Outdoor activities in Québec: Our experts’ top picks

Originally published in La Presse, our enhanced feature articles give you a privileged perspective on Québec, through the eyes of our destination specialists, who share their top recommendations and personal favourites based on a theme. All to help you plan your next getaway with ease. This time, the focus is on outdoor activities.

The moment you start planning a nature getaway, you’re suddenly swept into a sea of possibilities. With countless mountains to climb, rivers to paddle, forests to unplug in and parks to discover, our playground is so vast it can be hard to know where to begin. To make sure your inspiration doesn’t get lost along the way, our Bonjour Québec specialists are here to help!

In Côte-Nord, a hiker walks along the golden sand of a beach surrounded by mountains blanketed in firs.

Their role—in fact, their daily mission? Helping you turn uncertain ideas into concrete plans, hesitations into itineraries and your dreams of escape into real‑life memories. Think of them as those enthusiastic friends who always have a great plan—only with expertise that spans the entire province.

Their strength lies in their ability to listen to you. You tell them about your pace, your wishes, your limitations. With their great advice, favourite finds and tips, you’ll get reliable guidance to help you make the most of your summer adventures. Here are a few ideas we’ve gathered from the team—just what you need to inspire your next getaway here with us!

A natural framework to guide you

But first! To give some structure to all these ideas and help you choose the experience that speaks to you, we’ve organized these suggestions around the four elements. An intuitive, subtly poetic way to explore Québec.

🌊Water: shaping our canyons, rivers, lakes, beaches and water excursions.

🌄Earth: home to trails, campgrounds, gardens, and panoramic views that glow in the twilight.

🚡Air: inviting you to soar to new heights, from via ferrata routes and zip lines to high-up rest stops and birdwatching.

🎇Fire or light: brightening your nights, from lighthouses to illuminated walks and urban outings.

A natural framework for the following list of activities!

1 / 4

The call of the sea

Listen to underwater sounds

A naturalist guide, 12 passengers and a hydrophone (an underwater microphone for listening to ocean sounds and whale songs)—all part of the whale-watching tours provided by Du Fleuve in Les Escoumins in the Côte-Nord region. Do you like birds? Du Fleuve also organizes bird-watching cruises featuring seabirds, including razorbills and common murres, in collaboration with the Tadoussac Bird Observatory.

💡Follow Anne-Marie’s tip—she’s a destination specialist at Bonjour Québec: Head out early in the morning for your best chance to hear the giants of the St. Lawrence River.

A guide in a boat points out the back of a whale breaking the surface of the river to a group of observers.

Cascading waterfalls in Val‑Jalbert

The Village historique Val-Jalbert, in Saguenay–Lac-Saint-Jean, is home to a rushing 72-metre waterfall with a magnificent view of Lac Saint-Jean in the distance. You can climb the 764 steps leading to the top of the falls or simply take the cable car.

💡Want to keep exploring? Destination specialist Christian recommends a short trail leading to Maligne falls—49 metres high—located further upstream on Rivière Ouiatchouan.

Plunge into Oceania

💡Destination specialist Kenia’s latest find: the brand-new Oceania water park in Belœil.

It’s always warm here—summer and winter alike! This indoor water park in Montérégie invites you to dive into the magic of its 12 attractions, take on aquatic challenges, drift along the adventure river, or get your adrenaline pumping with indoor surfing.

A picnic with a view in Mauricie

If you love peaceful spots where you can picnic to the gentle sound of water, be sure to add the Parc des Chutes de Sainte-Ursule to your list. The site features seven different waterfalls along Rivière Maskinongé. It’s the ideal natural setting to enjoy a bite, far from the hustle and bustle.

💡“The highest waterfall is 30 metres high,” says destination specialist Christian. “It’s a peaceful place, perfect for a picnic.”

A land of possibilities

Borrow outdoor equipment for free

No kayak for your next outing? No fatbike for zooming down the trails? No problem—if you follow Anne-Marie’s advice! Thanks to the Circonflexe – Prêt-pour-bouger network, you can borrow sports equipment for free just about anywhere in Québec.

