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Canoeing, kayaking and rafting in Quebec: where to paddle, from calm lakes to whitewater

Our suggestions

A lake at sunrise by canoe, a slow river by kayak with a picnic on an island, a run through rapids by raft with a guide shouting instructions: Quebec has the water for every wish, from June to September. This guide brings together Quebec’s rental centres, outdoor bases and river runs, with each one’s listing, boats, routes and prices.

Our favourites

Éco-Odyssée Nature Park, Wakefield, Outaouais. A 5 km water maze with more than 60 intersections, to explore by canoe, kayak or pedal boat in beaver country.

Montréal Rafting, Montreal. The waves of the Lachine Rapids, on the St. Lawrence, for a rush of adrenaline and a view of the city you won’t get anywhere else.

Coop Aventures Matawin, Lac-Normand, Mauricie. Rafting, canyoning, riverboarding or kayaraft for the day, or a multi-day river expedition by canoe or raft, always with a professional guide.

Club nautique lac Saint-Charles, Québec City region. Seven kilometres of lake, the Huron River and navigable marshes all the way to Lac Delage, in a boat rented on site or your own.

Club de plein air des Aulnaies, Saint-Roch-des-Aulnaies. A kayak outing on the Rivière Ferrée, which recalls a Louisiana bayou, with a visit to an organic dairy farm.

Choosing your water

For a first outing, a lake without waves or a class I river, with hourly rental and a return shuttle. Paddleboarding calls for calm water and a life jacket worn, not just on board. Rafting is done in a group with a guide, from the age shown on the listing depending on the river, from family runs to class IV rapids.

Safety

Life jacket mandatory, whistle, hat and sunscreen: you burn twice as fast on the water. Check the weather and wind before leaving; on a big lake, hug the shore. Rental shops provide the dry bag and the route map.

🛶 Places by region

MontrealQuebecLavalAbitibi-TémiscamingueBas-Saint-LaurentCentre-du-QuébecCharlevoixChaudière-AppalachesCôte-NordEastern TownshipsEeyou Istchee Baie-JamesGaspésieÎles-de-la-MadeleineLanaudièreLaurentidesMauricieMontérégieOutaouaisSaguenay–Lac-Saint-Jean

Montreal

20 places

Mount Royal Park

Designed by Frederick L. Olmsted, this park boasts a network of walking paths and stairs that will lead to you a variety of landscapes.

Parc-nature de l’Anse-à-l’Orme

Located opposite Lac des Deux-Montagnes, this linear park is a favourite of windsurfers and boaters, who come for the prevailing west winds.

Parc-nature du Cap-Saint-Jacques

Whether you are at the ecological farm, in a picnic area, on the beach or in the forest, you will appreciate this area set in the wilderness.

Parc-nature du Bois-de-l’Île-Bizard

By bicycle or on foot, explore the many paths of this large park.

H2O Adventures

H2O Adventures offers kayak, SUP, pedal boat, rabaska or electric boat rentals.

Écorécréo – Parc Jean Drapeau

Explore the lagoons and lush green trails of Île Notre-Dame by kayak, pedal boat or canoe with our watercraft rental service located directly on Plage Jean-Doré.

See 14 more ›

Quebec

29 places

Parc national de la Jacques-Cartier

This park is home to one of Québec’s most spectacular glacial valleys, the Jacques-Cartier valley.

Réserve faunique des Laurentides

Laurentides Wildlife Reserve is known as a reservoir of natural and wildlife resources.

Parc linéaire de la Rivière-Saint-Charles

Explore a beautiful 32-km (19.2-mi.) walking trail that runs along the St-Charles River, from its source at St-Charles Lake to its mouth at the Old Port.

Club nautique lac Saint-Charles

Discover Lac Saint-Charles (7 km/4.5 mi. long), Rivière Huron and the navigable wetlands leading to Lac Delage.

Station touristique Duchesnay

Wooded area bordering Lac Saint-Joseph, only 30 minutes from Québec City.

Plage Eau Claire

A magnificent beach rated "A", where the water quality has never been anything less than exceptional.

See 23 more ›

Laval

2 places

Parc de la Rivière-des-Mille-Îles

A unique attraction in Québec, this park is the largest protected wildlife area in the greater metropolitan area.

Centre de la nature de Laval

This green space, an ideal spot for a range of recreational and educational activities, welcomes outdoor activity lovers year-round.

Abitibi-Témiscamingue

13 places

Parc national d’Aiguebelle

Come observe traces of the ice age, lava flows and rocks that are 2.7 billion years old.

ZEC Kipawa

The Kipawa ZEC offers a wide range of activities, including fishing for bass, pike, walleye, whitefish, yellow perch and lake trout, and hunting for ruffled grouse, hare, moose, black bear and spruce grouse.

