Parc national de la Jacques-Cartier Photo: Cephas / CC BY-SA 3.0
Canada › Quebec

Parc national de la Jacques-Cartier

ByWilderness Experts

Fast facts

  • Established: 1981
  • Size: about 259 square miles (670 km²)
  • Signature feature: the Jacques-Cartier valley, more than 1,800 feet (550 m) deep
  • Gateway: Quebec City, about 30 minutes south
  • Managed by: Sépaq, the Quebec provincial parks agency (not a federal national park)

The landscape

The park spreads across a high, mountainous plateau of the Laurentians, cut by deep valleys carved by glaciers. The Jacques-Cartier valley is one of the most striking in Quebec, its walls rising more than 1,800 feet (550 m) above a river that runs calm in places and wild in others. Conifers cover the plateau, hardwoods fill the valley floors, and moose, black bears and wolves live here.

Best time to go

Summer brings paddling, rafting and hiking. Late September and early October are spectacular, when the valley’s hardwoods turn colour. Winter is long and snowy, with cross-country skiing, snowshoeing and hut-to-hut trips.

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Getting there and around

From Quebec City, Route 175 leads north to the park entrance. A road follows the Jacques-Cartier valley to campgrounds, trailheads and river put-ins. The upper plateau is reached by trail and backcountry routes.

Things to do

Canoeists and kayakers paddle the calm stretches of the river, and outfitters run rafting trips on the rapids. Hikers climb the valley walls on trails such as Les Loups for big views, and backpackers use huts and backcountry sites on the plateau. Fishing for brook trout and wildlife watching are popular, and winter brings skiing and snowshoeing.

Staying safe

The river is cold and fast in places; wear a life jacket, scout rapids and stay within your skills. Trails up the valley walls are steep and slippery when wet. Weather on the plateau can be colder and windier than in the valley. Keep food away from bears, give moose space, and leave a trip plan for backcountry travel.

Know before you go

Daily access is capped, so buy your access right ahead of time. This page is a general overview, not a live conditions report, so confirm current conditions, access and reservations with Sépaq before you go.

Navigation
Coordinates
47.2922, -71.3486
Magnetic declination
14.9° W (2026)

Set this declination on your compass, then align it to the map's north lines; it is the angle between true north and magnetic north, refreshed each year.

How declination works, and how to navigate with a map and compass

56 places in Parc national de la Jacques-Cartier

A spread of the park’s main places shows straight away, and the rest appear as you zoom in. You can also search above, or pick any place from the lists below, and the map will go to it. Places in bold, marked , have a short description.

Getting there 2

Park entrance

Visitor centre

On the trail 17

Route

Campgrounds

Huts and shelters

Sights 37

Viewpoints

Lakes

Heritage sites

Point of interest

Peaks 11

Map data comes from third-party sources and may be incomplete or out of date, so carry a current official map (terms).

Trip types
Day hikeCar campingWeekend backpackingCanoeing & kayakingRaftingWinter trip

Looking for one of these closer to home?Destinations near me by trip type →

Terrain
MountainsRiversForest
Key hazards
Rapids and cold river waterSteep valley-wall trailsBlack bears and mooseSudden weather on the plateauDeep snow and cold in winter
Best seasons
Summer, Early fall (foliage), Winter (skiing and snowshoeing)
Difficulty
Easy to strenuous
Access / trailheads
Route 175 north from Quebec City, about 30 minutes, to the park entrance and the Jacques-Cartier valley road.
Water
River and streams; filter or treat all water.
Cell / satellite coverage
Limited in the valley and on the plateau. Carry a satellite messenger on backcountry trips.
Nearest ranger / SAR / emergency
Emergencies: 911. Sépaq: 1-800-665-6527.
Permits & regulations
A daily access right or annual card is mandatory, and daily capacity is limited, so buy access online ahead. Camping, huts and ready-to-camp sites need reservations.
Leave No Trace
Stay on trails, camp only at designated sites, keep food from wildlife and do not move firewood.
Conditions by month

October This month

Average high50°F(10°C)10°C(50°F)
Average low34°F(1°C)1°C(34°F)
Rainfall5.5 in(140 mm)140 mm(5.5 in)
Daylight, mid-month10 h 57 minSunrise 7:02 a.m., sunset 5:59 p.m.

What to bring depends on your trip: how long you’re out, where you sleep, and how far you go from the road. The planner builds the list for yours.

Plan a trip here →

Averages for 1981–2010 from Environment Canada climate normals, measured at the Riviere Verte Ouest station, 31 miles (50 km)50 km (31 miles) away at 700 feet (213 m)213 m (700 feet). Higher trails run colder, by about 3.5°F for every 1,000 ft (2°C per 300 m)2°C for every 300 m (3.5°F per 1,000 ft) of climb. Daylight runs from sunrise to sunset on the 15th, on the park’s own clock, for a level horizon. Valleys and slopes facing away from the sun are in shade earlier.

Before you go Conditions, permits, fire bans and closures change constantly — we summarise and link out, but always confirm with the managing agency first.
Official park website → Last verified 2026-09-21

Nearby parks

Straight-line distance between park centres. Road distance is usually longer.

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