The 4 Best Areas To See Fall Colours In Quebec
The fall colours in Quebec are a must-see event. In our opinion, Quebec is one of the best places in Canada to see the leaves change colour. The mix of yellow, orange, and red leaves make this time of year MAGICAL. Most people flock to Vermont or New Hampshire to see the vibrant colours of fall but forget about USA’s northern neighbour with equally amazing views!
We don’t have pictures of all the places below unfortunately, but the ones we do have will showcase a small piece of what you’ll see. PLUS, we have visited the places below during fall and can 100% attest to the mind blowing colours you’ll see!
When is the best time to see fall colours in Quebec?
The best time frame to see fall colours is always weather dependant and can vary slightly each year, but is usually between the last week of September to the middle of October. Quebec can get cold very quickly so although it’s not yet winter, layers of some sort will still be necessary!
What To Know Before Visiting Quebec?
Language
Places like Montreal and Quebec City are pretty bilingual, so chances are you’ll find people who will be speaking English or can respond in English. However Saguenay and Charlevoix are definitely French dominated areas, so don’t be surprised if people don’t respond in English. I would brush up on your french or bring google translate just in case, as outside of the service industry (i.e. restaurants, hotels) you may be speaking French!
Holidays
There are some federal / national holidays in the fall timeframe to be aware of before planning your trip as it could get busy: National Truth and Reconciliation Day (30th of September), and Canadian Thanksgiving (second monday of October).
Money
Currency
Canadian currency is the Canadian dollar and is easily obtained – we have many ATMs and banks here!
Tipping
Standard tips here for mostly all services are 15% (taxi, restaurants, tours), however this is usually the minimum and is expected. Anywhere from 15% – 25% is common (above 20% being exceptional service). However, many places such as cafes (including fast food place such as starbucks, which means you are tipping almost anytime you walk out the door!) have also started asking for tips – it’s not necessarily expected here but very much appreciated by the staff.
Best Places To See Fall Colours In Quebec
Quebec City
Quebec City is one of the best places to enjoy fall for multiple reasons. Firstly, it is a close (close as in “Canada close”… as the country is massive its not uncommon to drive a few hours one way for a day trip every now and again) base to all of the places mentioned in this post. Second, it offers the unique vibe of a historical old town with amazing views whilst also being so close to national parks to escape the city.
Heres three places I think you should go to see the fall views and enjoy your time!
Parc national de la Jacques-Cartier
This stunning park is a SEPAQ park (so you’ll need an access card) with some beautiful hikes and views. The drive in follows a long road surrounded by trees and a river. You don’t even have to go to the hikes to see the great views, but we definitely recommend it.
Our favourite hike here is one of the most popular – it’s called “les loups” and is about 10-11 kilometres and will take about 3-4 hours (round trip). Heres the All Trails link. The picture above is during summer, but with all that green you just KNOW the trees during fall season will turn into a million different variations of fall colours!
Ile d’Orleans
This place, in our opinion, is a must visit when in Quebec city – especially if you love wine! This island has a bunch of beautiful vineyards with great views and tastings to spend the day touring the area – I can’t imagine spending it any better way! Pair it with a quick stop to Montmorency Falls and you’ve checked off another tourist hit. If you’re planning on visiting, we really enjoyed Vignoble Isle De Bacchus, Microbrasserie de l’Ile d’Orleans, Saint Pierre Le Vignoble, Cassis Monna & Filles, and Ste-Petronille (Winery & Cidery).
Old Town Quebec City
One of the best views we saw during our visit in Quebec city was in the most touristy of places! Right on the Chateau Fairmont boardwalk there are views over the river and the city that are surrounded by foliage. Stroll around the city or just admire the views from the boardwalk to see some stunning foliage! We were there during thanksgiving a few years back and the foliage was incredible.
Montreal
If you’re flying in, it’s likely you’ll land in Montreal. This is the gateway to so much the Quebec has to offer! Not only is Montreal such a fun city with so much diversity, food, nightlight, and activities but again, it’s also close to nature so you’ll be able to get out of the city and explore.
