If you are an outdoor enthusiast and plan on staying near the Baie-Saint-Paul area in Charlevoix, you’ll be very happy to know that there are some beautiful hiking trails nearby, most of which can be reached within a 30-minute drive from Baie-Saint-Paul. To help you get the most out of your outdoor adventures, we put together this guide on the Best Hiking Trails near Baie-Saint-Paul, focusing on trails that best maximize the effort-to-reward ratio. Although most of the trails we present are north of the town, around the mountainous Grands-Jardins National Park, some lie just east at lower elevations and near the Saint-Lawrence River coastline.
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You might also be interested in these pages:
Grands-Jardins National Park Guide
Best Things to See and Do in Baie-Saint-Paul
Quebec Hiking Trails that Are Stunning in Winter
Baie-Saint-Paul Location and Map
Baie-Saint-Paul is a quaint and picturesque town located in the beautiful Charlevoix region of Québec, along the shores of the Saint-Lawrence River (link to Google Maps).
How to Get to Baie-Saint-Paul
The easiest to reach Baie-Saint-Paul is by car.
From Montreal: About a 4h drive (360 km)
From Québec City: About a 1h drive (95 km)
Although you reach the town by long-distance bus from either Montreal or Québec City and can explore most of the small town on foot (the historical center can easily be covered in an hour), you will need a vehicle to enjoy most of the other activities you can do around town.
If you need to book a rental vehicle for your hiking excursion, we highly recommend using Discover Cars to get the best rates on your rental in Montreal.
We also highly recommend Airalo (eSIM card) for your connectivity needs when travelling abroad. Airalo is the world’s first and largest eSIM store with eSIM plans for 200+ countries and regions worldwide.
Easy Hiking Trails Near Baie-Saint-Paul
La Chouenne Trail – Grands Jardin National Park
(30 minutes from Baie-Saint-Paul) – This first trail is found in Grands-Jardins National Park and is the easiest one on this list, but it still provides you with very wonderful views as the trail makes its way up to a small summit with unobstructed views of the valley below and the surrounding mountains. In many ways, it’s an easier version of the Mont Lac des Cygnes Trail described further below.
Distance: 4.7 km
Route Type: Out & Back
Elevation gain: 193 m (cumulative elevation gain of 201 m)
Start point: Trailhead & Visitor Center
AllTrails rating: (4.7, 870 ratings (2024))
Duration: Most people complete the trail in about 1h20-1h40
Access Fees: SEPAQ daily rate (see below)
All Quebec National Parks charge the same access fees and you can buy an annual pass that allows unlimited access to all parks.
Daily access fees and Annual passes
Quebec National Parks are managed by the SÉPAQ, a government agency that manages all provincial parks and wildlife preserves in Québec.
There is a limit to the number of visitors that can enter any Québec SÉPAQ National Park on any given day. It is therefore strongly recommended that you purchase your daily right of access online before a visit or that you acquire an annual pass.
The daily pass ($9.85 (2024)) can be purchased here up to 30 days before a visit.
The annual pass can be purchased here either for unlimited access to a single national park ($49.25 (2024)) or for unlimited access to all SÉPAQ national parks ($88.50 (2024)). Even if you have an annual pass, we still recommend arriving early in the morning or mid-to-late afternoon to avoid showing up to a filled parking lot.
For more information on this trail and others in this National Park, be sure to check out our guide on the Best Trails in Grands-Jardins National Park.
Easy-Moderate Trails
Marine Forest Trail – town of Saint-Joseph-de-la-Rive
(20 minutes from Baie-Saint Paul) – Unlike the other trails on this list, there are no sweeping viewpoints of the surrounding mountains – but that doesn’t make the trail any less interesting, as it follows a scenic river (though mostly frozen in winter) with several viewpoints along small waterfalls and cascades. Although there is over 400m of elevation gain, the trail is very well-manicured and maintained, with several sections of manmade steps to tackle the steeper sections.
Distance: 7.7 km
Route Type: Out & back
Elevation gain: 290 m (cumulative elevation gain: 403 m)
Start point: Maritime Museum Car Park (trailhead is across the road)
AllTrails rating: (4.6, 613 ratings (2024))
Duration: Most people complete the trail in about 2h15-2h45
Access fee: Suggested 10$ donation
Not an AllTrails member yet? We highly recommend signing up for either their free or paid membership plans. The free plan allows you to find new trails and plan routes but it can only be used while hiking if you have access to mobile data. The paid membership plan (AllTrails+) allows you to download trail maps for offline use and provides live progress updates and off-route notifications.
