Îles-de-la-Madeleine has no shortage of wondrous and striking rock formations carved into the islands’ exposed sandstone. There is no better place to explore this than on Île du Cap aux Meules along the Belle Anse Coastal Trail. The trail follows the coastline between Belle Anse in the south and Philippe Thorne Road in the north. A network of unmarked walking and ATV trails makes up the trail system, passing by some of the island’s most remarkable features, including steep-sided inlets, sea arches, sea stacks, and several sinkholes created by the collapse of underlying sea caves.
The red cliffs are composed of sandstone, owing their colour to a thin layer of hematite containing iron-bearing minerals that have oxidized and turned red. The coastline is exposed to the northerly winds and currents of the Gulf of St. Lawrence, resulting in dramatic rates of erosion that continue to shape and sculpt the landscape.
As of 2025, the trail system is not a formally designated hiking trail but rather a series of ATV routes. As a result, the trail traverses a mix of grassy fields and bogs and includes several mud pits and stream crossings. Historically, the route could be hiked from Belle Anse to Philippe Thorne Road and beyond. Ongoing erosion and the collapse of southern sections of the trail have since led to their closure, meaning access is now only possible from the north, at the end of Edgar Thorne Road.
La Cathédrale
Among the many highlights found along the trail, perhaps the most spectacular is La Cathédrale: a 25-metre-wide, 10-metre-deep sinkhole formed when water carved a cave into the underlying cliff, which eventually collapsed to create the near-perfectly circular opening.
Directions
From the town of Cap-aux-Meules, drive west on Chemin Principal (Route 199) toward Fatima. After driving approximately 2.5 km, turn right onto Chemin du Gros-Cap and continue north, then turn left onto Philippe Thorne Road. Follow the road to its northern end, where it terminates near the coastline. From this informal trailhead, follow the trails and coastline south.
