Best Hikes around Quebec City

Atop Cap Diamant (Cape Diamond), at the city’s highest point, the Citadelle overlooks Old Québec, the St. Lawrence River, and the Plains of Abraham. There have been defensive structures here as early as the French period—in fact, the location of Québec City was chosen because Samuel de Champlain saw the strategic advantages that Cap Diamant offered. The fortifications you see today, however, date to the 19th century: They were built after a failed attempt by Americans to conquer Québec City during the War of 1812. Students of World War II history may be familiar with the Citadelle as the site of the Québec Conferences, when Winston Churchill, Franklin Delano Roosevelt, and Canada‘s prime minister, William Lyon Mackenzie King, met to plan their countries’ strategies during the war. The Citadelle is still an active military base; the museum inside is devoted to the 22nd Regiment, which makes its headquarters here.

While most tourist guides will tell you to visit the Montmorency Falls while in Quebec City, the hiking and natural splendor at Parc Mont Sainte Anne (just 30 minutes from downtown Quebec City) are significantly more pleasant. Give yourself a full day to enjoy this winter-ski-resort turned summer-outdoor-adventure spot. With miles upon miles of hiking trails, beautiful waterfall, and a gondola to help out when you get tired, it’s a great spot for a day away from sightseeing.

Give yourself at least a few good hours to explore the gorgeous Jacques-Cartier National Park, which sits less than 45 minutes from downtown Quebec City. Packed with trails that highlight both the peaks and the valleys that surround the Jacques-Cartier river, the park also offers guided kayaking trips, trails for snowshoeing, and even has cabins for rent if you decide to stay the night on her stunning grounds.

While a bit more of a drive from downtown Quebec City (roughly an hour and a half), Parc National des Grands Jardins offers breathtaking vistas in the middle of the Charlevoix arctic biosphere. And if you are looking for a high adventure day away, book an afternoon on the Via Feratta - an instructor-led rock climbing/rappelling experience with stunning views!

While certainly a haul from Quebec City (give yourself three hours, including the free ferry ride), a journey to the Saguenay Fjord could not be more worthwhile! The town of Tadoussac serves as the perfect base to explore the wildlife-filled ecosytem at the confluence of the fjord and the St Lawrence river, complete with beautiful old hotels and a abundant dining options. And the three day camping/hiking/kayaking expedition is a stress-free way to truly dig deep into this beautiful edge of the earth.

The ferry from the Old City to the newer town of Levis costs just $7 round trip, and takes you to the most prime spot to watch the sun melt behind the iconic skyline. A lovely walking path flanks the southern edge of the St Lawrence for miles - and while not the most ‘mountainous’ of climbs, it does allow for a beautiful evening stroll into the sunset.

Floating in the middle of the St Lawrence river, yet only 15 minutes from downtown Quebec City, the Ile D’Orleans is often called the cradle of New France. To this day, it is covered with farms growing the produce and making the wine that has sustained Quebec City for centuries. While the island is not specifically designed for hikers (yet it most certainly IS designed for bike riders!), you can enjoy beautiful walks between the farms - gathering strawberries and apples and delicious cold bottles of the sparking cider.