If you are still uncertain – you should know that the All Trails mobile application was voted the 2023 iPhone App of the Year by Apple.
Paysan Trail – town of Les Éboulements
(15 minutes from Baie-Saint Paul) – This is one of the most interesting and unique trails on this list as the first section goes through various sections of farmland, interspersed with small forested sections. It’s also one of the less frequented trails, so you might find yourself alone for long sections of this trail (that was the case for us). Eventually, you’ll go through a longer forested section of the trail, to eventually reach a viewpoint platform with great views to the west. Continue onward for a few dozen meters and you’ll reach another viewpoint towards the north.
Distance: 8.0 km
Route Type: Out & back
Elevation gain: 206 m (cumulative elevation gain: 351 m)
Start point: Eboulmontaise cattle farm car park (behind the farm – follow the signs from the road)
AllTrails rating: (4.6, 168 ratings (2023))
Duration: Most people complete the trail in about 2h15-2h45
Access fee: Free
Moderately Challenging Trails
Mont-du-Lac-des-Cygnes Trail – Grands-Jardins National Park
(30 minutes from Baie-Saint-Paul) – This trail is a more challenging version of the La Chouenne trail described earlier, both in terms of length (more than double) and elevation gain (more than double). The additional rewards here are definitely worth the extra effort: 360-degree sweeping views from the summit, beautiful forested sections, and a stop by the beautiful frozen Lake Georges. For more information on this trail and others in this National Park, be sure to check out our Mont-du-Lac-des-Cygnes hiking guide.
Distance: 8.9 km
Route Type: Out & back
Elevation gain: 421 m (cumulative elevation gain: 434 m)
Start point: Trailhead & Visitor Center
AllTrails rating: (4.8, 1704 ratings (2024))
Duration: Most people complete the trail in about 2h45-3h15
Access Fees: SEPAQ daily rate
Mont du Dome Trail – Zec de la Martre
(30 minutes from Baie-Saint-Paul) – The Mont du Dome trailhead is just a few kilometres north of the previous trail (Mont-du-Lac-des-Cygnes Trail – though it is not part of the Grands-Jardins National Park) and presents different challenges than the latter. You should know that part of the initial ascent is very steep and that we recommend ascending the straight section of the loop and then coming back down the curved section of the loop (i.e. clockwise) – see map below). Once the ascent section of the loop is completed, the rest of the trail is fairly straightforward. The panoramic views from the summit are simply spectacular.
For more information on this trail, check out our Mont du Dome Hiking Guide.
Distance: 8.4 km
Route Type: Partial Out & back, Partial Loop
Elevation gain: 320 m (cumulative elevation gain: 461 m)
Start point: Car Park
AllTrails rating: (4.6, 934 ratings (2024))
Duration: Most people complete the trail in about 3h-3h30.
Access fee: suggested contribution of 7$.
Mont Grand-Fonds Loop – La Malbaie
(45 minutes from Baie-Saint-Paul) – The Mont Grand-Fonds Loop is a very nice hike with a beautiful view of Lac Gravel and the St. Lawrence River in the distance. Overall the trail follows a well-marked and well-maintained path, with the main exception being the actual starting point, which is hard to find as you initially are facing a series of ski slopes with no obvious trailhead in sight. It’s helpful to ask for directions at the visitor center’s front desk for more information. Unlike the AllTrails map below, we recommend doing the trail counter-clockwise to tackle the steepest section first and while you are ascending.
Distance: 8.9 km
Route Type: Partial Out & back, Partial Loop
Elevation gain: 393 m
Start point: Car Park
AllTrails rating: (4.3, 499 ratings (2024))
Duration: Most people complete the trail in about 2h45-3h15.
Access fee: 12$ to use the hiking trails.
Best Time to Hike the Trails
You can hike most of the trails year-round, with the exception that some close during the snow-melt spring season. One of our favourite times to do some of these hikes is during the winter season when everything is blanketed in snow.
Why Hike in Winter?
– There are generally fewer people on the hiking trails, allowing for a more peaceful and enjoyable experience.
– Compacted snow generally makes the trail easier to walk on and removes the difficulties associated with walking over rocks, boulders and tree roots.
– The scenery is very different than in any other season but is no less beautiful.
