Saint-Léon Spring Mont-Mégantic Bliss, Val-Racine

## Overview The Saint-Léon Spring is a public drinking spring nestled along Chemin de Franceville in Val-Racine, Quebec, in the scenic foothills near Mont Mégantic. Situated in the heart of the Eastern Townships (Estrie), this spring sits within a landscape shaped by the ancient Appalachian mountain range — a region known for its granite bedrock and naturally filtered groundwater. The area surrounding Mont Mégantic is celebrated for its pristine dark skies (home to the Mont-Mégantic International Dark Sky Reserve) and its largely unspoiled natural environment, making this spring a welcome stop for hikers, stargazers, and road-trippers exploring rural Quebec. The spring has been used by locals and travelers as a freshwater source, and visitors have reported the water to be clean and refreshing. As with any natural spring, water quality can vary with seasonal conditions. ## Directions 1. From Route 214, turn onto **Chemin de Franceville** heading toward Val-Racine. 2. Continue along Chemin de Franceville for exactly **12.0 kilometers** (approximately 7.4–7.5 miles). 3. The spring is located roadside on Chemin de Franceville, near the address **1447 Chemin de Franceville, Val-Racine, QC G0Y**. 4. GPS coordinates: **45.484837, -71.099635** — recommended for navigation, as the spring can be easy to miss on this quiet rural road. ## What to Expect The Saint-Léon Spring is a roadside spring accessible directly from Chemin de Franceville, making it an easy stop without the need for a lengthy hike. The surrounding countryside is characterized by rolling farmland, mixed boreal-hardwood forests, and the distant ridgeline of Mont Mégantic. The road itself is a peaceful, low-traffic route through one of Quebec's most scenic rural corridors. Visitors should look for the spring along the roadside — it can be subtle, so keeping an eye on your GPS as you approach the 12-kilometer mark from Route 214 is recommended. The area is best visited during the warmer months (late spring through early fall), as winter conditions can make rural roads in this part of Quebec challenging. If you're in the area, consider combining your visit with a trip to **Parc national du Mont-Mégantic**, located just a short drive away, which offers hiking trails, an astronomical observatory, and some of the best stargazing in eastern North America.