💡It’s a great way to try out an activity without breaking the bank.

Discover unique activities with On y va

On the lookout for original ideas to venture off the beaten path? The Onyva.quebec website (in French only)—created by the 11 federations of the Réseau plein air Québec—features more than 600 outdoor activities. An ideal resource for discovering lesser-known but highly memorable experiences. Another enticing recommendation from specialist Anne-Marie.

Underground adventure at Chute‑à‑Bull

Are you a hiking enthusiast and a caver at heart? The Parc régional de la Chute-à-Bull in Lanaudière features 16.8 km of trails, including one leading to the 18-metre-high waterfall that gave the park its name.

💡The famous Chute-à-Bull cave gives you the chance to learn fascinating details about the cave’s inhabitants, the bats, says specialist Nora.

Into the open air

Parc national d’Aiguebelle: where nature meets culture

In Abitibi-Témiscamingue, the Parc national d’Aiguebelle is home to some 30 km of trails, including a spectacular route that follows a geological fault line spanned by a 22-metre-high suspended footbridge.

💡For an even more immersive experience, treat yourself to the guided canoe excursion Le partage des eaux (where the waters divide), a recommendation from specialist Christian. “This is the meaning behind the Algonquin word ‘Abbittibbi,’ which gave the region its name.”

People cross a huge suspension bridge over a lake. At the same time, two people in a canoe paddle toward the bridge to pass underneath it. A chain of green mountains is visible in the background.

An accessible hike in the Bas-Saint-Laurent region

The Canyon des Portes de l’Enfer stands out for its exceptional accessibility. “There are 20 km of trails accessible to people with reduced mobility, featuring breathtaking views and the highest suspension bridge in Québec,” says Nora, a member of the Bonjour Québec team. An inclusive destination where everyone can enjoy the great outdoors.

Soar over the treetops

Want to glide on the wind with the forest at your feet? Ziptrek Écotours in the Laurentides region is home to Québec’s longest zip lines. A five-zip-line course that zips you from the summit of Mont-Tremblant down to the pedestrian village.

💡“Plus, you can zip in tandem and side-by-side, which makes the experience all the more thrilling,” says Kenia.

En route to your next mountain adventure

Launched last December by Tourisme Lanaudière, Tourisme Laurentides, Tourisme Montérégie, Tourisme Cantons-de-l'Est, and the Association des stations de ski du Québec (ASSQ), the Allons Covoiturage platform makes it easier to access tourist attractions and events while promoting more sustainable transportation practices.

💡Users can search for or offer a ride, be automatically matched and earn points for each trip they take, points out Anne-Marie.

📷 : P. Anctil

Fire, brilliance and light

Take advantage of discounts at sites managed by Parks Canada

This summer, the national parks, marine areas, and national historic sites managed by Parks Canada will offer free admission and discounted overnight stays.

💡Nora considers this is a great opportunity to discover or rediscover these iconic sites between June 19 and September 7, 2026.

A magical night in the forest

The forest stirs to life at nightfall! Foresta Lumina at Parc de la Gorge de Coaticook, in the Eastern Townships, offers a 2.6-km nighttime hike full of surprises. An illuminated nature trail that will transport you to a magical world. “The trail comes alive with music, stunning light projections, animations, and forest-themed installations,” promises specialist Nora.

Free, personalized services to enhance your travel experience

To travel is to welcome the unexpected… but without leaving everything to chance. It’s about heading out with a light heart, your smile ready to brighten at the sight of an unexpected view, knowing that a well‑planned itinerary slipped into your pocket makes the adventure even sweeter. It’s like venturing onto a mysterious trail: you don’t mind losing your bearings for a moment, as long as you know the path eventually leads somewhere.

The best partner for a successful adventure? Our destination specialists at Bonjour Québec, of course! Their guidance is like carrying a living compass: it doesn’t just point the way—it helps you choose the path that’s right for you.