To experience a proper winter hike and beautiful white landscapes, it’s best to plan your visit between mid-December and mid-March. That being said, there are year-to-year differences regarding the early and late winter snow conditions. If you would like to visit early or late in the winter season, it’s best to check the park and trail conditions first. Some trails may close during the spring season snow-melt period (dates vary from year to year).
Winter Hiking and Trail Safety Tips
In the absence of any significant recent snowfall, it is highly recommended to wear crampons/traction cleats under your shoes or boots when hiking most trails in this park, particularly any trail that has significant elevation gain.
Winter Hiking Packing List
Crampons / Ice Cleats – These are a must-have to help you with those steep ascents/descents or navigate icy trail conditions.
External Battery – Cold weather significantly affects cell phone battery drainage. Best to be prepared with an external power source to recharge your phone if needed.
Hiking poles – These can be particularly useful in winter, especially when not wearing any crampons or ice cleats.
Hand warmers – if you are like us and often remove your gloves to take pictures, having little hotties around care be hand life savers in freezing weather.
All Trails subscription – comes in really handy for areas with little or no cell reception, as the annual subscription allows you to download trail maps for offline use.
If there was a lot of recent snowfall, you might want to hike with snowshoes instead of ice cleats to help navigate the soft snow. To help you decide what footwear to bring, it’s best to check up-to-date trail conditions where available.
Also, always bear in mind that no matter how cold it is at the base of the mountain, it’s going to be even colder at the summit (and windier), so remember to dress appropriately. It’s generally recommended to wear fewer layers to start since you will warm up after a few minutes of hiking. But it’s a great idea to pack some extra warm gear for when you take a break or reach the summit.
Where to Stay in Baie-Saint-Paul?
Without a doubt, our favorite place to stay in the area is at the Hotel & Spa Le Germain Charlevoix, located in the picturesque town of Baie Saint Paul, located a short 30-minute drive from the National Park. This modern boutique hotel is located just on the outskirts of town and features barn-inspired wood features throughout, with rooms available in five different pavilions. Also, as stated in the name, the hotel features a swimming pool, a steam room, a Jacuzzi, and a sauna, in addition to housing two on-site restaurants and a breakfast buffet.
There’s also a farm at the back of the hotel where you can often find highland cattle and other animals!
The town itself is quite charming, and we put together a Baie-Saint-Paul Visiting Guide to help discover all the key attractions in the area.
You might also be interested in these pages:
Top Things to See and Do in Baie-Saint-Paul
Quebec Hiking Trails that Are Stunning in Winter
Best Winter Hiking Trails in Mont Mégantic National Park
Best Winter Hiking Trails in Sutton (Eastern townships)
Photography Gear
If you like our photography, you might be interested in some of the gear we use to shoot our travel and hiking destinations.
Camera Body – Nikon Z 6ii Fx-series Mirrorless Body
Main Lens – NIKON 24-120mm F/4G ED VR AF-S
Zoom Lens – Sigma 745-306 150-600mm f/5-6.3
Polarizing filters – Urth Circular Polarizing (CPL)
Camera Tripod – K&F Concept 64-inch Camera Tripod
Mini-tripod – Lammcou Flexible Camera Tripod
Camera/hiking backpack – Vanguard Alta Rise 48 Backpack
Universal Travel Adapter – VYLEE Universal International Power Travel Plug
Other Travel Essentials
Travel Insurance
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e-Sim cards
Airalo is the world’s first and largest eSIM store with eSIM plans for 200+ countries and regions worldwide. With Airalo eSIMs, travellers can get connected the moment they land at their destination and avoid nasty data roaming charges
eSIMS are a sustainable alternative to single-use SIM cards – they are 100% digital, require less energy to produce and be re-used rather than disposed of.
Car Rentals
Discover Cars is our go-to website for car rentals. We almost always find our preferred rate there.
Transfer from Airport
Welcome Pickups is our favourite private transfer service, which you can pre-book at a fixed price. Currently available in 220 cities all over the world (mostly in Europe, but with several major cities in Asia, the Middle East and the US).
Kiwitaxi is another private transfer service – we haven’t tried it yet, but it’s currently available in a few more countries (102 as of 2024).
Hotels and Accommodations (coming soon)
Photography Prints
If you found this blog useful, you can help support our blog by purchasing low-cost digital prints. Printed physical prints are also available for purchase.
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Well, that wraps it up! We hope you enjoyed our Guide on the Best winter hiking trails Baie-Saint-Paul (Charlevoix) and that it will prove useful for planning your trip to the beautiful Charlevoix region of Québec.
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