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Photo: 0x010C, CC BY-SA 4.0 via Wikimedia Commons
Mont-Saint-Anne Park offers 4-season activities in an elusive setting; the activities vary according to the seasons. This park has an internationally renowned downhill ski centre, accessible about 30 minutes from downtown Quebec City. The ski area extends over 3 sides of the mountain: 71 runs, 19 of which are lit in the evening, 2 snow parks, 1 "boardercross" and alpine hiking. Cross-country skiers have access to 200 km of trails, including 191 km for skating. In summer, the “XC, DH and Enduro” bike trails challenge sports enthusiasts. The park has hiking trails at the base and at the top of the mountain. Golfers can practise on the 18 or 9 holes of Le Grand Vallon golf course by walking or with a cart with a splendid view of the mountain.
Lac-Jacques-Cartier is a large unorganized territory in the Capitale-Nationale region of Quebec, Canada, in the La Côte-de-Beaupré Regional County Municipality, making up more than 85% of this regional county. It is unpopulated and undeveloped, almost entirely part of the Jacques-Cartier National Park and the Laurentides Wildlife Reserve.
© OpenStreetMap contributors
The Sainte-Anne canyon is on the border of Saint-Joachim and Saint-Ferréol-les-Neiges. It all started 1.2 billion years ago (Precambrian era) with the formation of the rock of the walls and the bottom of the canyon which are part of the Canadian Shield. It was during the melting of an ice cap 75,000 years ago that the current Quebec hydrographic network was formed (St. Lawrence River, Île d'Orléans, Îles de la Madeleine and the rivers known today) as well as the Canyon as we can see it today.
This extraordinary natural site has been accessible to the general public since 1973, but previously, Indigenous peoples frequented the site. The waterfall was painted by the famous Cornelius Kreighoff and described by the American ecologist and philosopher H.D. Thoreau.
Easy-to-access family footpaths allow you to enter the spectacular canyon carved out by the imposing 74 m fall which constantly rumbles between the rocky walls of the gorges. Visitors cross 3 suspension bridges… including one 60 m high! One of the largest giant's pot in Quebec (15 m in diameter) is visible as well as several waterfalls when you are at the bottom of the Canyon.
The exceptional beauty of the site has often been recognized, both in Quebec (recipient of 3 Grands Prix du tourisme) and in Canada (national winner Attractions Canada). When John Travolta came to shoot his film Battlefield Earth in Montreal, several scenes were shot in Charlevoix as well as at Canyon Sainte-Anne.
"Roc-ambolesque" family games allow young people and their parents to have fun by decoding riddles and legends in a section of the park different from that which allows the visit of the site.
For adventurers and thrill-seekers, it is possible to do vias ferrata, abseiling and zip-lining in the gorges of the Canyon. In fact, the via des marmites was the first via installed in Quebec. The concept is imported from Europe by well-known Quebec adventurer François-Guy Thivièrge.
For people who have difficulty walking, it is possible to take advantage of a shuttle service that runs along the entire North Rim of the Canyon and provides access to 2 of the 3 suspension bridges.
On site, the main building offers a snack service and a pleasant terrace. There are also 2 wooded picnic areas, one of which is directly by the river.
Vertical project offers the experience of via ferrata and zip line at Canyon Sainte-Anne. These activities are aimed at individuals, families or groups of sizes. Participants are supervised and advised by professional guides. The activity involves the continuous use of a lifeline. Vertical project offers the activity of the via ferrata as much in winter as in summer. Various packages are offered for ages 6 and up, according to various levels of participants.
Aquatic activity centre.
Cross-country ski club.
Memorial park along the Sainte-Anne River.
Municipal park along the Sainte-Anne River.