Top 20 Hiking Trails in Quebec
In celebration of Atmosphere’s 20th anniversary and in collaboration with photographer and hiker Olivier Langevin, we created a list of Quebec’s 20 most beautiful hiking trails, perfect for the fall season! Whether it's to take in the gorgeous colours of fall, to challenge yourself on the most demanding trails in the province, or simply to have a good time in nature with family and friends, lace up your boots and get ready to discover our top 20 hiking trails!
Don't forget to use the hashtag #rituelsatmo20ans on your social platforms to share your best trail photos with us!
1. Abitibi-Témiscamingue - Trappeur trail loop - Les Collines Kékéko (3.6 km)
A short loop with very few peaks, the Trappeur trail will take you through a bog, a beaver lake, and impressive rock structures. Perfect for the whole family!
2. Charlevoix - The Morios Loop - Mont des Morios (11.5 km)
A climb of nearly 700 metres that offers a breathtaking view of the St. Lawrence River and the magnificent Charlevoix mountains. Count on four to five hours of hiking and above all, breathtaking views!
3. Gaspésie - Le Mont-Albert (North Slope) (12.6 km)
In the heart of Gaspésie National Park, Mont-Albert is one of the highest peaks in the Chic-Chocs. This sustained hike will give you access to the impressive Mont-Albert plateau (13.2 km), where, if you’re lucky you’ll get to observe moose and caribou in an exotic setting!
The ideal place to admire the stars is at the top of Mont Mégantic (1110 metres), in its famous astronomical observatory, which is now at the heart of the first international dark sky reserve in the world. Make sure to visit during the Perseid shower peak.
5. Saguenay-Lac-Saint-Jean - Statue Trail - Fjord-du-Saguenay National Park (7 km)
Visit the reception and discovery centre of Parc national du Fjord-du-Saguenay and have fun counting the steps of this pedestrian path that will lead you to an imposing statue of the Virgin Mary. Plus, enjoy a breathtaking, mountainside view of Saguenay!
6. Laurentians - Rivière-Doncaster loop - Rivière-Doncaster Park (4.5 km)
This beautiful loop will take intermediate hikers through the wooded route of the Rivière-Doncaster park. A round-trip section of the trail offers a magnificent view of the Laurentians.
7. Estrie - Mont Sutton - All trails!
Mount Sutton is full of trails, each more magnificent than the last! In total, 52 km of trails are available to both amateur and seasoned hikers. Visit this Eastern Townships jewel and see for yourself!
This short hike, which leads to the top of Mont Rigaud and its famous cross, spans a field of rounded stones in the middle of the forest. Legend has it that the Devil turned a farmer's potatoes into these round rocks to punish him for working his field on a Sunday.
9. Montérégie - The Lacs trail loop - Mont-Saint-Bruno National Park (7 km)
This hike near Montreal will introduce you to the peaceful lakes of Mont-Saint-Bruno National Park. Take in the magnificent colours of fall, the extravagant mansions, and the sweet melody of a multitude of birds.
10. Chaudière-Appalaches - Mont Oak loop - 3 Monts Hiking Trails (4.3 km)
The Mount Oak Loop is a very well-maintained and easily accessible hiking trail. It will take hikers of all levels to an altitude of 421 metres, offering a nice view of the Chaudière-Appalaches region.
11. Montreal - Lapin Loop - Cap-Saint-Jacques Nature Park (5 km)
A nature trail on the island of Montreal . . . who would have thought! This loop has very few peaks and is perfect for a calming walk in nature, followed by a dip at Parc-nature du Cap-Saint-Jacques beach!
12. Lac-Tremblant-Nord - Indian Nose (9 km)
This little-used path offers hikers a positive vertical drop of 363 metres, which leads to a magnificent viewpoint overlooking Lake Tremblant and the mountain of the same name. Take advantage of this hiking trail offering an unusual panorama of the Laurentians!
Part of the National Trail, the Tronçon du Tonnerre will take you to the marvellous Vianney-Guillemette cliff, offering several vast viewpoints over a distance of more than 5 km. Lace up your boots, this trail is for seasoned hikers!
14. Bas-Saint-Laurent - Hell's Gates Canyon - Draveur Trail (5.2 km)
Prepare to go up, down, up, then down . . . again and again! This magnificent trail will take you from the highest suspended footbridge in Quebec (63 m) to the bottom of the Gates of Hell Canyon! You will feel very small in front of its 90-metre-high walls!
15. Mont Tremblant National Park - Grand Brûlé (5.6 km)
This trail for seasoned hikers accustomed to steeper drops is the ideal place for those looking for variety! You will come across waterfalls, a beaver dam, and some stunning lookouts overseeing Mont-Tremblant and the magnificent Lake Tremblant.
16. Charlevoix - Acropole des Draveurs - National Park des Hautes-Gorges-de-la-Rivière-Malbaie (10.6 km)
The Acropole des Draveurs is one of the most demanding hikes in the province! Put on your boots, take out your trekking poles, and get ready for an ascent that will take you to an altitude of over 1,000 m, offering you a breathtaking view of the Malbaie River and its escarpments! No doubt, this is the most famous hike in Charlevoix.
17. Quebec - La Falaise Trail - Cap-Tourmente National Wildlife Area (4.2 km)
Cap-Tourmente, located less than an hour from Québec City, offers some of the most beautiful views of the river and Île d'Orléans. The La Falaise trail observation point is no exception!
18. Outaouais - Iroquois Creek Falls - Iroquois Trail (5.1 km)
In the heart of nature, discover a part of Quebec's history on this trail where there is an old wood slide dating back to the logging period. The waterfalls and small falls punctuating the Iroquois stream will enhance this beautiful hike, ideal for the whole family!
Mount Orford and its national park offer breathtaking panoramas of the Eastern Townships. Atop one of the highest mountains in the region, watch the fall colours spread as far as the eye can see!
A stone’s throw from the busiest trails in Jacques-Cartier National Park, the Les Loups trail will take you to the top of Sautauriski Mountain (763 m) and to a breathtaking view of the Jacques-Cartier River, which flows below. For seasoned hikers!
