Parc national du Fjord-du-Saguenay

Baie-Éternité, Baie-Sainte-Marguerite and Baie-de-Tadoussac sectors

Short Hikes

Several itineraries lasting a day or less allow you to walk along the fjord atop its capes. The scents of the sea and the forest will intoxicate your senses.

Chart of hiking trails

Backpacking

A network of over 100 km of trails offers you the possibility of getting away from it all for a period of 2 to 9 days while discovering coastal and mountain landscapes on both shores of the fjord. Vehicle transportation and maritime shuttle services are offered in collaboration with regional partners. Several primitive campsites, two 3 walls shelters (lean-to) and huts are available.

Chart of hiking trails

Chart of distances - Le Fjord Trail (in French only)

Period: late May to late October

Baie-Éternité, Baie-Sainte-Marguerite and Baie-de-Tadoussac sectors

Short Guided Excursions

Baie-Éternité Sector

On the program: Exploring the Fjord and its steep rocky walls at your own pace and at the pace of the tides! Ideal for discovering the marine environment, sea kayaking is a way to get up close and personal with nature. These kayaks are stable, comfortable and safe. No experience necessary.

Details:

• Duration: 2 or 3 hours
• Rates
• To reserve, call 1 800 665-6527.
• Period: June 10 to October 9, 2017 (detailed schedule)

Baie-de-Tadoussac Sector

The "Land and Sea Excursion" is offered in partnership with Mer et Monde Écotours (Quality Safety Certified). In a sea kayak, navigate along Tadoussac beach to L'anse à la Barque. Slip into your hiking boots and climb to the top of a mountain to have lunch with a magnificent view of the fjord. Then get back to your kayaks with hopes of seeing seals, belugas and minke whales on the way back.

Details:

• Duration : 7 hours
• Rates
• To reserve, call 1 866 637-6663.
• Period: departure dates

Long Guided Excursions

You can also explore the Saguenay Fjord without any hassles and in total safety on one of the 3-day guided expeditions, offered in partnership with Fjord en Kayak (Quality Safety Certified), expeditions are called "The Wild Fjord" and "On the way to the Estuary", or with OrganisAction (Quality Safety Certified) which is offered the "From Beach to Beach" package.

Self-Guided Excursions

Note to kayakers: To kayak safely on your own on the Saguenay Fjord, you need navigational skills and experience. We strongly recommend purchasing the kayak-camping route map. It contains all the security rules for a safe expedition.

Details:

• Boat launch sites
• Baie-Éternité
• L'Anse-de-Roche
• L'anse de Saint-Étienne (Village Vacances Petit-Saguenay)
• L'Anse-Saint-Jean
• La Baie
• Saint-Fulgence (Parc Aventures Cap-Jaseux)
• Sainte-Rose-du-Nord
• Tadoussac

The St. Lawrence Beluga is now endangered. Help protect the belugas by keeping your distance! A distance of 400 m must be respected at all times. Read the rules on marine watching activities and the specifics concerning circulation on Baie Sainte-Marguerite (in French only).

• Learn about Regulations for Marine Activities and the characteristics of Baie Sainte-Marguerite.

• Important: For safety reasons, we strongly discourage the use of canoes and river kayaks on the fjord.

 The Saguenay Fjord offers a kayak-camping circuit of over 100 km (from La Baie or from Saint-Fulgence to Tadoussac or Baie-Sainte-Catherine).

Suggested Reading

• Safe Boating Guide
• Tide Table
• Fédération québécoise de canot et de kayak

Cap Jaseux Park Adventure (Quality Safety Certified): sea kayaking upstream from the Saguenay fjord

Discover by sea kayak the secrets of the Saguenay fjord and its ecosystem.

Details: capjaseux.com

Ferme 5 étoiles (Quality Safety Certified): sea kayaking at the Anse-de-Roche

Climb aboard a sea kayak and discover the natural wealth and splendour of the Saguenay Fjord at l'Anse-de-Roche, near the Baie Sainte-Marguerite sector. You’ll have a totally safe, unforgettable experience in the company of a professional guide. The beautiful colours of sunset await you at the Anse-de-Roche kayak departure point.

Details : http://ferme5etoiles.com

Baie-Éternité sector

Take a seat aboard an inflatable boat. You’ll experience an unforgettable journey and discover the sights and sounds of the fjord. With the captain/naturalist, you’ll enter an ecosystem unique in the world. Get a front-row seat to understand the formation of a landscape that will never fail to impress you. Reserve by calling 1 800 665-6527.

