Experience the most thrilling adventurous activities near Quebec City, perfect for families! From ziplining at Montmorency Falls and hiking Jacques-Cartier National Park to mountain biking and whale watching. Plan your unforgettable outdoor adventure!
I love Quebec City. In my opinion, there’s no urban centre in Canada that is more beautiful, historic, and wonderfully experiential than Canada’s second-oldest city. But when most travelers think about Quebec City, they have a hard time seeing beyond the historic old town. That beautiful walled city has become one of the most iconic places to visit in Canada. The historic Chateau Frontenac, considered by many to be the most beautiful hotel in the world, sits right at its center.
Visiting Quebec City with kids is epic and unforgettable. Christina and I have taken our boys here many times over the years. I’ve even traveled to Quebec in the winter to experience the city’s world-class German Christmas Market. But did you know that there is SO much more to this city than just the historic center? Quebec City and its surrounding area are actually one of the best family adventure destinations in Canada.
From world-class hiking and exhilarating ziplines to towering waterfalls and urban adventures, Quebec City offers adrenaline-pumping thrills that are perfect for the whole family. Along with Christina and the boys, I’ve launched myself into the wilds to find the wildest, most awe-inspiring adventures in and around Quebec City that will help you create lasting memories for all involved.
If you’re new to this kind of experience, check out my story about why my family chooses adventurous family travel, and how it’s helped to shape some of the most amazing memories from our world travel.
Zipline Across Montmorency Falls
It’s wild how few people realize that 10 minutes from Old Quebec is a waterfall that’s even taller than Niagara Falls. Montmorency Falls is pretty wild. Visitors can drive to the top or take a gondola from the base, near Ile d’Orleans, and stroll past viewpoints and along a jaw-clenchingly high bridge over this massive 83-meter-tall (272-foot-tall) waterfall.
The views at Montmorency are wild. But for a proper thrill, imagine soaring across the face of this roaring beast with nothing holding you in the air but a thin metal cable and a harness. This is the Montmorency zipline. It’s an awesome way to combine sightseeing with a thrill-a-minute experience that the whole family can rally behind.
If you’re considering hopping on the Train de Charlevoix, which launches from Montmorency Station at the base of the falls, this is an amazing way to kill some time while waiting for the train.
Hiking in Jacques-Cartier National Park
Less than 30 minutes from downtown Quebec City, Jacques Cartier National Park is one of the most stunning outdoor playgrounds in the Quebec City region. Jacques Cartier is part of Quebec’s SEPAQ provincial park system, similar to Lake Temiscouata and Gaspesie National Park, which I’ve written about in the past.
I had a blast hiking to some of the jaw-dropping viewpoints in Jacques Cartier NP when I visited Quebec City in the winter. Looking out over the glacier-carved valley is something that will give any family an immense perspective on just how beautiful the landscapes surrounding Quebec City truly are. You can check out their trail map here.
Epic Mountain Biking at Empire 47
I’ll be honest, until my most recent visit to Quebec City last month, I had no idea that Quebec City was a world-class mountain biking destination. Within 30 minutes of the city, there are no less than three mountain biking facilities, each of which totally blew my mind.
The one that I had a chance to experience was Empire 47, which has a network of trails ranging from easy to insane. I loved the atmosphere here. There were families everywhere celebrating the Quebec National Holiday with bike jumping exhibitions, fun on the pump tracks, and a combination of casual and wild rides down the mountain.
The paths are well-maintained and have great options for riders of every age. I even saw a two-year-old rocking the pump track on a tricycle. The park is even working on developing a unique electric e-shuttle to help bring cyclists and hikers up to the summit so they can squeeze in an extra couple of runs. Check out their website for rental options if you didn’t bring your own bike.
Whale Watching in Tadoussac
I’ve had two wildly different experiences whale watching in Tadoussac. This postcard-perfect town, just two hours east of Quebec City at the base of the Saguenay Fjord, is one of the best destinations for whale watching in North America, and both experiences were unforgettable family adventures.
Our first experience was with the Innu-run Esspit Adventures, during our wild road trip through Quebec’s Indigenous experiences. On that trip, we were right on the water in a small rib-boat, ripping across the waves to see humpbacks, minke, and fin whales feed in the nutrition-rich St. Lawrence River.
Our second Tadoussac whale watching experience was completely different. A luxury cruise with Croisieres AML, we stayed high and dry on a large boat, getting towering views of the surrounding landscape and massive whales that call the St. Lawrence home.
Whale watching is a classic Quebec experience, and either route offers an amazing memory-making experience for families.