Parc national d’Opémican

Experience this brand new national park and explore the pristine rivière and lac Kipawa and the cliffs of lac Témiscamingue.

Parcours pagayable Davy-Harricana

New attraction in Saint-Dominique-du-Rosaire: Come and explore the 21 km kayak circuit on the magnificent Davy-Harricana River!Boarding ramps, the only ones of their kind in the MRC d'Abitibi, have been installed at four strategic points along the route, guaranteeing you stable launches and exits without getting wet.

Parc du Centenaire

Admire Lake Timiskaming and Baie des Pères in all their splendour from this park in the village of Ville-Marie.

RécréOsisko

Located on the Lac Osisko bike path, RécréOsisko is a free equipment loan service for outdoor play, summer and winter!

See 7 more ›

Bas-Saint-Laurent

17 places

Parc de la Frontière

Set in the heart of Pohénégamook and part of the Border Route (Route des Frontières), this park provides a heritage and walking tour.

3 Bondaries Trails

Ecotourism trails touching on three borders'Maine, New Brunswick and Québec'and which can be explored by land or water.

Aventures Archipel

Enjoy a guided tour in a kayak.

Coop Kayaks des îles

Dive into the heart of an exceptional natural setting by kayak, where the sky merges with the water, in the middle of a fascinating archipelago.Since 1999, the Coop de Kayak de Mer des Îles has been offering excursions accessible to all, in a spirit of discovery, relaxation and respect for the natural environment.

Plage municipale de Dégelis

Public beach supervised by qualified lifeguards.

Plage municipale de Notre-Dame-du-Lac

This beach offers visitors exclusive access to one of the most beautiful lakes in the Bas-Saint-Laurent region: Lac Témiscouata.

See 11 more ›

Centre-du-Québec

13 places

Parc du Réservoir-Beaudet

This reservoir is a birdwatcher’s delight, with over 269 catalogued species.

Parc à Parc

Explore the Saint-François River from all sides, on foot or by bike, with family or friends!

La route bleue – Lac Joseph – Boucle du lac Joseph

The 16.9 km loop on Lac Joseph, between Inverness and Saint-Pierre-Baptiste, offers a peaceful getaway on calm waters, ideal for beginner paddlers.

Club de voile et plage municipale de Drummondville

The Drummondville sailing club and municipal beach offers an enchanting getaway just minutes from downtown.

Parc Sainte-Thérèse

Magnificent park where you can rent various boats for water activities!

Parc Kounak

The perfect spot for a family picnic.

See 7 more ›

Charlevoix

10 places

Parc national des Grands-Jardins

A memorable getaway awaits you at this park showcasing the beauty of the boreal forest and tundra.

Parc national des Hautes-Gorges-de-la-Rivière-Malbaie

The parc is one of Québec's most beautiful natural monuments.

Palissades de Charlevoix

Aventurex offers and organizes climbing activities, via ferrata and mountain adventure packages in some of Quebec's most beautiful destinations, in collaboration with the L'Ascensation climbing school, a pioneer of modern climbing since 1989.

Descente Malbaie enr.

In the winter, learn to drive your own team of huskies during half-day to five-day dogsledding expeditions while discovering the Charlevoix mountains.

ZEC Buteux – Bas-Saguenay

At the ZEC Buteux-Bas-Saguenay, you have access to unique fishing, hunting, accommodation and camping sites, as well as beaches, a canoe-camping or hiking trails.

Bosco Charlevoix

This adventure company offers dog sledding in winter and sea kayaking in summer in the beautiful region of Charlevoix.

See 4 more ›

Chaudière-Appalaches

15 places

Parc national de Frontenac

Nature, wildlife, boating and camping activities on Grand lac Saint-François.

Domaine de la Seigneurie

Park crossed by the Route Verte bike path including an island.

Plage publique du Lac des Abénaquis

This small public beach is monitored and can accommodate up to 25 people.

Club de plein air des Aulnaies

More than just a kayak ride, our tour takes you on a unique experience, similar to a ride on Louisiana's Bayou Lafourche.

La Société Beauceronne de Gestion Faunique inc. (ZEC Jaro)

Jaro ZEC (controlled harvesting zone) is a forest area of 155 square km, which has hunting, summer and winter fishing and outdoor activities all year round.

Éco-Parc des Etchemins

Beautifully landscaped park on the shores of Lac-Etchemin.

See 9 more ›

Côte-Nord

16 places

Plage du lac Daviault (Marina de Fermont)

Beach offering various water and beach activities plus boat rentals.

ZEC Matimek

ZEC Matimek: nature, hunting and fishing just a stone's throw from Sept-Îles.

