7 Unforgettable Ways to Savor Summer in Québec

When summer finally arrives in Québec, idyllic snowscapes are replaced with sparkling lakes, rolling vineyards, and sun-soaked days ready-made for outdoor adventures. From May through October, visitors to this famously welcoming province can’t help but notice: Québec summers all out.

In urban hubs like Montréal and Québec City, locals take to the streets for lively park parties, rooftop gatherings, and street festivals. Beyond the cities, a vast wilderness unfolds, offering endless trails to hike, waterfalls to chase, wildlife to spot, streams to paddle, and villages to explore. Here are just seven ways to summer all out in Québec’s great outdoors.

Québec has about 50 national parks and wildlife reserves, each with diverse and awe-inspiring landscapes. In parc national du Bic, situated on the southern shores of the mighty St. Lawrence River, lush forests cascade into idyllic beaches; hop in a kayak for a picturesque paddle around tiny uninhabited islands. In Québec’s far north, hike around a nearly perfectly circular crater that dates back 1.4 million years at parc national des Pingualuit. For next-level stargazing, parc national du Mont-Mégantic is the first official dark sky reserve outside the U.S.; swing by the public observatory and activity center to peer through powerful telescopes.

From May to October, Québec’s Saguenay Fjord becomes a buffet for big blue whales that weigh up to 135 tons (more than a space shuttle) and baby belugas. Hop aboard a whale-watching cruise, or keep an eye peeled for these magnificent creatures as you hike (or kayak) around the fjord.

On land, venture into parks like parc national de la Gaspésie or parc national de la Jacques-Cartier, where you have a good chance of spotting moose. Atlantic puffins are aplenty in Mingan Archipelago National Park Reserve, where fascinating hoodoo rock formations jut up from several islands. For your surest bet at seeing wildlife, Parc Oméga is home to elk, bison, beaver and so much more — all viewable from your car window as you cruise the 12km driving route.

Québec proudly boasts the longest network of cycling trails anywhere in North America: The Route Verte. With more than 3,000 miles of paved trails, plus a number of guided tours and helpful services available, cycling is an easy and unforgettable way to explore the province. You can start from the border north of Plattsburgh and cycle up to Montréal, east to Québec City, or west to the Laurentides — take your pick! Mountain bikers should check out the Québec City area for some of the best trails including Sentiers du Moulin, Empire 47 and Vallée Bras du Nord.

What makes a road trip even better? Amazing food and drinks, of course! A drive 40 minutes from Montréal will take you to the Eastern Townships where there’s a wine route and cheese route, plus terrific cideries and micro-breweries to visit. You can meet passionate producers across the vineyards and farms of Chemin du Terroir in the Laurentides, or head out on a Fine Food Tour in Gaspésie, a coastal gem where you can cross lobster rolls off your summer bucket list.

From high-end hotels to lakeside chalets, Québec offers no shortage of memorable stays within close proximity to outdoor adventures. North of Trois-Rivières, Hôtel Sacacomie overlooks a majestic lake from its luxurious, log-constructed property nestled in the trees. Or, stay in an actual treehouse at Au Diable Vert, a century-old lodge overlooking the rivière Missisquoi valley.

After all that adventuring out in Mother Nature, don’t skip Québec’s rejuvenating spa experiences. In Québec’s Outaouais region, you’ll find the largest day spa in North America, where you can circuit from a soothing sauna or steam room, to a cold plunge under a natural waterfall, to a blissful infinity pool overlooking the Gatineau Hills. Mont-Tremblant is an iconic spa destination as well, and if you’re in Montréal, the spa on a boat, Bota Bota, is a must-visit.

Québec is home to a diverse group of Indigenous nations — including the Innu, Kanien'kehá:ka (Mohawk), Mi’qmaq, and Cree — and there are several ways to experience these vibrant cultures. In Wendake, 15 minutes north of Québec City, you can visit a traditional longhouse and taste Indigenous cuisine at the Musée Huron-Wendat. Walk through an immersive evening light show at the newly opened Onhwa’ Lumina. If the timing is right, definitely don’t miss a traditional pow-wow event.