-based environmental education,” explained park general manager Mathieu Fontaine in a recent interview. “We’re trying to give visitors a different way to engage with the mountain beyond just reaching the summit.”

The Rendez-vous series includes six confirmed events, beginning June 7 with an ornithology walk led by a birding expert from Sherbrooke. Participants will learn to identify local species by sight and sound during a two-hour guided hike on the mountain’s wooded trails.

“We want people to see the forest differently,” said Fontaine. “A lot of the time, you hear the birds but you never see them—this activity helps decode that experience.”

Other highlights include:

• July 18: An evening exploration du ciel étoilé (starry sky exploration) atop the mountain, where participants will use telescopes and binoculars to study constellations and star clusters.
• August 2: A citizen science workshop with a Université de Sherbrooke bioecology professor and park board member, introducing tools like the Merlin Bird ID app and other biodiversity tracking platforms.
• August 16: A rock-climbing initiation experience for beginners with a certified instructor, offering an introduction to ascending and rappelling along the mountain’s rocky face.
• September 13: A marche méditative (meditative walk) culminating in a mindfulness exercise at the summit, guided by a psychologist practising nature-based therapy.
• October 11: A fall foliage celebration dubbed La folie des couleurs, inviting participants to experience the park’s vibrant autumn scenery.

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