🏞️ Mont Sainte-Anne Trails — Beaupré, Quebec
Mont-Sainte-Anne in Beaupré offers amazing hiking experiences with stunning views of the surrounding mountains and the Saint Lawrence River 🌊. There are a couple of ways to reach the summit: the Sentier des Pionniers & Express loop and the ridge trail (Crête). Both provide spectacular scenery, but with different levels of effort.
🚗 Driving Distances
From Québec City: ~ 50 km, about 50–60 minutes
From Montreal: ~ 310 km, about 3 h 30 – 4 h
📊 Trail Options
1️⃣ Sentier des Pionniers & Express
Distance: ~ 6.1 km loop
Elevation gain: ~ 300 m
Estimated duration: ~ 3 h 10 min
Difficulty: Difficult 🥾 — steady ascent with technical sections near the summit
2️⃣ Ridge Trail (Crête)
Distance: ~ 3 km (one way)
Elevation gain: ~ 300–350 m (very steep)
Estimated duration: ~ 1 h 30 – 2 h
Difficulty: Very strenuous ⚡ — short but extremely steep, great for hikers wanting a faster summit with more physical challenge
Both trails offer panoramic views at the top, making the effort worth it.
🍁 Best Time for Fall Colors
Late September to mid-October is ideal to enjoy the fall foliage at Mont Sainte-Anne.
Red maples and other deciduous trees provide brilliant autumn colors, especially on sunny days ☀️.
For the most photogenic experience, hike in the morning when the light is soft and the colors are most vibrant 📸.