“At the end of the Fjord, A Kingdom”
Welcome to the Saguenay Region. Beyond the fjords, a
kingdom. The legend of treasure and an advanced culture that were up the
Saguenay River drove European explorers like Champlain to this area. There is treasure
and it may just be the scenic environment in the area as you traverse by foot,
bike, car, helicopter or boat.
Find your next adventure here!
Directions
to Saguenay
Saguenay is
located two hours north of Quebec City. If you are flying into Montreal, it is
a 4 hour drive and 6 hours from Ottawa. Saguenay is located 10 hours from both
Toronto and New York City.
Map of
Saguenay Quebec (2 hours north of Quebec City)
Where to Stay
The brand-new renovated Delta Hotels by Mariott hotel is just off the A-70 at 2675 Royaume Blvd, Jonquiere. This was a convenient stay and located about 40 minutes from Lac St. Jean and about an hour from Saguenay Fjords National Park.
Outdoor Activities
Saguenay
Fjords National Park
In the
Saguenay Fjords National Park which is located on both sides of the Saguenay
River there are plenty of hikes for each skill level. The fjords have an
average depth of 210 metres and the deepest point is 270 metres. The cliffs
facing the Saguenay River range from 150 metres to a max height of 350 metres.
What is unique about this waterway is the mixture of both fresh water and salt
water on Saguenay River.
The park is
divided into 3 areas; Baie-Sainte-Marguerite, Baie-Eternite and Baie du
Moulin-a-Baude.
There are
over 100 kms of hiking trails throughout the park. Challenge yourself by
backpacking through the park and stay at campsites or cabins.
The most popular hike being the Notre-Dame-due Saguenay Statue in the Baie-Eternite sector. This 7.4 km hike ends at a viewpoint of the fjords where there is a 9-metre-high statue weighing 3 tonnes. For those feeling more adventurous try the Via Ferrata. Cling to the rock walls of the Baie-Eternite cliffs, it will certainly give you a good view.
The Baie-Sainte-Marguerite section is near the town of Tadoussac. Baie-Sainte Marguerite has an interpretive center on the sea life that thrive in that sector of the park. There are plenty of trails to get a view of the river and maybe spot a beluga whale!
In the whale
watching capital of North America – Tadoussac – you can visit the Marine Mammal
Interpretation center or go back in time and visit the Chauvin Trading Post.
For an adventure book a tour with one of the whale-watching tour boats. You
even might be able to spot a whale surfacing from shore.
There are a
few ways to experience the Saguenay fjords. Try a bird’s eye view of the Fjords
on a helicopter tour. Companies like Heli-Charlevoix offer tours from 20-minutes to
300-minute tours.
You can also see the Saguenay Fjords up-close, try a sea-kayaking excursions are offered from 2–7 hour tours. For those wanting some more comfort try the bateau-mouche a cruise that offers 180o view. Other activities involve biking, fishing, kayak camping and backcountry skiing. Whatever your interests are this park will give you an adventure to remember.
Lac
St. Jean
40 minutes
north of the Chicoutimi is Lac St.-Jean. The lake has a surface area of 1,053
km2. Home to many quaint communities and villages whether you’re
looking to spend a day on the water or exploring the roads.
Beaches
If you’re
looking for a relaxing beach day, there are a few options in the Lac St. Jean
area.
Parc
national de la Pointe-Taillon has a 15-kilometer beach. The park offers many
activities such as cycling and hiking along the 45kms of trails, canoes,
kayaks, and paddleboards for rent.
Towns
in the Saguenay Fjords Region:
Saguenay
The city of Saguenay was founded in 1676, today the population is over 148,000. Here in Saguenay you can find the pulp museum which tells the story of the Old Pulp Mill. At one point it was the largest producer of mechanical pulp in the world.
If you’re visiting Saguenay in winter, experience the landscape on the many
ski and snowboard slopes in the region. Some of the more popular resorts
include Mont Lac-Vert & Valinouet. Go back in time with the authentic
village of Val Jalbert. Experience what life would be like in the early days of
European settlement in the Saguenay region.
Jonquiere
Jonquiere is
north of Saguenay and was founded in 1847. Jonquiere was a center for
employment in the 20th century as the worlds largest aluminum plant
was located here. As a result, a hydroelectric station was built across the
river to supply power to the plant. At the time this was the largest
hydroelectric plant in the world.
Alma
Alma, Quebec
is close to the shore of Lac St. Jean. This area is fertile farming region in
the Saguenay Graben which is a depression the Canadian shield. Here in Alma,
you can embark on a multi-day cycling tour of the Lac St. Jean villages. The
cycling route is 435 kilometer circuit connecting the Veloroute du Fjord Du
Saguenay to the Veloroute des Bleuets.
Dolbeau-Mitassini
(East side of Lac St. Jean)
This town is
located near the popular Pointe Taillon National Park where there are many
beaches and campsites along the lake.
Saint-Felicien
In this part
of the Lac St. Jean region visit the many fromageries throughout the valley.
Here you can learn the process of the dairy farming that is a major industry in
Quebec.
Museums
in Saguenay Region
There are
several museums in Saguenay if you want to learn about the background of the
region.
Located in
the town of La Baie is the Air Defence Museum. With the largest fighter
jet base in Eastern Canada there is a lot to learn about the military history
of the region.
Museum of
the Fjords is in La
Baie. This interactive museum explores the geological and cultural history of
the region and is geared towards a younger crowd.
The Pulp
Museum in Chicoutimi explores the economic activity from the early history
to the present day. As a resource rich region, the economics of the Chicoutimi
Pulp Company led this company to be the largest producer of mechanical wood
pulp in the world.
Food
One of the
more popular restaurants in the region include Le Bergerac which has sourced
some local products from the region. La Parizza specializes in Italian cuisine and
offers a variety of pizzas.
While in the
area there are some great roadside kiosks selling locally sourced fruit and vegetables. This is grown in the warm climate due to the location of the Saguenay Graben.
Conclusion
Saguenay is
a beautiful region in Canada that is inviting you to explore the outdoors in
whatever way you would like. Just as the European explorers made their way up
the fjords and witnessed the dramatic landscapes of the Canadian province of
Quebec, you can travel to a region that will offer incredible experiences.
William
Coverdale describes the region well in his book Tadoussac Then and Now, a
History and Narrative of the Kingdom of Saguenay. “The strange and moving
scenes of the days of Cartier and Champlain are no more; but the scent of
balsam and spruce yet mingles with the soft sea breeze to bring serenity and
joy; and Tadoussac still holds the magic lure which for more than four
centuries has drawn its summer devotees to the kingdom of the Saguenay.”
Start
planning your adventure today in the Saguenay Region!
Resources:
Here are
some websites to start your trip planning today!
https://saguenaylacsaintjean.ca/en/
https://www.sepaq.com/pq/sag/index.dot?language_id=1
https://www.bonjourquebec.com/en-ca/where-to-go/regions-of-quebec/saguenay-lac-saint-jean
https://www.quebecvacances.com/activites/attractions_fromagerie_saguenaylac-saint-jean
https://www.youtube.com/c/tourismecharlevoix
Books:
Tadoussac: Then and Now, a History and Narrative of the
Kingdom of the Saguenay by William Hugh Coverdale
