Hiking in the Les Jardins de Métis / Reford Gardens: trails, map and practical info

Description

Les Jardins de Métis, also known as Reford Gardens, sits along the well-traveled Route 132 in Grand-Métis, in the Bas-Saint-Laurent region. It’s a place where you can get outside and keep moving, but the “hike” here is more about wandering than chasing distance or elevation. You’ll be walking through a living collection of landscapes that mix careful garden design with pockets of woodland, and you can take your time letting the setting change around you as the paths curve from one area to the next.

What it is and why it’s different

These gardens cover more than 45 acres and are rooted in a personal history that still shapes the visit today. Elsie Reford created what became one of Canada’s best-known gardens by transforming her former fishing camp into the cultivated space you explore now. That origin story shows up in the way the grounds feel: not like a single “trail,” but like a network of walkways that keep pulling you onward to see what’s around the next bend.

One of the standouts here is the plant diversity. As you walk, you’re moving through a collection of over 3,000 species and varieties, all thriving in a unique microclimate that allows an impressive range of plant life to do well in this part of the province. Even if you’re not a gardener, the variety is hard to miss—different textures underfoot and at eye level, changing colors and shapes, and the constant sense that each section has its own personality.

Walking experience and terrain

For outdoor enthusiasts, the appeal is in the pacing and the variety. The paths are winding and designed to take you through contrasting environments: shaded, lush woodlands in one stretch, then open areas where vibrant flowerbeds become the focus. Because the route isn’t a straight shot, it naturally encourages a slower, more observant style of walking—more “explore” than “exercise loop.”

Expect a mix of scents and close-up details rather than big, sweeping viewpoints. The gardens are built for discovery at a human scale: you’ll notice how the atmosphere shifts when you step from a sheltered wooded section into a brighter, more open planting area. Each turn tends to reveal something new, which makes it well-suited to a leisurely stroll, a quiet solo wander, or a visit where different people in your group want to stop at different points to look more closely.

Plants, design, and the microclimate

Part of what makes Les Jardins de Métis / Reford Gardens memorable is how intentionally the landscapes are put together. You’re not just walking past plants; you’re moving through designed scenes, where the layout, the transitions, and the way the path draws your eye are all part of the experience. That’s where the “horticultural artistry” really shows: the grounds feel curated without feeling like a museum, and you can simply enjoy the mix of natural beauty and human planning as it unfolds.

The sheer number of species and varieties—over 3,000—means you’ll keep encountering new forms and combinations as you move through the garden spaces. This is where the unique microclimate becomes part of your visit, even if you don’t think about it explicitly: it’s the reason such a wide collection can thrive here, and it’s what helps the gardens feel surprisingly rich and layered as you walk.

Art installations and events on the grounds

Les Jardins de Métis isn’t only about plants. As you explore, you’ll also come across innovative art installations, and the site hosts events that highlight the intersection of nature and creativity. That adds another layer to the walk: instead of a purely botanical outing, your route can include unexpected human-made elements that fit into the outdoor setting in different ways.

If you’re visiting with a mix of interests—some people in your group are focused on botany, others care more about visual art or simply being outside—this combination makes it easier for everyone to find something to connect with while still sharing the same paths and spaces.

How to plan your time on the paths

The best way to approach a visit here is to treat it like an open-ended exploration. The paths are meant to be followed at whatever pace fits your day, and the variety of environments means you can naturally adjust your route as you go—lingering in areas you love, moving quickly through sections that don’t grab you, and letting the “next turn” guide your choices. Because the setting is calm and the scenery changes frequently, it’s a satisfying place for a quiet reset outdoors, even if you’re not looking for a strenuous hike.

If you enjoy paying attention to small details, this is a spot where it’s worth slowing down: the transitions between wooded areas and flowerbeds, the way the designed landscapes frame different plant groupings, and the sensory side of it all—especially the shifting scents as you move from one garden area to another.

Location and nearby ideas

Getting here is straightforward if you’re traveling through Bas-Saint-Laurent. Les Jardins de Métis is located along the scenic Route 132 in Grand-Métis, making it an easy stop on a regional drive. That route also makes it simple to pair the gardens with other outdoor time in the area once you’re done walking the paths.

After your visit, you can keep exploring the region by heading toward the St. Lawrence River’s coastline for more scenery, or by visiting the charming local villages that dot the Bas-Saint-Laurent. It’s the kind of location that fits well into a day of slow travel—drive, wander, stop, and take in the landscape.

Trail-style details for hikers

• Name: Les Jardins de Métis / Reford Gardens
• Region: Bas-Saint-Laurent
• Walking distance on paths: 3 km
• Elevation gain: 10 m
• Difficulty: Easy

This is an easy, low-elevation walk that focuses on immersion and variety rather than challenge. Comfortable walking shoes are a good match here, and you’ll get the most out of it if you plan to wander, pause often, and let the gardens’ different environments shape your route as you go.