Carved by glacier forces thousands of years ago, the Saguenay fjord stretches over 100 km, surrounded by steep cliffs. It is so deep, it attracts whales at its mouth to the river. This route takes you on a discovery of the natural attractions along the fjord all the way up to Lac Saint-Jean.
337 km
This is a six-day route by car: from the whales in Tadoussac to the Véloroute in Lac Saint-Jean, with stops at sites for outdoor activities and at a unique zoo.
Unforgettable moments
Regions
See the whales in Tadoussac
Marine mammals make their way to the mouth of the fjord from mid-August to mid-October. Boat, kayak and Zodiac excursions leave from Tadoussac and Baie-Sainte-Catherine (Charlevoix). Be ready for that perfect picture!
A giant whale skeleton greets you at Tadoussac’s marine mammal interpretation centre, where you’ll learn that 13 species of cetaceans visit the St. Lawrence River. You can watch them right from the shore, on the Pointe-de-l’Islet trail.
Hike around the fjord
In the La-Baie-Sainte-Marguerite sector of the park, the Le Fjord trail runs all the way to Tadoussac. But you don’t need to go so far to admire the fjord: simply walk 3 km to the La Halte du Béluga lookout at the mouth of the bay.
Located on a cape next to the Saguenay fjord, this outfitter has several cottages and a restaurant that serves local cuisine. A great line-up of outdoor activities: hiking, canoeing and swimming, and there’s a play area with a fortress for children.
Zipline and sleep in the trees in Saint-Fulgence
On the bank of the fjord, this park has a range of outdoor activities. Cap Jaseux offers the Extreme Fjord Treetop Adventure, a dizzying aerial course of ziplines and via ferrata. You can also enjoy kayaking, sailing, hiking, fishing and swimming.
Spend the night at the park for a truly unique experience. Cap Jaseux is known for its original accommodation options: tree houses, suspended spheres, windowed domes and log cabins, plus camping (with or without services).
From Saint-Fulgence to Monts-Valin
In this park in the heart of the boreal, bordering the north, Dubuc peak towers at 984 m. In this pristine wilderness, you can go hiking, fishing and canoeing. Keep an eye out for moose, beavers, black bears, lynx, wolves and coyotes.
Alma and the Tour du lac Saint-Jean
Lac Saint-Jean is encircled by the Véloroute des Bleuets bicycle circuit. Without completing the circuit—after all, it’s 256 km!—you can head out to find the perfect spots to view the lake and discover some of the “gourmet stops” (beer, cheese...).
Discover phantoms, the Innu and the boreal
In the early 20th century, Val-Jalbert had a wood-pulp mill powered by Ouiatchouan Falls. Today, you can take a cable car ride over the falls or admire them from five lookouts, and in the village guides in period costume give a glimpse of the past.
Discover the culture of the Montagnais Indigenous people, whose real name is Pekuakamiulnuatsh, in the First Nations museum in the village of Mashteuiatsh as well as at the great gathering of Québec’s First Nations during the annual powwow in July.
This zoo is unique: the visitors are in cages on a wire-screened train while the animals roam in nature. After the zoo, there are other things to do: exhibition hall, hiking trails, mini farm and playground.
