Côte-Nord

The Côte-Nord, meaning litterally “North Shore”, the 2nd largest region of Quebec, is located in the eastern part of the province, on the northern coast of the St. Lawrence River and Gulf. It also includes the magnificent Anticosti Island, the largest island in Quebec. The economy of the North Shore is primarily focused on fishing, forestry, and the mining industry. There is also a significant presence of Indigenous communities.

Here, you will experience a unique travel journey. This vast wilderness, with its fresh air, breathtaking landscapes, rich history, and fascinating culture, will surely charm you. Discover coastal landscapes made up of rivers, islands, and islets, as well as an abundant marine life including several whales and various bird species. You're guaranteed to fall in love! Welcome to the Côte-Nord!

Sept-Îles

Sept-Îles, located in the Sept-Rivières region, fascinates with its Innu culture and major industries. The city offers you many activity options.

Archipelago of the Seven Islands

You will be amazed by this grandiose nature in its wild state. Each island in the archipelago has its own unique charm. Corossol Island is known for its bird sanctuary. Near Grosse Boule Island, there is a blue mussel farm. Grande Basque Island is the only one developed for hiking. Marine world interpretation activities with a naturalist are also offered here. Departure from the marina located at the Old Port Park.

Regional Museum of the North Shore

This museum aims to promote the historical, artistic, and cultural heritage of the North Shore. It features various exhibitions. The permanent exhibition "Lands of Meaning: The Great Journey" lets you discover the human adventure that began around 9,000 years ago on this land. This visit offers an interesting perspective on regional history. The museum shop also allows you to make original purchases: works by regional artists, products derived from ongoing exhibitions, and other beautiful creations.

Old Post

The Old Post of Sept-Îles is a historical interpretation site that transports you to the 19th century, into the daily life of a fur trading post. A surprising experience awaits you here, inspired by the meeting of Innu and Euro-Canadian cultures. You can, among other things, see an interesting interactive exhibition and visit an Innu camp.

The Minganie

The Minganie region is a jewel of the North Shore, which includes Anticosti Island and Havre-St-Pierre. Guaranteed favorite!

East Manitou Trail

Length (round trip): 2 km
Duration (round trip): 1h
Level: Intermediate
Elevation: 62 m

On the way to Longue-Pointe-de-Mingan, don't hesitate to stretch your legs by going to observe the impressive Manitou River falls. There are two hiking trails: a shorter one on the west side and a longer one on the east side of the river. The East Manitou Trail leads you to the spectacular Manitou falls at a height of 35 m. The parking lot for the hike is located at the Minganie tourist information center. Access to the trail will cost you a few dollars.

Open from mid-June to mid-September.

Longue-Pointe-de-Mingan

Founded in 1849 by fishermen from the Paspébiac region in Gaspésie, this small village owes its name to a sandy point that protrudes towards the Gulf of St. Lawrence. You can enjoy a long fine sandy beach here; however, the water is quite cold. A wooden boardwalk has been installed along the shore. Opposite the village are the first islands of the National Park of the Mingan Archipelago, including Île aux Perroquets where many puffins reside in the summer. Enjoy your time here to take a walk along the coast and observe marine mammals or venture into the hinterland paths to discover beautiful lakes.

Mingan Islands Cetacean Study Station (MICS)

The MICS is a non-profit organization dedicated to the ecological study of marine mammals. The research and interpretation center also includes a museum with murals, beautiful photographs, and a wealth of information shared by researchers. To increase your chances of seeing whales, it's better to get to know them!

Anticosti Island

Renowned for its miles of beaches, lighthouses, clear rivers, abundant deer, and serene bays, Anticosti Island is a hidden treasure in Quebec. During the crossing, keep your eyes open; you might get the chance to see marine mammals.

Port-Menier Village

Port-Menier is a small fishing village located at the western tip of Anticosti Island. It's the only real village on the island. It was founded in 1900 by the French chocolate industrialist Henri Menier, who bought the island in 1895 to make it a private hunting and fishing reserve. Port-Menier now has only 250 permanent residents, but the population doubles during the tourist season in summer and fall for hunting.
 

Scuba Diving and Snorkeling 

Ruins of Henri Menier's Castle

Located at the back of the Gamache Bay, the Castle of chocolatier Henri Menier was built between 1900 and 1905 according to plans by architect Stephen Sauvestre. Upon Menier's sudden death in 1913, at the age of 60, his brother inherited the island and ended all these projects. The castle was deliberately destroyed by fire on October 3, 1953. Today, you can observe its foundations and imagine the scale of the building.

Baie Ste-Claire

A few minutes from Port Menier is the old village of Baie Ste-Claire, once called English Bay. Upon his arrival in 1895, Henri Menier changed the village's name to honor his mother and developed the area to make it the administrative center of the island. However, since it was difficult for boats to dock there, construction of a new village named Baie-Ellis began just a few years later. Abandoned for a long time, the site is now covered in hay and frequented by Virginia deer.

West Point

3 km from Baie Ste-Claire is West Point, where an old lighthouse stands guard and there is a small inn. At the time, Anticosti Island was a nightmare for navigators due to its strong currents, high winds, and reefs. The West Point Lighthouse was built in 1854. This place is very photogenic. Wreck of Calou, cemetery, houses, blazing sunset, and abundant wildlife. Let yourself be inspired!

Boulay Falls

Boulay Falls is a beautiful 8-meter-high waterfall cascading down a stair-shaped cliff. It is named after François Boulay, who obtained a logging contract in this area in 1951. It is located where the Grand Ruisseau connects the lake of the stream to the northwest end of the island.

