Canyon Sainte Anne - Quebec City Day Trip
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Canyon Sainte Anne is a popular Quebec City day trip. Deep in the forest of Beaupre Canada, the rocky gorge is home to series of spectacular waterfalls. From May until October, Canyon Sainte Anne Park visitors can walk a loop of trails and suspension bridges above the churning whitewater of the falls, or shoot across the ravine on an Air Canyon ride.
Visiting Canyon Sainte Anne is one of the most family and pet-friendly things to do in Quebec City. In addition to viewing the thundering waterfalls and riding the Canyon Sainte Anne Air Canyon, park-goers can explore miles of trails, picnic, and play on the play gym.
Our Canyon Sainte Anne trip planner will provide all the information you need to enjoy this fun Quebec City attraction.
Pair your Quebec City day trip with another fun excursion:
History & Geology of Canyon Sainte Anne
Geologists date the cliffs of Canyon Sainte Anne to be around 1.2 billion years old. The canyon was formed over thousands of years as the Sainte Anne du Nord River melted and froze, eroding a crack in the rock into a ravine. At its highest point, the present-day waterfall rushing through the canyon is taller than Niagara Falls (243 feet or 74 meters).
The Sainte Anne du Nord River empties into the Saint Lawrence River. In the 19th century, loggers used the pathway to get logs to market. As these workmen spread the word of canyon’s natural beauty; painters, environmentalists, and philosophers visited, and then helped to make the site famous. Today, the Canyon Sainte Anne is a park and a functioning hydro-electric power plant.
Where is Canyon Sainte Anne
Canyon Sainte Anne is located 26 miles (42km) outside of Quebec City Canada. It takes about 25-30 minutes to reach the park from the city center. A quick commute, combined with the canyon’s forest setting, make it the perfect Quebec City day trip.
Nearby Beaupre Quebec attractions include St Anne de Beaupre Basilica, Montmorency Falls, and the Mont Sainte Ann Ski Resort.
Canyon Sainte Anne Map
THINGS TO DO AT CANYON SAINTE ANNE
Canyon Sainte Anne Waterfalls & Viewpoints
The waterfalls rushing through the Sainte Anne Canyon are the park’s main attraction. A network of trails forms a circle around the falls and large pool of water called the Giant’s Pothole. This trail system is about 1.5 miles (3km) long.
At viewpoints along the network, observation decks have been constructed to provide unobstructed views of the river. The volume of water racing over the falls varies by month. The greatest amount of water flows in the spring.
Sainte Anne Canyon Suspension Bridges
To move visitors around the park’s circular network of trails, three suspension bridges cross the canyon. The Mestachibo Bridge and McNicoll Bridge are part of the trail’s main loop. The Laurent Bridge is an offshoot that can only be reached by walking 187 steps down to the bottom of the canyon (and, then back up again). The views from the suspension bridges are spectacular.
Sainte Anne Canyon Air Canyon
Suspended 90 meters in the air, the two-seated Air Canyon ride carries riders over the gorge for thrills and panoramic views of the forest, sky, Giant’s pothole, and waterfalls. A cross between a chairlift and zipline, the Air Canyon ride takes riders from its base to a vantage point high above the river, and then shoots them back down the hill to the starting point.
The River Bed
Exploring the Sainte Anne du Nord riverbed above the falls is a fun family activity. The river is fed by some thirty bodies of water that are located throughout the nature reserve. The river bed area is home to lots of fish, frogs, and woodland critters. Many of the rocks on the edges of the river bed are speckled, polished, and the result of thousands of years of glacial activity.
Picnic Grounds and Play Gym
Onsite there is a large picnic ground where families can gather after their hike around the falls. There is a colorful play gym for youngsters as well as statues of area wildlife to scamper around.
How to get to Canyon Sainte Anne
Most visitors will arrive at Canyon Sainte Anne in a personal vehicle. Click this link to check out the price of rental cars in Quebec City here. There is free onsite parking.
Alternatively, there is a river boat shuttle that runs between the Bassin Louise in the Old Port, Quebec to the Saint Anne de Beaupre dock (on the Saint Lawrence River). From here you can call for a taxi to the canyon. Recommend: Arrange the taxi ahead of time.
When to visit Canyon Sainte Anne
Canyon Sainte Anne opens seasonally between the months of April and October. The flow of the waterfall is strongest in April, but the weather can be cold and the terrain muddy. The weather is warmest in late summer; however, the flow of the river is not as strong and the crowds are heaviest. We recommend visiting in late-May, June, and early July.
Canyon Sainte Anne Hours & Entry
Park Hours: Opens 9 a.m. Last entry at 4 p.m.
Ticket Prices: For the 2023 season: Adult entry $14; entry and AirCanyon $25. Children 6-17yo entry $9; entry and AirCanyon $20.
Facilities: Restaurant, Restrooms, and Gift Shop onsite.
Pets: Dogs on leashes are allowed.
Canyon Sainte Anne Accessibility
For mobility impaired individuals there is partial access to Sainte Anne Canyon attractions. However, on the trails there are many changes in grade, some steep slopes, and stairs to the observation decks. From our perspective, mobility impaired individuals and those in wheelchairs would do best sticking to the top quarter of the trail network.
Au revoir du canyon (Goodbye from the canyon), Laura and Randy
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