La Mauricie National Park, Forillon National Park, Bic National Park, etc. are the Quebec National Parks in Canada you must visit at least once in your life.
What Is A National Park?
The national park concept in every corner of the world has to fulfill all of the global standards specified by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN). And Quebec is no exception.
In this context, Quebec’s national parks serve the purpose of managing and maintaining the balance between the protection of natural and cultural heritage and public access.
Tips To Visit Quebec National Parks
Here are things you should prepare and pack before taking a trip to Quebec national parks (or any park):
- Bring a daypack of sunscreen, sunglasses, a hat, snacks, and backup batteries
- If you’re gonna have a picnic in a national park, make you have enough food. Actually, most parks have food available, but it’s better to have some of your own.
- A backpack is better than a suitcase
- Water, water, and more water
- Book camping sites in advance since some Quebec national parks draw massive crowds an entire year
Quebec Weather And Best Time To Visit
In fact, Quebec is ideal to visit at any time of the year. However, if we have to choose, October to November is the best time. This is the autumn season in Quebec, Canada. During this period, the weather conditions are great, especially for Quebec national parks trips.
The summer here lasts from July to August. And this is the festival season in Quebec. As a result, summer is the busiest time of the year.
Meanwhile, winter is the longest period in Canada. It often begins in November and lasts until the end of March. And just like what you know about winter in Canada, it’s pretty harsh.
Tips To Visit Quebec National Parks
List Of Quebec National Parks
La Mauricie National Park
This stunning park covers 536 kilometers and sits in the magnificent Laurentian Mountains. There are many outdoor activities to discover here. For example, hiking, canoeing, trail bicycling, recreational fishing, canoeing, etc. During winter, it’s best for snowshoe excursions.
La Mauricie National Park features 150 ponds and lakes, and plenty of wildlife such as rare Canadian wood turtles and beavers. This site even offers brilliantly-serviced camping conveniences. As a result, it is a hotspot for city folk who looking for a bit of countryside break.
Things to see and do:
- Take the Les Cascades hiking course for its golden beach and gorgeous waterfall
- Have a full-day expedition to Waber Falls to admire the backcountry of La Mauricie
- Finally, finish the day at Solitaire Lake, Wapizagonke Lake, or Édouard Lake
Forillon National Park
Just like other Quebec national parks, this site offers a real-life paradise. There are lush forests, majestic mountains, sand dunes with pebble beaches, and meadows dotted with wildflowers.
Forillon National Park also has an impressive amount of wildlife coastal such as lynx, foxes, bears, and moose. Besides, you’ll have a chance to see over 700 plant species here.
In addition, Forillon National Park is one of the very few locations on Earth that present the exceptional activities of snorkeling with seals.
Things to see and do:
- Climb the beach highlands and cliffs for scenic views of coves and fishing towns
- Hit the 30-minutes hiking trail Prélude-à -Forillon
- Watch Atlantic white-sided dolphins and minke whales
- Rock up at picnic spots inside the park
Bic National Park
This is a 33-kilometers-squared marine park on the St. Lawrence River Estuary’s south shore. It takes you three hours from Quebec City and five hours from Montreal to reach there. It’s one of the other Quebec national parks you must visit once.
In fact, half of the landscape surface is water. In the winter, this place is truthfully stunning. Meadow, wooded areas, islands, mountains, bays, coves, etc. are all covered in snow. Large populations of grey seals and marine birds, and dusks make Bic national park some of the most beautiful worldwide.
Things to see and do:
- Visit the Pointe-aux-Épinettes observation spot to see the seals
- Kayak on the St. Lawrence River Estuary
- Rest the park’s campsites
- Join the winter activities such as full-moon hikes, forest survival, orientation, and photography
Fjord-du-Saguenay
The appeal of this 1983 national park is no joke. Sitting along the eastern end of the Saguenay River, it covers 319.3 square kilometers.
The park has superb wildlife such as wolves, black bears, and moose. There’s also a series of dazzling cliffs, coves, and bays. These water areas are home to blue whales, fin whales, minke whales, and beluga whales.
It is also home to the mysterious Saguenay Fjord. It ranks as the longest low-altitude fjord in the world, with a length of 105 km. So, once you have a chance to come here, don’t skip this spot. This is a one-of-a-kind experience among Quebec national parks activities.
Things to see and do:
- Discover the glacier-shaped ridges on a zodiac vessel
- Sleep in one of the rustic huts, cabins, or campsites inside the park
- Take the 1.6-kilometre Des Méandres-à -Falaises hiking trail
- During wintertime, freezing adventures are yours to enjoy with ice fishing, snowshoeing, and skiing
Mont-Tremblant
This 1,510- kilometer-squared playground is a couple of hours from Montreal. It’s also of the largest Quebec national parks. It is famous for its rich natural resources with six rivers, 400 lakes and streams, sprawling Laurentians peaks, golden beaches, canoe courses, and 40 mammal species. There are also hundreds of camping spots.
The park has two beaches. The first one is Crémaillère beach in the La Diable sector. The second one is Lac-Provost beach in the La Pimbina sector.
Things to see and do:
- Have a rock climbing-like experience at Via Ferrata du Diable on the wall of the Vache Noire
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