Charlevoix
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Charlevoix is one huge playground set in an enchanting landscape between river and mountains. Outdoor adventure, spa time, fine food and local products: the region has everything winter lovers could want, from skiers to food lovers.
from québec city to charlevoix
Charlevoix in Winter: Attractions, Outdoors and Local Food
A Region Shaped by a Meteorite
Charlevoix's terrain was born of a meteorite impact several hundred million years ago. The crater, one of the largest visible on Earth, explains the arc-shaped valleys of Baie-Saint-Paul and La Malbaie, the mountains that drop into the river and the special light that has drawn generations of painters. The region has also been recognized as a UNESCO World Biosphere Reserve since the late 1980s.
The Area at a Glance
- Main towns
- Baie-Saint-Paul, Petite-Rivière-Saint-François, La Malbaie, Saint-Irénée, Isle-aux-Coudres
- Mountain
- Le Massif de Charlevoix; also Mont Grand-Fonds, a smaller hill near La Malbaie
- From Québec City
- about 1 hr 15 min to Baie-Saint-Paul and 2 hours to La Malbaie on Route 138
- Best for
- skiers who love big vertical, couples, food lovers, spa and casino fans
various activities
Sledding at Le Massif de Charlevoix
With about 7.5 km of pure fun through breathtaking scenery, Le Massif's sled run is a unique attraction in North America. It offers couples, friends, families and groups a chance to discover the mountain from an entirely different angle.
Casino de Charlevoix
Set on a majestic site overlooking the river and mountains, in Pointe-au-Pic, the Casino de Charlevoix promises hours of gaming and entertainment. You'll find about twenty gaming tables, including poker, blackjack, roulette and mini-baccarat, close to a thousand slot machines and a keno lounge. Our Casino de Charlevoix guide explains how to make the most of it during a ski trip.
Grands-Jardins National Park
Got more modest ambitions? A nice walk in nature with the kids, looking for tracks left by the wildlife? Grands-Jardins National Park is the ideal destination: dozens of kilometers of snowshoe trails and countless loops for exploring the snow-laden forest and taking in the valleys, cliffs and bare taiga peaks.
Agritourism and Fine Food
Charlevoix's reputation for agritourism and fine cuisine is well established. Hotels and inns compete in creativity at the table. Along the Route des Saveurs, also known as the Flavour Trail, as well as in the bistros and top restaurants, you'll discover fine products from passionate producers: cheese, lamb, duck, ciders and craft beer. See our guide to Charlevoix food.
Spas and Relaxation
Charlevoix is about more than its gorgeous scenery. People also come here to unwind and recharge. Wellness centers and friendly hotels offer massages, Nordic baths and relaxation packages, so you can catch your breath far from the stress of the city.
Sentier des Caps de Charlevoix
This beautiful forest route can be explored on cross-country skis or snowshoes. A warm welcome, grand viewpoints where river meets mountain, and a passage from boreal to old-growth forest lead to lookouts over the river, Isle-aux-Coudres and the Montmagny archipelago.
Baie-Saint-Paul and La Malbaie, the Two Hubs
Baie-Saint-Paul is the natural base for Le Massif skiers: art galleries, Rue Saint-Jean-Baptiste, a microbrewery and the local pride of having seen the birth, in the early 1980s, of the stilt-walking troupe that would become Cirque du Soleil. La Malbaie, farther east, is the historic resort town: the Manoir Richelieu has towered over the river at Pointe-au-Pic for more than a century, and the casino draws visitors all year long. Our page on where to stay in Charlevoix compares the two options.
Trip idea: two days of skiing at Le Massif, one night in Baie-Saint-Paul and another in La Malbaie with dinner and an evening at the casino. It's all laid out in our Charlevoix ski and casino weekend.