Via Ferrata at Vallee Bras du Nord
Before I visited Vallee Bras du Nord, I had never done a Via Ferrata before. This wild adventure activity combines hiking and rock climbing, two things that I love doing, into one wild and unique experience that is sort of like criss-crossing cliffs through a combination of ropes, ladders, and rock faces, and it’s so much fun!
Vallee Bras du Nord is an adventure activity centre not far from Quebec City that offers mountain biking, paddling, and hiking routes that are some of the local favorites. But it’s the Via Ferrata route that got my adrenaline pumping.
The route took us about an hour and a half to complete, and our stop at the top presented magnificent views of the surrounding Laurentian mountains. You can check out their Via Ferrata programs here. I was so inspired by it, I took my kids back to Quebec to do their own Via Ferrata in Mont Tremblant National Park,
White Water Rafting with Excursions Jacques Cartier
The region surrounding Quebec City is packed with gorgeous lakes and rivers, and those rivers pack a punch. The Jacques Cartier River, which flows through Jacques Cartier National Park, is home to a thrilling chain of rapids that range from class I to Class V white water. I had the chance to join Excursions Jacques Cartier, a family-run operation less than 40 minutes from Quebec City, just a week ago, and it was amazing!
The team at Excursions Jacques Cartier runs year-round adventure experiences that include equestrian tours, tubing, and white water rafting. Our rafting adventure started from their property and followed the river down through several white water sections that ranged from Class II to Class IV, the perfect level of difficulty for families getting into the sport and those looking for a memorable day out without the need for a spine realignment. It’s definitely a step of adventure above the Class I rapids that my family experienced during our Ottawa city rafting experience.
Looking to book your own trip? You can check them out here.
Paddleboard Along the St. Charles River In Wendake
Wendake is a fascinating place. The Wendat First Nations community is the only First Nations community located within the borders of a major city in Canada. It’s home to the amazing Hotel Musee Premiers Nations, an Indigenous-run luxury hotel and museum, amazing restaurants like La Traite and Sagamite, and the beautiful Kabir Kouba waterfall.
But for families looking for fun and accessible adventure activities near Quebec, it’s the St. Charles River that draws the crowds. On the banks of the river, Canots Legare offers water access, kayak, canoe, and paddleboard rentals for families who want to explore the lazy, crystal clear waters of the river.
My family paddled this route by canoe when we first visited Wendake a few years ago, and I went back on a paddleboard with some friends just this summer to experience it again, and it’s just as beautiful and peaceful as I remember.
Fly Down Quebec City’s Oldest Continuously-Running Sledding Hill at Au 1884
Think back to Quebec City, back when the stone walls seemed a necessity more in function than form. The snow is falling, and in 1884, the city was a winter wonderland where families eagerly embraced the snow-covered landscape.
There, just steps from the iconic Chateau Frontenac, woops and hollers came from Dufferin Terrace overlooking the frozen St. Lawrence River. Now, nearly 150 years later, those shouts of joy are still occurring, on the same iconic sledding hill where parents and children, bundled in their best winter gear, glide down through the falling snow on Quebec City’s longest-running tourist attraction.
Pop by Au 1884 on the Duffering Terrace to get your ticket, and make sure to grab one of the best hot chocolates in town after your ride. You can connect with them here.
Sleep In An Ice Hotel At Vacances Valcartier
Just a short drive outside Quebec City, the Hôtel de Glace is one of Quebec City’s most adventurous accommodations. As a hotel made almost entirely of ice, this architectural marvel might seem intimidating, but it’s one of the most spectacular and memorable experiences during Quebec City’s cold winters.
This unique hotel is constructed each winter from tons of ice and snow, boasting marvelous themed rooms, intricate ice sculptures, and a grand ice bar. Its style is a blend of fantastical artistry and practical ingenuity, offering guests an extraordinary and chilly overnight experience within its crystalline walls, surrounded by a serene, almost magical, ambiance before it melts away with the spring.
The ice hotel is run by Village Vacances Valcartier. You can check their availability here.
Ice Canyoning at Mont Sainte-Anne
For a truly unique winter adventure for families, ice canyoning at Mont Sainte-Anne offers an exhilarating experience just a short distance from Quebec City on the far end of Ile d’Orleans. Ice canyoning involves descending frozen waterfalls and icy ravines with the help of ropes, crampons, and ice axes. Those willing to brave the chill will navigate the sculpted ice formations, descending down spectacular frozen cascades.
It’s a thrilling blend of climbing, rappelling, and hiking in an otherworldly frozen landscape, providing an unforgettable adrenaline rush amidst the stunning natural beauty of Mont Sainte-Anne’s winter environment.
You can connect with this amazing winter activity here.
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