5 waterfall hikes: spectacular rewards at the end of the trail

In the Parc national de la Mauricie, the Waber falls (multi-level cascade approximately 27 metres high) make you work for them, and that’s what makes them extra special. Getting there means paddling roughly 9 km across iconic Lac Wapizagonke, followed by an 8‑km round‑trip hike. The trail, which cuts through dense forest with plenty of roots and rocks underfoot, is rated as intermediate and has a few steeper sections, but nothing insurmountable for experienced hikers. Head out early and bring plenty of water. This is a full-day excursion.

When you get there, you’ll discover a wide, tiered waterfall cascading over large rock slabs. The place is wild, secluded and perfect for a picnic with your feet in the water. If you still have energy to burn, you can extend your stay and explore the park’s other trails and stunning lookouts.

At 83 metres high, Montmorency Falls are higher than Niagara Falls (by 30 metres!) and remain one of Québec’s most stunning sites, just 15 minutes from Old Québec. The falls are surrounded by footpaths—many of which are accessible for people with reduced mobility—and scenic lookouts that invite you to take a breathtaking stroll. A cable car, zip line, and via ferrata round out an already long list of options.

You can walk to the top by taking the scenic path all the way to the orchard, a peaceful, lush area steeped in history. As you cross the suspension bridge, you’ll feel the vibration of the thunderous falls beneath your feet, and then you can tackle the 487-step panoramic staircase, which leads you back to the base for an up‑close look at the water’s sheer power. Are you brave enough to get up close to the waterfall, even if it means getting completely soaked by the spray!?

After your hike in Parc de la Chute-Montmorency, be sure to stop by our Bonjour Québec frame, which has just been reinstalled near the site after spending its first winter indoors. It’s the ideal spot to catch a spectacular view of the falls, snap a keepsake photo of your adventure, or immortalize the moment with an iconic Québec symbol.

To find out how to get there and make sure you don’t miss a thing, click here 👉

The 33-metre-high Chute à Philomène is one of the most beautiful waterfalls in Gaspésie. The top and bottom of the falls are accessible via short, easy paths—perfect for families or for a breather between two long hikes in Gaspésie. The highlight is the suspended observation deck, a platform that juts out into mid-air and makes you feel like you’re floating above the canyon. It’s one of the region’s top photo‑worthy viewpoints. As an added bonus, the Coopérative de plein air de La Matapédia (in French only) provides on-site via ferrata and zip line activities.

In the surrounding area, small forest paths invite you to wander a little further through a landscape of soft hills, rivers and mixed woodlands. The Saint‑Alexandre‑des‑Lacs area is also known for its rolling farmland, making it an ideal setting for a peaceful, contemplative day.

On Anticosti island, the Chute Vauréal site is a natural wonder: 76-metre-high waterfalls, an immense canyon whose walls rise up to 90 metres, a turquoise river and a silence that echoes. To reach the falls, you’ll follow an intermediate-level 7-km, out-and-back trail with a few rocky sections and a moderate elevation gain. It runs along the Rivière Vauréal and then opens onto a panorama straight out of a movie. An observation deck facing the falls gives you a magnificent vantage point.

The western part of the canyon has a few small caves for cavers to explore. The area features other hiking opportunities as well, including trails to the Vauréal canyon or the surrounding plateaus—where Anticosti deer will look on with calm curiosity as you pass by.

In the Parc régional de la Chute-à-Bull, the park’s namesake 18‑metre waterfall is a charming little gem that’s accessible and ideal for a family outing. The trail to the waterfall is just over 1 km long, and the park’s trail network spans 7 km. Along the way, you’ll find footbridges, designated viewing spots, and even remnants of the log drive—a nod to the Lanaudière region’s forestry history. The park’s other standout feature, the Chute-à-Bull cave, takes you deep into an underground world on an adventure through millennia of geological history.

For hikers looking for a bigger challenge, the park connects to segments of the National Trail, including the Swaggin sector and Mont-Ouareau, allowing you to turn a short outing into a full day of hiking. The combination of dense forest, rivers and gentle terrain makes it a wonderfully pleasant place to visit in spring and fall.