Old Port of Montreal
The Old Port of Montreal is likely where you’ll be visiting most during your stay in Montreal as it really is such a beautiful spot with so much to do. Luckily for you, you’ll be able to see the fall colours change just by strolling the area. The few fall trees contrasted against the city backdrop is a sight to be seen.
Mont Tremblant
Another SEPAQ park area and mostly known as a ski-resort, this place is surrounded by nature. This is about an hour drive from Montreal, but definitely worth it! You can walk around the ski resort town here to check out many bars, cafes, restaurants, and shops (or just check out the beautiful buildings), go for a spa day (which is indoor and outdoor, so you’ll be able to enjoy the spa WITH fall views), or head out into the nature and rent a canoe or go for a hike. You really can’t lose here! A perfect day or overnight trip close to Montreal.
Mont Royal
Right downtown montreal, this is a great park to get active and see the trees mixed in with the city. You’ll be walking through a beautiful park to get to the top where the views are, so you’ll definitely see the foliage AND see a great view of Montreal. This is a must for most visitors to Montreal so it’s a great way to see foliage and explore the city.
Saguenay
Saguenay is a beautiful area found more north in Quebec, about 2-2.5 hours from Quebec City. This area has so much to offer – fjords, national parks, cute cuties to explore. Here is where we would recommend to see the fall foliage.
Parc National des Monts Valin
This park has SO many good hikes to see the views from, and you can find them at this link for this SEPAQ park! Another stunning national park of Quebec offers you views over the area from many different vantage points including small lakes and tons of foliage.
Our favourite hikes here are the Dog’s Head Peak (sentier du pic de la tete de chien), All Trails link here, and the sentier pic de la hutte, All Trails link here, which is photographed in this above and below in the Saguenay section. I recommend doing pic de la hutte from the second parking lot unless you’re into a really long hike. Either are totally doable, and if you choose to start from the first parking lot (at the discovery centre) you’ll see way more viewpoints it will just take way longer as well. We’ve done both and enjoyed both!
Parc National de Fjord du Saguenay
One of my all time favourite hikes, especially in the fall, is this one! Sentier les Caps (to the giant lookout point (point de vue geant)) is a 10-11 km hike which will take between 4-5 hours (All Trails link here). However, the views along the way and at the top really are spectacular and we didn’t find this trail too busy either.
La Baie
La Baie is a beautiful town in Saguenay that has the most amazing views of fjords. The views alone, without the fall colours, bring many tourists each year. In addition to this, there are a few hikes in the area (here is the All Trails link for the Sentier Eucher) and a couple places for cafes, gelato, and restaurants. We also recommend a stroll along the green route, as it offers some pretty beautiful views over the bay area.
Charlevoix
Charlevoix is also about 1 hour from Quebec City and its very well known for its beautiful scenery and amazing parks that show it off. It’s very well known for it’s scenery which include water to mountain tops but also a wide variety of activities to do in the area if you choose to stay for the night (or a few!).
Mont du Dome
This whole hike feels like it’s in the middle of nowhere – you’re surrounded by trees that are changing colours. Mont du Dome (here is the All Trails link) is THE hike with great views of the region – it’s popular for a reason. It’s about 9 kilometres and 3-4 hours round trip and takes you to three different summit viewpoints along the way. Thats three summits for the price of one!
Parc national des Hautes-Gorges-de-la-Riviere-Malbaie
The last SEPAQ park on this list is this one – and it’s one of my all time favourite Quebec hikes. Acropole des Draveurs (All Trails Link here) is a stunning hike in this park that brings you up to a few series of viewpoints that overlook the valley below. Sometimes there will be clouds rising from below that just seriously add to the ambiance. This is also a busy hike too, so try and visit early or during a weekday if you can.
It’s 10.5 kilometres and will take between 3-5 hours to complete (depending on stops and fitness levels). It’s listed as really difficult but if you’re a regular hiker you’ll be fine – just come prepared with water and snacks.
Visit Quebec!
In summary, Quebec is a must-visit if you’re chasing fall colours and although still busy, less busy than our US counterparts for equally stunning fall scenery (New Hampshire / Vermont area). Make sure to visit this fall and take in the stunning scenery!
For a related post, check out the best hikes near Quebec City – you are guaranteed to see some amazing fall colours here too.
