Choosing the St. Lawrence River as your hiking companion will allow you to admire its landscapes, fill your lungs with sea air and recharge your batteries to continue your journey. Here are three destinations where you can cycle alongside him.
The Véloroute des Baleines runs 330 km along the Saint Lawrence River, crossing lakes, rivers, forests and mountains from Tadoussac and Sacré-Coeur to Baie-Trinité. Cycling the shoulders of Route 138 and the bike paths that connect the coastal villages, sports enthusiasts will discover six circuits, including the river loops that allow them to cross the river on the ferry service to Rimouski and Matane.
Among others, the Whale Trail stretches 60km between Tadoussac and Les Escoumins, offering a convenient proximity to the river. Rolling on a wide, paved shoulder that meets Route Verte standards, following terrain that is comfortable for all cyclists, they always return amazed from their excursion.
For advanced skiers, the Parcour des Panoramas is a real eye-catcher and offers some challenges on its 97 km route, crossing lakes, estuaries lined with fine sand and grandiose viewpoints. “The view of the river is very nice, since the road is adjacent to the mountain, you can sometimes see a passing whale or fin whale,” says Denis Villeneuve, executive director of Corporation Véloroute des Baleines, which provides the transport service. Baggage and car until August 31st.
Lower St Lawrence
Short break on two wheels in Kamouraska. Photo courtesy of Mathieu Dupuis
Known for its attachment to the river and the beauty of its sunsets, the Bas-Saint-Laurent region seduces cyclists. Along the Route des Navigators, interspersed with magnificent landscapes, between La Pocatière and Sainte-Luce (about 200 km), let yourself be guided by the river and stop in the picturesque villages to find accommodation, food and visit them . Some sometimes leave the 132 to explore the region’s fertile land.
The Églantiers circuit from Kamouraska (40 km), the land and sea circuit between Trois-Pistoles and L’Isle-Verte (60 km) and the Grand Maritime circuit between Rimouski and Sainte-Luce (70 km), all proposed from Vélo Québec , reveal a wide variety of landscapes.
Cyclists who pedal until sunset can admire the spectacle in all its colors. “In the evening, the tide has gone down, the wind has dropped and it’s nice to drive,” says Raphaël Delobbe, Communications and Marketing Advisor at Tourisme Bas-Saint-Laurent, inspired by this serenity.
Corridor du Littoral and Anses course loop
Cycle the Parcours des Anses and admire Quebec. Photo taken from the Tourisme Bas-Saint-Laurent Facebook page
From Old Québec, contemplative cyclists follow the river along the Corridor du littoral, then the Promenade Samuel-De Champlain, stopping at Plage train station and Quai des Cageux to enjoy the moment and the panorama.
After putting in some extra effort to climb the Quebec Bridge, they begin the traverse on two wheels to reach the south bank. As they roll over this major feat of engineering, they immerse themselves in the immensity of the St. Lawrence River and its power to continue their trek.
Back on land, cyclists take the Route du Fleuve and traverse the Parcours des Anses while enjoying the most beautiful views of Quebec, admiring the historic houses of New Liverpool, taking advantage of the river access and crossing various parks that green the city of Lévis to the Ferry. Via the latter, they return to their starting point and complete this 28 km loop.