Carleton Lighthouse

Nestled atop a cliff, this mythical lighthouse is one of the most recognized on the island. It is useful for ships departing from Sept-Îles and heading towards international waters. Formerly a SÉPAQ information center, the buildings now bear the marks of time. It stands on Carleton Point in the north-central part of the island.
 

Wilcox Wreck

Long dubbed "the cemetery of the gulf" by sailors, Anticosti Island has caused several shipwrecks. The Wilcox is one of the most impressive wrecks on Anticosti. This old minesweeper ran aground in 1954 during a storm. It has now become an inescapable attraction. You can take magnificent photos there! It can be found at Pointe-Carleton in the north of the island.

Vauréal Falls

Another must-see! This idyllic spot is the perfect place for a picnic. To get there, you must take a coastal road composed of bays, capes, and sandy shores. The waterfall stands 76 meters high and falls into a stunning canyon. Menier named it after one of his residences located in Vauréal, France.

Potato Cave

Explore Potato Cave, one of the largest underground cavities in Quebec, with its 625 meters length. This unusual excursion is done with a helmet and headlamp available for rent at the McDonald service center. A rocky trail descends to the level of the Potato River and then to a large hole in the cliff. The impressive opening is 10 meters high by 7 meters wide!

Baie de la Tour

This magnificent bay, located on the northern side of Anticosti Island, is surrounded by two steep stone cliffs and its beach is made up of cobbles. The view from the beach is breathtaking. When the sun shines, the water is turquoise. You can also observe seals, whales, and many seabirds there. Magical place!
 

Jupiter River

This unspoiled and little-visited place is recognized as a prestigious spot for salmon fishing. This river is reserved for fishermen who pay quite dearly for their experience here. Approach silently to see the salmon undulating in emerald pools and observe the fishermen at work. The Jupiter River area is located in the southwest of the national park.

Havre-Saint-Pierre

The municipality of Havre-Saint-Pierre, located opposite Anticosti Island, is the capital of Minganie. Founded in 1857 as an Acadian fishing community, it was then called Saint-Pierre-de-la-Pointe-aux-Esquimaux. This town is also a departure point for excursion boats heading to the Park of the Mingan Archipelago. It's a beautiful place for a long walk along the river.

Park of the Mingan Archipelago

With its magnificent monoliths resisting the ravages of time, the Mingan Archipelago captivates at first sight. The archipelago's islands and islets fascinate as much by their unique flora as by the fauna surrounding them: colonies of seabirds, whales, and seals. Stroll through these grand landscapes from the shore or discover this exceptional natural beauty by taking part in a boat excursion from the marina in Havre-Saint-Pierre.

Roland-Jomphe Cultural House

The Roland-Jomphe Cultural House proudly bears the name of poet Roland Jomphe (1917-2003), native of Havre-St-Pierre. You will hear about the significant events in the history of the city from 1857 to present day. The location, which is a former Hudson's Bay Company store, looks like a museum. You will meet characters in period attire.

The Lower Côte-Nord

The Lower Côte-Nord region is a wild coastline extending from the Natashquan River to the Labrador border. It consists of 15 small villages, some of which are still not accessible by road. This isolation has caused variations in traditions, architecture, and even in the way the inhabitants speak. Here, the Gulf of St. Lawrence resembles the ocean. Sometimes, icebergs drift from Greenland can be seen. Salmon rivers also cross the fields and tundra.
 

Natashquan

Natashquan is the birthplace of Gilles Vigneault, poet, author, composer, performer, storyteller, an internationally renowned artist who made the place famous. "Small village with the big name", here coexist Amerindians from the Nutashkuan community and Acadians of origin. Natashquan means in French "where we hunt bears". It is the very first village of the Lower North Shore.

The Old School

The old village school, which once welcomed young Gilles Vigneault, has been restored and now houses an exhibition on the poet's work. He is honored through some of his famous characters. The school is modest, but this nod bears witness to the attachment and pride of the people here to this great man. A great opportunity to discover Natashquan through some Vigneault's songs. Let yourself be lulled by these beautiful stories filled with poetry.

Innu Cultural House of Ekuanitshik

Between Natashquan and La Romaine, the Innu Cultural House of Ekuanitshik is a place of cultural sharing and lifestyle of the nomadic Innu people. It is also a meeting place for the community. It is located on the former summer camping site of the Innu. You will learn a lot about life on the islands, the ancestral land, the importance of elders, salmon, small fruits, medicinal plants, and much more...

La Romaine (Unamen Shipu)

La Romaine, located near the mouth of the Olomane River, has a small population of Francophones juxtaposed to a large reserve of the Innu nation called Unamen Shipu (La Romaine in French). This name means red ochre in Innu, referring to the reddish color of the spring runoff waters. Accessible only by plane or boat, or by snowmobile in the winter season. WELCOME! KUEI!
 

Unamen Shipu Site

This Innu reserve dates back to the mid-1950s. Many Innu here still maintain their traditional nomadic habits. At the end of summer, they go upriver to hunt and fish inland, and each year in May, they move back to the coast. By engaging with them, you will learn a lot about their fishing methods, culture, and history. They will happily share their extensive knowledge about plants, collecting wild berries, the rich wildlife of the islands, and more.

Île Apinipehekat

Apinipehekat, an Innu word meaning "narrow passage to the East", is located near the Unamen Shipu community. It's a site of exchange and immersion in ancient Innu culture. This site is your base camp to discover the fauna, flora, and hundreds of islands in the Sainte-Marie archipelago. Immerse yourself in the inspiring Innu culture! You will be forever marked...