The most beautiful natural sites to discover Saguenay—Lac-Saint-Jean

The Parc national du Fjord-du-Saguenay, one of the most beautiful in the province, stretches along both shores of the fjord and is divided into three access sectors: Baie-Éternité at Rivière-Éternité, Baie-Sainte-Marguerite at Sacré-Coeur, and L'Anse-de-Tabatière at L'Anse-Saint-Jean. It also touches on three of Quebec's tourist regions: Charlevoix, Saguenay-Lac-Saint-Jean and Côte-Nord, covering an area of 326.7 ^km2.

The star attraction here is undoubtedly the Saguenay Fjord, hence the park's name. Nature deployed colossal forces to create it, and to this day it remains the only navigable fjord in North America. This glacial valley, formed thousands of years ago, is invaded by both freshwater (on the surface, from Lac Saint-Jean) and saltwater (at depth, from the St. Lawrence River). The steep cliffs along the way are popular nesting sites for peregrine falcons, which you may be able to spot with a little luck. The confluence of forest and marine environments also provides outstanding biological diversity. Between sea and mountains, this is truly a jewel of nature! The Parc national du Fjord-du-Saguenay has been twinned with the Parc national des Cévennes in France since 1984.

The park has three visitor centres - one for each sector - as well as two discovery centers. A number of services are offered, depending on the sector: nature boutique, equipment rental, guide service, food services, transportation service, etc. Visit our website for information on the opening hours of our welcome centers.

Lodging: primitive or serviced camping, Echo cabins, shelters, three-wall shelters, ready-to-camp tents, Étoile ready-to-camp.

Equipment rentals: rowboat for lake fishing, bicycle for adults and children.

Activities : cruise on the fjord by bateau-mouche, via ferrata circuit on the imposing walls of Baie Éternité, guided sea kayak and Zodiac excursion, nautical activities, kayak-camping, day fishing (Quebec fishing permit and access rights mandatory), biking, hiking (over 100 km of trails, all-inclusive packages available), guided hiking, backcountry expeditions, snowshoeing (marked trails, untracked) with overnight stay in a refuge (beware of highly variable weather conditions). Many other discovery activities are also available.

It's an exceptional natural site with many attractions, starting with the tumultuous Métabetchouane River, with its waterfalls, cascades and diverse forest cover to be contemplated on 4.5 km of hiking trails. Explore its canyon and enjoy the water intake pipe walk, a historic reminder of its industrial heritage that leads to the remains of a hydroelectric power station. Walk above the water, on footbridges anchored to rock capes and suspension bridges ranging from 8 m to 60 m in height. Don't miss the immersive ÉCHO, la mémoire des pierres experience, with its sound effects and light shows in the heart of a natural amphitheatre unrivalled in Quebec, carved out of the granite of the Canadian Shield. Then there's the cavern, a phenomenon unique in Canada for its formation in this famous granite over a billion years old. It's the ideal place for a first caving experience: easy to visit and safely supervised. For adrenaline-seekers, cross the canyon on two zip lines 350 m long and 50 m high above the river (reservations required).

Walking shoes mandatory, sportswear and sweater recommended. Duration: 4 hours for a complete tour of the park. Children under 5 not allowed in the cave. The trails and cavern are not recommended for people with reduced mobility. However, the immersive experience and cave tour are offered in virtual reality.