Parc national du Bic

Watch marine and bird life typical of the region as you kayak on the St. Lawrence River Estuary with Aventures Archipel. At sunset, the experience is memorable! Reservations at 1 800 665-6527.

Personal boats are allowed in the following areas:

• Baie du Ha! Ha!
• Havre-du-Bic (boat launching ramp for small watercraft)

Boats are prohibited in most of the Anse à l'Orignal marine preservation zone.

Period: May 19 to September 30, 2012

Twenty-five km of laid-out trails reveal the great beauty of this coastal park.

• Non laid-out walking area along the coastline
• Raoul-Roy, Pic-Champlain and other lookouts

Period: Year-round

Table of trails

Hop on your bike and explore over 15 km of bike trails, several of which are suitable for the entire family. You'll love the diversity of the scenery and the circuits.

Rental available at the Rivière-du-Sud-Ouest Visitors Centre.

Period: Mid-May to the first snowfalls

Table of trails

Sit back in a minibus and let the scenery, the history and the park's legends charm you. Enjoy two hours of discovery with a guide, while exploring these beautiful attractions and spectacular views.

• Île aux Amours
• Cap Caribou
• Pointe aux Épinettes
• Rioux Farm
• Pic Champlain lookout

Period: Late June to the beginning of September 2012 (details and rates, in French only)

Parc national du Bic has a multitude of habitats, each as rich as the next. The park’s shoreline is teeming with coastal life and the marshes shelter distinctive vegetation. In this transitional environment, the organisms exhibit varied and extraordinary adaptation abilities. On the trails or in the mountains, the forests of Parc national du Bic are home to a wide variety of plant and animal life, which, with a little patience and caution, you can catch a glimpse of.

In the spring, most birds of prey migrate from south of the Appalachians to the north. Along the way, they run into an obstacle they have to cross: the Gulf of St. Lawrence. So, to get to their summer home, they fly along the estuary in an air corridor to a place where it’s narrow enough to cross the river. During their travels over long distances, the birds of prey take advantage of the almost constant updrafts along the cliffs, such as Les Murailles, to preserve their energy. In the park, to the great pleasure of observers, the birds fly though a relatively narrow corridor near the Raoul-Roy lookout. From late March till early June, several thousand of these birds of prey fly over the lookout, a must-see for birdwatchers and visitors. Bird watchers have the opportunity to observe some fifteen species every season, such as the Golden Eagle, the Northern Goshawk, the Osprey, the Red-tailed Hawk, the Rough-legged Hawk, the American Kestrel, the Sharp-shinned Hawk, the Peregrine Falcon and many others.

By early June, the Common Eider swoops into the park’s coves and bays. This is when you can watch the males, in breeding plumage, court the females with cooing songs. It’s the art of seduction at its finest…later the females return to the shoreline with broods that can be seen gathering in small groups called “crèches”. Baby and adult birds then feed on scuds and blue mussels…

In the summer and early fall, seal watching is undoubtedly one of the park’s major attractions. Two seal species share the park’s haul-out sites. The harbour seal, also the park’s animal emblem, stays in the estuary year-round, while the grey seal arrives in about mid-July. The opportunity to watch the seals from the shore makes the experience accessible to everyone. Also, seal-watching sessions with park warden-naturalists give you a chance to learn even more about their ways of life.

To the great delight of hikers, white-tailed deer are being spotted more and more often in the park. Several other species can also be seen, such as the fox and some small mammals.

Many fauna and flora discovery activities are offered by our park warden-naturalists. See the program (in French only)

Plant and animal observation and identification guides are sold at Boutique Nature.

See the list of wildlife in the park (in French only)

Itineraries for everyone, from beginners to experts. Discover 30 km of marked trails and their breathtaking views of the St. Lawrence Estuary. Take a break in the 2 warming huts: the Porc-Épic, located 1.2 km from the reception area and the Pékan, 4.5 km from the reception area.

Period: December to the end of March 2012

Table of trails

Try a kicksled on the hard-packed snow of the hiking trails. You can rent kicksleds at the reception counter.

Period: December to the end of March 2012

A total of 5 km of trails are mechanically groomed from Wednesday to Sunday so that you can practise your favourite activity! Take a break in the 2 warming huts: the Porc-Épic, located 1.2 km from the reception area and the Pékan, 4.5 km from the reception area.

Period: December to the end of March 2012

Table of trails

Slide into your skis and explore over 20 km of ungroomed trails and discover less-travelled sectors. Take a break in the 2 warming huts: the Porc-Épic, located 1.2 km from the reception area, and the Pékan, 4.5 km from the reception area.

Period: December to the end of March 2012

Table of trails

To make winter hiking trails accessible to the mobility impaired, an all-new product has been introduced to Bic, Îles-de-Boucherville, Mont-Orford, Mont-Saint-Bruno, Mont-Tremblant and Oka national parks: the Ski-Vel. Designed by the Tri-Vel company, Ski-Vel can be easily adapted to people’s wheel chairs (not included) so they can enjoy exploring the snow trails. A Ski-Vel is available for free at each park’s Visitors Centre.

A place for conservation and education, Parc national du Bic is a laboratory in a natural setting. Come to class with our dedicated park wardens or welcome them to your school! The beauty, integrity, and cultural/historical characteristics of this territory have inspired six recreational/educational activities. Aimed at young people in elementary or high school, these activities will help them get in touch with their environment, make them understand its fragility, and take them through a memorable real-world experience ...

Consult the brochure School activities in the Sépaq network (in French only) (pdf: 4 MB)

Just a few kilometres from Rimouski, Parc national du Bic offers sea excursions. Enjoy getting out into the St. Lawrence Estuary in a kayak or Zodiac. Let's hope the seals will show up...