*For safety reasons, no canoes or river kayaks are allowed on the fjord.

Period: June 10 to October 9, 2017

Rates

Detailed schedule

Baie-Éternité sector

Nick-named the bateau-mouche (fly boat) because of its roof, which offers a 180o panoramic view, and its retractable windows, the Fjord Saguenay II provides direct visual access to the fjord. This trendy and ecological ship holds 125 passengers. It offers striking scenery punctuated with capes, and glides along water so infinitely deep that it’s almost mysterious.

Period: June 3 to October 9, 2017 (schedule)

Rates

Book

Baie-Éternité sector

Five lakes (including 2 reserved for fly fishing) and a river (waders) are available for day fishing, in the Baie-Éternité sector (south shore of the park). A boat is provided on all of the lakes. Anglers can fish for speckled trout.

Baie-Sainte-Marguerite sector

Five lakes are now accessible by truck on the north shore, in Baie-Sainte-Marguerite sector. A boat is provided on all of the lakes. Anglers can fish for speckled trout.

Period: May 26 to September 10, 2017

Rates

Day Fishing Plan – 2017

Documentation and statistics

In the winter, Parc national du Fjord-du-Saguenay is a well-kept secret for many outdoors lovers.

Baie-Éternité sector

For short treks, there are several trails in the Baie-Éternité sector, such as the Blanche-Éternité trail, which runs along the river. Backpackers will love Les Caps trail, which links Rivière-Éternité to L'Anse-Saint-Jean. A vehicle-moving service is also available for Les Caps trail.

Baie-Sainte-Marguerite sector

On the north shore, a section of Le Fjord trail is open for short treks, offering a magnificient view of Baie Sainte-Marguerite. Backpackers will love Le Fjord trail, which links Baie-Sainte-Marguerite to Ferme 5 étoiles via l’Anse à Pierrot. A vehicle-moving service is also available for Le Fjord trail.

Period: mid-December to late March (depending on snow conditions)

Chart of hiking trails

Winter suggested backcountry circuits

Map of winter trails

The park offers over 50 km of trails for short and long treks through magnificent areas and landscapes.

Baie-Éternité sector

Backcountry skiers will love Les Caps trail, linking Rivière-Éternité and L'Anse-Saint-Jean (marked, non-groomed trails). Climbing skins are strongly recommended. A vehicle-moving service is also available for Les Caps trail.

Baie-Sainte-Marguerite sector

Try Le Fjord trail, which links the Baie-Sainte-Marguerite sector to Ferme 5 étoiles via l’Anse à Pierrot (marked, non-groomed trails). Climbing skins are strongly recommended.

A partner offers baggage transportation service on Le Fjord trail. A vehicle-moving service is also available.

Period: mid-December to late March (depending on snow conditions)

Chart of hiking trails

Winter suggested backcountry circuits

Map of winter trails

Baie-Éternité sector

In the Baie-Éternité sector, the Méandres à Falaises trail, which combines water views and forest, is great for wildlife watching, especially in the morning. Besides a wide variety of forest and aquatic birds, visitors regularly see moose early in the morning at the mouth of the river.  Continue your hike towards the river trail near parking lot 3 to see the beaver’s habitat. With a little luck and patience, you may see this master builder at work on his dam. Whether you’re on the Sentier de la statue trail or by the bay, you may hear the call of the Peregrine Falcon. A pair of these birds nests in the nearby cliffs every year. Visitors often see the porcupine and the Ruffed Grouse throughout the area as well.

Baie-Sainte-Marguerite sector

In the Baie-Sainte-Marguerite sector, the beluga whale definitely steals the spotlight. This small white whale is regularly seen at the mouth of the river, and La Halte du Béluga lookout is the perfect spot to watch herds of them, often made up of juveniles and adults. If conditions are favourable and the belugas show up, listen carefully. You may have the pleasure and surprise of hearing them make a few vocalizations. Along the way, keep your eyes peeled. It’s not a rare occurrence to see moose along the banks of Rivière Sainte-Marguerite.

Baie-de-Tadoussac sector

The Baie-de-Tadoussac sector takes on its full meaning in the summer on La Pointe-de-L’Islet trail, where you can watch marine mammals from the shore. Comfortably seated on the rocks, all you have to do is keep your eyes on the water and listen: you may just see a beluga’s white back or hear the “pssshh!” of a minke whale’s breath. In the fall, the whales head off to their wintering spots, but the migratory birds arrive to present their show. Amateur and expert bird watchers will be interested in the marine terraces, where the Observatoire d’oiseaux de Tadoussac (OOT) counts no less than 300,000 birds every year, including 15,000 birds of prey!

