Nature & Outdoors
Natural Parks and Reserves Around Quebec City: Nature Within Reach
Less than an hour from the city, boreal forests, dizzying waterfalls, and wild marshes of untouched nature await outdoor lovers. Quebec City is rare: it offers its residents the luxury of extraordinary nature just a few kilometers from its walls.
Laurentides
The Boreal Forest Less Than an Hour Away
40 minutes north of Quebec City, the Laurentides Wildlife Reserve stretches over 7,860 km² of forests, lakes, and rivers in complete silence.
The Laurentides Wildlife Reserve is the closest gateway to the great outdoors for Quebec City residents. Once past the city suburbs, Route 175 winds through a corridor of conifers where you can spot moose, white-tailed deer, and sometimes black bears. In winter, the snowy expanses transform into landscapes worthy of Siberian Russia.
★ Must-See Laurentides Wildlife Reserve
7,860 km² of wilderness, hundreds of fish-filled lakes, hiking trails, outfitter camps, and rustic shelters. A fabulous playground for fishing, hunting, hiking, and cross-country skiing enthusiasts.
Sport Fishing in the Laurentians
The lakes in the reserve are home to significant populations of brook trout and pike. Fishing is regulated by area and requires a permit, but outings are often rewarded with exceptional catches in a setting of absolute beauty.
Jacques-Cartier
The River and the Valley
Less than 40 kilometers from Quebec City, Jacques-Cartier National Park is one of Quebec's most beautiful parks: river, canyon, and boreal forest all in one site.
The Canyon and the River
The Jacques-Cartier River flows at the bottom of a glaciated canyon with steep walls 550 meters high. River kayaking, rafting, Atlantic salmon fishing: the park is a paradise for water and outdoor activities in close proximity to the city.
Starry camping in Jacques-Cartier
The park offers developed camping sites as well as backcountry hiking stops for experienced walkers. At night, far from any light pollution, the starry sky is of rare intensity, especially in autumn.
Montmorency Falls
The tallest waterfall in Canada
Higher than Niagara Falls, Montmorency Falls is only 12 kilometers from Old Quebec. A breathtaking natural spectacle in every season.
★ Spectacular Montmorency Falls, 83 meters
At 83 meters high, Montmorency Falls pours a considerable volume of water into the Saint Lawrence River, just 12 kilometers from Old Quebec. In winter, the mist forms an ice island at the base of the falls, nicknamed the "sugar loaf," where ice climbing enthusiasts come to indulge their passion.
Île d'Orléans
An exceptional natural terroir
Designated a landscape conservation district, Île d'Orléans is a precious protected agricultural natural environment at the city's doorstep.
Île d'Orléans is not only a heritage haven: it is also an exceptional natural ecosystem. Its wetlands, maple forests, and shores of the Saint Lawrence River host remarkable biodiversity. In spring, Canada geese and ducks stop by in the thousands during their migration north. It is a spectacle that few cities in the world can offer less than 30 minutes from their center.
Seasons & Activities
Four seasons, four experiences
Around Quebec, each season offers a different gateway into the surrounding nature.
Spring: Observation of Migratory Birds
The shores of the Saint Lawrence and the marshes of Île d'Orléans welcome tens of thousands of migratory birds between March and May. An impressive spectacle accessible to all, binoculars in hand.
Summer: kayaking and fishing
Jacques-Cartier River, Saint-Charles Lake, Chaudière basin: the bodies of water around Quebec offer ideal conditions for kayaking, canoeing, and sport fishing throughout the summer.
Autumn: boreal colors
In September and October, the forests of the Laurentians and Jacques-Cartier Park blaze with reds, golds, and oranges. Hikers cover miles to reach panoramic viewpoints of this unparalleled natural palette.
Winter: snowshoeing and cross-country skiing
The network of snowshoeing and cross-country ski trails around Quebec is among the most developed in Quebec. The Mont-Sainte-Anne ski resort, 40 minutes away, completes the offer with slopes suited to all levels.
Barista's Tip
Before hitting the road to the Laurentians or Jacques-Cartier Park, fuel up at Carrera Café. Our drip coffee thermos to go is the ideal solution to last a whole day of hiking: hot, robust, fragrant. Like a good racing engine: it never fails at the critical moment.
Outdoor Menu
Our selection for Sunday adventurers, before the big departure to nature.
Grand Prix Drip Coffee To Go
Our specialty drip coffee, made to order, available in thermos format for outdoor outings. The drink of the true outdoor enthusiast who never compromises on quality.
Road Board
Organic Charlevoix cold cuts, Quebec cheeses, Borderon bread. Everything you need for a high-quality picnic by a Laurentian lake. The supply before the next turn.
A stopover is essential before leaving
The journey to nature starts here, at Carrera Café. Fuel up before your nature tour: an espresso, a board, and off to the great outdoors.
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