GETAWAYS & RESORTS · BIKE-GASTRONOMY
Charlevoix by Bike
The Flavors Route, from Quebec to Baie-Saint-Paul
Charlevoix is a region that must be earned. The roads climb, the views take your breath away, and the local producers are among the best in Quebec. Doing this route by bike means experiencing it at the right speed: slow enough to smell the ice cider, taste the aged cheese, and see the river change color over the kilometers.
Planning the routeIn this article
The Route
From Quebec to Baie-Saint-Paul
A route that can be done in one long day or over two days depending on your level and appetite for gastronomic stops.
The Charlevoix Flavors Route is a marked circuit connecting artisanal producers: cheese dairies, cideries, breweries, market gardeners, bakers. It crosses landscapes alternating between dense forests, cliffs plunging into the river, and wooden villages painted in bright colors.
Quebec — Baie-Saint-Paul (80 km)
From Old Quebec, you join the Côte-de-Beaupré bike path heading east, then gradually climb towards Charlevoix. Baie-Saint-Paul, with its art galleries, restaurants, and local producers, is the ideal destination for an overnight stay before returning.
Quebec — Saint-Tite-des-Caps (40 km)
For a more accessible version, the route to Saint-Tite-des-Caps already offers spectacular views and several producers to visit. Return by bus or carpool for those less sporty.
The flavors
Producers worth stopping for
What makes this route rich is the concentration of exceptional producers within a small area.
Cheeses of Charlevoix
Charlevoix is one of the most renowned cheese regions in Quebec. The region's artisanal cheese producers make soft, semi-firm, and aged cheeses that rank among the best in the country. Some are even distributed as far as Carrera Café in Petit-Champlain.
Quebec ice cider
Ice cider is a Quebec invention that exists nowhere else in the world at the same level of quality. Charlevoix produces several variants, from the driest to the most liqueur-like. On a bike, you stop to taste, not to buy whole cases.
Regional craft beers
The craft brewing scene in Charlevoix has been booming for a decade. Craft breweries offer ales and lagers inspired by local terroirs, with regional hops and surprising additives like wild blueberry or spruce.
Organic charcuterie from Charlevoix
The organic charcuterie from Charlevoix that you find on the boards at Carrera Café comes from this region. A way to bring a piece of the circuit to your table, even without having done the 80 km by bike.
Practical
Everything you need to know
A demanding circuit that requires preparation but remains accessible with the right logistics.
Bike rentals in Quebec
Several shops in the Quebec area offer road and gravel bike rentals for one or multiple day excursions. It is recommended to book in advance during the summer season and to choose a bike suited to Charlevoix's elevation changes.
Transport and return
A cyclist shuttle service connects Quebec and Baie-Saint-Paul in season, allowing you to do the circuit one way without worrying about the return. The regional bus also transports bikes with prior reservation.
The perfect start
Start with the right fuel
Before 80 km of cycling in Charlevoix, morning coffee is not a luxury, it's a necessity.
At Carrera Café before departure
A double espresso and a Borderon et Fils focaccia at Carrera Café: the cyclist's breakfast who knows what they're doing. We settle in for five minutes, check the route on the map, and leave with a full tank and the desire to see the river from the heights of Charlevoix.
The road starts here
A coffee before leaving, flavors of Charlevoix upon arrival. Carrera Café is your ideal starting point in Petit-Champlain.
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