6 Outdoor Experiences Near Québec City

Adventurers and dreamers alike can visit several amazing waterfalls in the Québec City Area.

Marvel at the power and height of the waterfalls at Montmorency Falls Park, which are taller than Niagara Falls. In summer, jump into the void and go whizzing over the falls on a zip line, solo or with a friend. It’s guaranteed to send a shiver down your spine!

At Canyon Ste-Anne, you can cross one of three suspension bridges over the deep canyon, then hop on the Air Canyon.

If you love to hike, you’ll love the kilometres of hiking trails around Québec City that are open year round. Trek through ever-changing scenery and stop off at the many jaw-dropping viewpoints overlooking the St. Lawrence River. Wind your way along rivers and around crystal-clear lakes, and cut through forests rich in biodiversity.

At Parc national de la Jacques-Cartier, you can visit one of the most beautiful glacial valleys in Québec. Or hike up to the spectacular summits of Sentier des caps in Charlevoix.

Winter in Québec isn’t the off-season—it’s the place to be for outdoor enthusiasts with the abundant snow cover and all the winter activities on offer. So do like Quebecers do and go play outside!

Carve up the slopes with some downhill skiing, take in the beautiful landscape and the snow-laden trees while cross-country skiing or snowshoeing, explore hundreds of kilometres of trails by snowmobile or fatbike, or try dogsledding.

You can access the whole Québec City Area from downtown thanks to the many bike paths that link the city to its suburbs and greenbelt. Take a ride around Île d’Orléans and enjoy the island’s rolling countryside and charming heritage buildings.

Mountain bikers will feel the burn on nearly 300 kilometres of singletrack they won’t find anywhere else in Eastern Canada. There are also several easy but exhilarating forest trails for beginners looking to give mountain biking a try. In winter, cycling enthusiasts can keep fit thanks to the many groomed trails for winter bikes (fat bikes).

The Québec City Area is bursting with calm, winding, and turbulent rivers. Let the current carry you along as you raft through the stunning scenery.

Try paddle boarding, kayaking, or canoeing on a lake, river, or on the majestic St. Lawrence River, even in winter with an ice canoe excursion. And you can always take a break and chill out on the gorgeous sandy beach at Baie de Beauport.

Stop for a moment at the bend in a forest path or at the river’s edge and you may get a chance to observe the wildlife. Or take a whale-watching cruise in the St. Lawrence Estuary. You might spot a blue whale, the biggest animal in the world, or a beluga.

Increase your chances of a sighting by going on a black bear watching tour. And all you avid birdwatchers out there won’t want to miss the Marais du Nord marsh and the Cap-Tourmente flats with their abundance of Québec bird species.