★ Great northern outdoors
Hikes and trails around Quebec: Canyon, Jacques-Cartier and more
Less than an hour from Quebec City, breathtaking landscapes await hikers: the dizzying gorges of Sainte-Anne Canyon, the wild rivers of Jacques-Cartier National Park, and the panoramic ridges of Mont Sainte-Anne. Pure northern nature, just minutes from Old Quebec.
Hiking in Quebec
A unique access to northern nature
Few major North American cities offer such immediate access to such spectacular nature. In less than an hour's drive from Old Quebec, you go from cobblestone alleys to the region's wildest forest trails.
The Quebec region is a top hiking destination, often unknown to visitors who stay confined to Old Quebec. Yet, less than an hour's drive away, national parks, spectacular gorges, and panoramic mountains offer some of Quebec's most memorable outdoor experiences.
Whether you're an experienced hiker seeking a challenge or a beginner walker simply wanting to soak in the northern landscape, the Quebec region has a trail for every profile. From platforms suspended above waterfalls to high mountain trails with river views, the options are endless and all spectacular in their own way.
Sainte-Anne Canyon
The most spectacular gorges in the region
40 kilometers east of Quebec City, Sainte-Anne Canyon is one of the region's most impressive natural sites. Its deep 70-meter gorges and roaring waterfalls offer a striking natural spectacle in every season.
Sainte-Anne Canyon
The Sainte-Anne-du-Nord River has carved a spectacular gorge 74 meters deep over millennia, spanned by three suspension bridges at different heights. The trail along the gorge is accessible to all fitness levels and offers dizzying views of waterfalls and moss-covered rock walls. In winter, the frozen waterfalls transform the site into an ice cathedral.
Four seasons of beauty
Canyon Sainte-Anne changes its face with each season: blazing colors in autumn, ice waterfalls in winter, wildflowers in spring, and lush greenery in summer. Every visit is different, and many hikers return several times a year to see the site's transformations.
Jacques-Cartier Park
The wild valley at Quebec's doorstep
40 kilometers north of Quebec City, Jacques-Cartier National Park is a 527 km² wilderness area crossed by a spectacular glacial valley where the Jacques-Cartier River winds between 550-meter cliffs.
The Jacques-Cartier National Park is one of the most popular outdoor destinations in the Quebec City region. Its U-shaped valley, carved by glaciers 10,000 years ago, offers landscapes of grandeur that strikingly contrast with the urban environment of Old Quebec just 40 minutes away by car. Hikers find trails for all levels here: from easy walks along the river to challenging ascents leading to panoramic ridges.
The park is also a recognized canoe-camping site, where the white waters of the Jacques-Cartier offer paddling experiences for all levels. In winter, cross-country ski and snowshoe trails pass through fir forests heavy with snow in an otherworldly silence. A four-season paradise just minutes from Quebec City.
★ Barista tip
The hiker's espresso: fuel before the climb
Before heading to Canyon Sainte-Anne or Jacques-Cartier Park, Carrera Café is the last urban pit stop on your route. Our Podium double espresso, with notes of chocolate and dark fruits, provides the concentrated fuel you'll need to tackle the first climbs. For a long hike, our slow-drip brewed take-away filter coffee in the morning is the perfect thermos companion.
Mont Sainte-Anne
Year-round panoramic summit
45 kilometers east of Quebec City, Mont Sainte-Anne is a year-round outdoor destination world-renowned for its skiing in winter and mountain biking and hiking trails in summer.
Mont Sainte-Anne (800m)
The summit of Mont Sainte-Anne offers a 360-degree panorama of the Quebec region, Orléans Island, and the Saint Lawrence stretching toward Charlevoix. In summer, the chairlift provides easy access to the summit trails, while hikers can also climb the mountain on foot via several marked trails of progressive difficulty. In winter, 71 ski runs and 10 lifts make it one of the most renowned ski resorts in eastern Canada.
The MTB trails
Mont Sainte-Anne is one of the best mountain biking sites in Quebec, with over 200 km of technical marked trails for all levels. From beginner tracks suitable for families to expert routes that have hosted world competitions, the mountain offers unlimited playgrounds for non-motorized two-wheel enthusiasts.
Montmorency Falls
83 meters of vertical drop 15 minutes from Quebec City
Montmorency Falls, the highest waterfalls in Quebec, are accessible in less than 15 minutes from Old Quebec. A spectacular natural site featuring a suspension bridge over the falls and exceptional panoramic trails.
At 83 meters high, the Montmorency Falls surpass Niagara Falls in height (but not in volume). The surrounding provincial park offers several marked trails to discover the falls from different perspectives: from the base, from the top via a suspension bridge, or from the left bank on forest trails along the river. The cable car allows less athletic visitors to easily reach the summit.
Samuel-de-Champlain Promenade
The urban walk facing the river
For those who prefer to stay in the city, the Samuel-de-Champlain Promenade runs along the Saint Lawrence for several kilometers and offers panoramic views of the river and the Laurentians from the Lower Town banks.
The Samuel-de-Champlain Promenade, inaugurated in 2008 and expanded since, is one of the most successful urban promenades in Canada. Its 5 kilometers of cycling and pedestrian paths run along the Saint Lawrence from the Quebec Bridge to the Gilmour shore, offering views of the river, Orléans Island, and the Charlevoix mountains on the horizon. Quality facilities (rest areas, water access, designed viewpoints) make it a must-visit promenade for Quebecers and visitors.
Prestige Circuit
The best outdoor itinerary in the region
Our suggested outdoor itinerary for a full day around Quebec, with Carrera Café as the starting and ending point.
Canyon + Sainte-Anne (east day)
Early departure from Carrera Café for a starting espresso. Eastward towards Montmorency Falls (15 min), then Canyon Sainte-Anne (40 min). Picnic in the forest. Return via Beaupré coast. Recovery dinner in Petit-Champlain.
Jacques-Cartier Park (north day)
Carrera espresso to start, then north route towards Jacques-Cartier Park. Hike in the glacial valley. Picnic by the river. Return late afternoon. Carrera board as a well-deserved reward.
Carrera Café
The urban hiker's refueling
Before hitting the trails or after a day of hiking, Carrera Café is the natural starting and ending point of any outdoor adventure around Quebec.
The hiker leaving Old Quebec at dawn to reach Canyon Sainte-Anne or Jacques-Cartier Park needs quality fuel. At Carrera Café, we open early and our starting espresso is a ritual that many local athletes have integrated into their training program. Coffee is the champion's fuel, on the track as on the trail.
Back from hiking, muscles slightly sore and soul satisfied with landscapes, our Carrera board with Organic Charcuterie from Charlevoix and fine cheeses from Quebec is the ideal recovery meal. Rich in protein, generous in flavors, and accompanied by a coffee to finish: the perfect formula after a day in the northern wilderness.
★ On the way
Outdoors, great north, great coffee
Canyon Sainte-Anne, Parc Jacques-Cartier, Mont Sainte-Anne: the adventure begins in Quebec. And Carrera Café is your last pit stop before nature.
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