See our list of species (in French only) and take part in the discovery activities (in French only) presented by the park wardens, a great way to plunge into the incredibly diversified world of Parc national du Fjord-du-Saguenay!

Baie-Éternité sector

How do you feel about a sailboat outing under the stars on Baie Éternité? Experience the sailor’s life during your very own maiden voyage with Voile Mercator Navigation. You’ll enjoy a package deal featuring a three-course dinner, a night on board, and breakfast the next day.

Period: daily from June 13 to September 13, 2017
(boarding at 1:45 p.m.)

For reservation, please contact Voile Mercator (Quality Safety Certified) at 1 888 674-9309 or voilemercator.com.

Baie-Éternité, Baie-Sainte-Marguerite and Baie-de-Tadoussac sectors

With a magnificent waterway etched all the way through it, Parc national du Fjord-du-Saguenay offers a wide range of outdoor adventures in the backcountry. Winter and summer alike, hikers will have close contact with lakes, forests, mountains and valleys. The ever-present fjord, with its succession of bays, coves and tidal moods, is the common thread running through all backcountry excursions.

Summer

Whether for a stay or for a day, you can hike your way into the summer backcountry zone. Above the steep rock faces that wall in the fjord, a 228 km2 playground offers adventurers a succession of peaks, valleys and cliffs that will delight anyone who loves the wilderness and breathtaking scenery. Take Des Caps trail, connecting the south-shore villages of Rivière-Éternité and Petit-Saguenay to Mont Céleste and Montagne Blanche, from which you’ll see magnificent views of the fjord.

Summer backcountry zone

Winter

The winter backcountry covers an area of 280 km2, accessible on snowshoes or backcountry skis.

From Route 172 on the north shore, summer roads in the fishing lakes sector lead to some large lakes - Otis, Hibou and Biscambi.  In this sector, which is located on the high plateaus between the hamlet of Saint-Basile-de-Tableau and the village of Sacré-Coeur, the hardiest trekkers will discover old forest roads leading to Anse de l’Ermite at the foot of Rivière Saguenay.

On the south shore, the area between the road to Baie-Éternité and the village of L’Anse-Saint-Jean offers the most adventurous trekkers a territory dotted with lakes encased in valleys and summits culminating in barren peaks. Changing weather conditions here may present a number of physical challenges. A mature, slightly open forest invites fans to explore a wilderness with a thousand-and-one faces.

Winter backcountry zone

Reservation Terms and Conditions

To enter the backcountry, it is mandatory to hold an access permit. See Reservation Terms and Conditions for all the important details.

Access and Parking

Baie-Éternité sector

Participate in a guided hike of 2 days/1 night on a section of Sentier Les Caps trail between L'Anse-Saint-Jean and Baie Éternité. This Eco-safari package, offered in partnership with OrganisAction, includes the services of a specialized guide, a night in a hut, all meals based on a “Discover regional products” formula with spices from the boreal forest (2 lunches, 1 supper and 1 breakfast), plus transportation back to the starting point.

For information and booking, contact OrganisAction at
418 579-8763 or www.organisaction.com

Baie-Sainte-Marguerite sector

The Halte du Béluga lookout is a feature of the Baie-Sainte-Marguerite sector that’s not to be missed. The 2.3 km trail you’ll take to get there isn’t too steep and is easily accessible by bike, making it ideal for families with young children! Hugging Rivière Sainte-Marguerite along the way, you’ll discover the remnants of Bay Mills, campsites, and Pointe-du-Moulin Pavilion. You can rent a bike at Le Béluga Discovery and Visitors Centre.

Period: May 19 to October 9, 2017

Free bikes for the children

Free bike loans for children of 17 years of age and under in a family situation. Limited quantities. First come, first served basis.

Baie-Éternité sector

Discover the via ferrata circuit on the imposing cliffs of Baie Eternité. We’ve set up three circuits with incredible views of the Saguenay Fjord’s magnificent bay, always changing with the moods of the tides.

During your climb, you’ll move along safely at your own pace. A professional guide will accompany you. This is an exclusive experience with a small group (maximum of 8), ensuring the proximity of the professional guide at all times.

To reserve, call 418 272-1162 or 1 800 665-6527, or go to Baie-Éternité Discovery and Visitors Center.

Period : June 10 to October 9, 2017

Trails details - 2017 Season

Book

A place for conservation and education, Parc national du Fjord-du-Saguenay 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 four recreational/educational activities. Aimed at elementary, high school or college students, 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 ...