Visiting Tadoussac on foot is the best way to feel the charm of its natural surroundings, heritage, colourful houses and pleasant boutiques. How about a two- to three-day hike on the Sentier Le Fjord trail, one of the most spectacular in the province of Quebec? It’s an adventure worth undertaking at least once in your life!
Keep an eye out as you walk about; hiking itineraries or short-cuts offer up the hidden side of the village. Let yourself be guided from discovery to surprise for a few minutes or for a few hours. Relaxation, contemplation and poetry await you. These trails are indicated by blue dotted lines on the Tadoussac map.
Most of the trails were built by the parc national du Fjord-du-Saguenay. Some require the purchase of a day pass, notably the Sentier Le Fjord trail. Contact the park for more information.
The Trails
De la Pointe-de-l'Islet Trail
- 900 m (loop), 20 minutes, easy
- Access: before arriving at the marina, take the staircase on your right; or to the right of the wharf.
An ideal spot for a picnic on the rocks and to observe minke whales, beluga whales and seabirds. Discovery panels along the trail inform you about the history of the area as well as life in a marine environment.
De La Colline-de-l’Anse-à-l’Eau Trail (formerly De La Coupe Trail)
- 1.1km (loop), 45 minutes, easy
- Access: at the end of rue Coupe-de-l’Islet; or from rue du Bateau-Passeur (at the end of the parking lot, across the highway from the fish hatchery).
This trail leads you through the forest at the top of l’Anse-à-l’Eau hill and offers up a 360-degree view onto the Saguenay Fjord, the St. Lawrence Estuary and the village. From this peaceful spot you can observe the ever-shifting phenomenon of the confluence of saltwater and freshwater; depending on the tide, arabesque patterns of contrasting blues take shape at the mouth of the Fjord. It’s a great shortcut to connect with the Le Fjord trail, accommodation along Bateau-Passeur street, the ferries and Anse-à-l’Eau Lake.
De La Plage Trail
- 2 km return trip to Rouge Point, 1 hour, easy
- Access: the beach
Take a stroll on the sand, at low tide, among seabirds, between the forest and the sea. Ask about the tide schedule and calculate your hiking time; if you return at or around high tide, you may end up with your feet in the water.
Caution: continuing on the rocks of Rouge Point and beyond is not recommended as land slides have occurred in this area in recent years. The parc national du Fjord-du-Saguenay is not responsible for any accidents that may occur. Thank you for using caution.
Parc-de-nos-Ancêtres Trail
- 600 m, 15 minutes, easy
- Access: from rue des Pionniers or from rue Bord-de-l’Eau
A very charming trail as it snakes its way through the woods, this trail has the added advantage of being a poetic hike developed by Madame Chose of the Biblio-plage. Plan on taking more than the recommended 15 minutes to roam and read the poems that punctuate your route. A great shortcut through the village.
De l’Estuaire Trail
- 800 m
- Access: 6 km from the village centre along chemin du Moulin-à-Baude, cross the parking lot: the trail begins after the Maison des Dunes.
A lookout point can be found at the end of this trail, offering up a panoramic view onto the dunes and the St. Lawrence Estuary. In the fall, this is a good place to observe birds of prey and other migratory birds.
Le Fjord Trail
- 3.6 km (round trip) to Anse-à-la-Barque, 90 minutes, easy
- 3.6 km (round trip) to Anse-à-la-Barque Hill, 90 minutes, easy
- 6.6 km (round trip) to Mount Adéla-Lessard, 4 hours 30 minutes, intermediate
- 11.7 km (one way only, reserve shuttle bus) to Cap-de-la-Boule, 7 hours, difficult
- 43 km (one way only, reserve shuttle bus) to Sainte-Marguerite Bay, 2 to 3 days with overnight stays in a shelter, difficult
- Access: from the lower level of the fish hatchery (rue du Bateau-Passeur), by way of a staircase
The trail begins with a hike along Anse-à-l’Eau Lake. Then, you have a choice to climb Mount Adéla-Lessard (330 m steep climb) or to hike towards Anse-à-la-Barque and the hill.
Experienced hikers continue on to Cap-de-la-Boule where there is a shelter. A second shelter can be found halfway along the 43-kilometre trail, at Anse-Creuse. Finally, a third shelter is situated at Anse-de-la-Barge, just before arriving in the Baie-Sainte-Marguerite sector of the parc national du Fjord-du-Saguenay (lookout point, La Halte du Béluga and the Discovery and Services Centre).
All along the trail you will remain in close contact with the forest, walk on rocky steps and overlook the Saguenay Fjord. Plan on numerous stops along the way to admire the scenery and beluga whales. Sunsets in the Fjord are legendary.
Consult trails on the map of Tadoussac (To download in PDF format simply double click the map.)