Promenez-vous sur les sentiers dans la forêt ancestrale (l’aller-retour jusqu’à la cabane à sucre prend 30-45 minutes). Vous y entendrez, selon l’heure de la journée pour la saison, des oiseaux de tout genre (hiboux, chouettes ray.es et chauve souris à la tombée de la nuit, pour écouter les oiseaux et découvrir l’érablière et la prucheraie (c’est très rare au Québec!), entre autres; faites griller des guimauves près du pit à feu ou encore, allez vous balader pour découvrir le jardin de plantes médicinales ou le bébé vignoble (les vignes ne produisent pas encore de raisins, mais ça va venir!).
De plus, géographiquement parlant, le domaine Mi-clos a réellement un emplacement de choix et est situé à 10 minutes d’à peu près tout: pistes de ski de fond, de randonné ou alpin, des accès à la SÉPAQ ( les lacs Stukely et Fraser), des services à Magog, événements spéciaux, festivals et la scène gastronomique de Magog et Orford, il y a plein de choses à faire. La vraie question: de quoi avez-vous envie?
When the weather’s nice, take a stroll through our forest to discover the hemlock grove, the maple stand, and a pond where the National Park’s diverse wildlife comes to drink (you may even come across a female moose who has taken up residence here). Pick a few raspberries or blackberries along the way as a symphony of birdsong surrounds you. Early risers will appreciate the loons, blackbirds, and warblers with their colourful melodies, while night owls will appreciate the great horned owls and other night birds in the evening hours.
Winter, the forest’s most enchanting season, means you can take to the trails in boots, snowshoes, or cross-country skis when there’s enough snow. While a roaring fire is nice, if you want to warm up outdoors, try a round trip to our sugar shack (especially since you have to walk uphill to get there!) You’ll love identifying footprints in the snow on our many forest trails!
Thanks to the well-thought-out layout of our six west-facing domes, Domaine Mi-clos offers visitors breathtaking sunsets in summer and in winter. Every evening, the heavens put on a magnificent display of crimson, pink, and fuchsia against the fading blue sky.
Although each season has its own spectacular canvases, Donat prefers the ones that grace the autumn and spring equinoxes.
Adjacent to the Parc national du Mont-Orford, our exceptional location makes for ideal stargazing conditions. The absence of artificial light in the park and the layout of the domes—which face the summit of Mount Orford—guarantee an ideal location for contemplating the various constellations. And if you need help identifying them, we recommend the SkyView app.
Between late July and late August, Mi-clos is also a popular destination to enjoy the Perseids meteor shower.
Here’s why:
As the snow melts, early risers can spot hordes of deer on the move near the edge of the forest. As green shoots appear, you’ll hear the rich variety of wildlife preparing for mating season and witness the nuptial dance of the wild turkeys. A little later, you might come across a young fox family.
Ornithologist Olivier Barden has identified over 70 species of birds at Mi-clos. Birds of prey such as barred owls, great horned owls, and bald eagles have been spotted, as well as a host of smaller birds such as woodpeckers, warblers, and blue jays. Spring is the perfect time to marvel at their colourful plumage and seductive songs—moments of pure magic guaranteed!
In the evening (or morning…we’re not here to judge), grill your hotdogs, marshmallows, or s’mores over the outdoor campfire—the wood’s on us!—while admiring the sun as it sets (or rises) over the mountain range. Fires, passion, and marshmallows are good anytime of the year, by the way!
A hideaway honouring the heritage of Quebec’s maple products, Mi-clos boasts its own artisanal sugar shack, which you’ll see when hiking our trails with snowshoes or winter boots—depending on the snow pack. Each year, maple sap is collected by hand through notches in the trees. You’ll probably notice a few tin pails along our paths and even next to the domes. Please note that our maple products are available for tasting, by reservation, during the maple syrup season.
The Parc national du Mont-Orford is committed to protecting wildlife. Extensive conservation initiatives are in place to preserve the natural habitats of the many species that reside here. Visitors are invited to respect the park’s rules so as to minimize their impact on the environment. Thanks to these efforts, the park and Domaine Mi-clos remain an important haven of biodiversity, where it’s possible to observe a variety of wildlife, from moose and black bears to over 70 species of birds.
Warning: we’re plantophiles…and since 2024, the baby vineyard we planted in 2021 has been producing lovely grapes! Take a stroll at sunset, and you’ll see: it’s very small (yet oh so charming!) You can also enjoy our medicinal plant garden. Pick some mint and lemon balm if you fancy a tasty tea or a funky salad. Here’s a map to find the vineyard and garden.
Mi-clos is located directly on one of the region’s most popular scenic bike paths (see map). This makes us a first-rate destination for bike lovers—whether you’re a seasoned cyclist or just want to putt around, a fan of short rides or pro-level sprints, or are pedalling the old-fashioned way or assisted by electricity!
Interested in a private yoga class during your stay? Just mention it in the comments when you make your reservation, and Lavinia, the owner of the estate who wears many hats including that of certified yoga teacher, can give you an hour-long class to get your day off to a great start!
Want to discover the property while getting some exercise? Donat will be delighted to take you on a jog along the forest trails and explain the history of this ancient forest…and why not get a tour of our gardens and baby vineyard while you’re at it?