Tadoussac Autrement

This local family business offers tours in a 12-person zodiac with sliding windows, a glass roof and an open deck area to feel the wind, taste the rain and smell the St. Lawrence River.

Mer et monde ecotours

An experience linking humans and natureWe provide people with the opportunity to commune with nature while enjoying a relaxing sea kayaking or lodging experience.

Ferme de la Baie du Saumon

At Salmon bay farm, we believe in the harmony between sustainable aquaculture, coastal heritage and experiences that bring people closer to the sea.

Attitude Nordique – Plein air

Embark on a unique boreal adventure and try on the Côte-Nord lifestyle for size.

See 10 more ›

Eastern Townships

44 places

Plage du lac Fraser (Parc national du Mont-Orford)

Discover Lake Fraser beach, a magnificent supervised beach with clear water and equipped with a playground for children and a professional beach volleyball court.

Parc Ouellette

In Ouellette Park, a water and recreational equipment rental centre is open during the summer, offering free rental of all types of watercraft (canoes, kayaks, paddle boards, including life jackets and emergency kits), as well as fun games, such as Spikeball, Finnish bowling, ladder ball games and bean bag games.

Plage du lac Stukely (Parc national du Mont-Orford)

Discover Lake Stukely beach, a magnificent supervised beach with clear water and equipped with a playground for children.

Marais de la Rivière-aux-Cerises

Located in the heart of Magog, the Marais de la Rivière-aux-Cerises is a natural area where marshes, swamps, bogs, a river, and forested ecosystems coexist.

Marais de la Rivière aux Cerises / Randonnée pédestre, réseau

Le Marais offers more than 4.4 km of trails in summer and 6 km in winter, accessible daily from 7 a.m. to 11 p.m. Easy to use and suitable for everyone, these trails offer a privileged immersion in various ecosystems, with observation points and wildlife facilities.

Plage du Centre de la nature

At the Nature Center, on the shores of Davignon Lake, come and experience swimming, water games for children or other water sports in a green environment.

See 38 more ›

Eeyou Istchee Baie-James

5 places

Nibiischii Corporation – Albanel-Mistassini-Waconichi Wildlife Reserve

Discover our packages with or without fishing in a chalet, floating chalet, prospector camp, Coolbox or camping in one of our four developed sites.

Chibougamau Aventure

Take an adventure off the beaten track!Chibougamau Aventure specializes in tailor-made adventure trips.

Parc régional Obalski

Magnificent regional park full of amenities whose mission is to promote outdoor recreational activities in a natural setting and encourage forest conservation and wildlife preservation.

Nuuhchimi Wiinuu

An eco-tourism indigenous site is ready to welcome you.

Réseau Bell – Nature

This park on the banks of the Bell River offers approximately 3 km of trails lead you to the observation tower, rapids, and a terrace, from where you can observe nature.

Gaspésie

27 places

La route bleue – Golfe du Saint-Laurent – Barachois de la rivière Saint-Jean

The Barachois Saint-Jean course offers an immersive experience in the heart of the Gaspé landscape.

Parc national de la Gaspésie

With 25 peaks over a thousand metres (3,280 ft.) high, this park in heart of the Gaspé peninsula is unique due to its very diverse fauna and flora.

Expé Aventures

Company specializing in adventure tourism training and packages, including wilderness skiing, mountain biking and canoe-camping trips in Gaspésie and throughout Québec.

Réserve faunique de Matane

Recognized above all for its exceptionally rich wildlife, Matane Wildlife Reserve offers visitors a stunning panorama of mountains and deep valleys furrowed by majestic rivers.

Forillon National Park

Located just minutes from Gaspé, Forillon National Park offers a wide range of exciting experiences by the sea, along cliffs and in the forest.

Plage du Parc des îles

Perfect for relaxing or enjoying various activities, this park is connected to the city hall district and Mathieu-D’Amours dam by a pedestrian bridge.

See 21 more ›

Îles-de-la-Madeleine

4 places

Parc de Gros-Cap

A kayaking must on the Îles-de-la-Madeleine.

La route bleue – Golfe du Saint-Laurent – Gros-Cap

This route stretches along the region's picturesque coastline, offering an immersive experience in the heart of the Magdalen Islands seascape.You'll be surrounded by breathtaking panoramas.

Aérosport Les Iles

Aerosport is the first kite school to be created in the Magdalen Islands in 1998 and the first kiteboarding school created in Canada.Since then, Aerosport has become the reference school in Quebec and Canada in the Magdalen Islands for wind and water sports.

Cindyhook Sports Aventures

An unforgettable experience in the landscapes of the Îles de la MadeleineTreat yourself to a unique perspective of the coastal landscapes of the Îles de la Madeleine with Cindyhook Sports Aventures.

Lanaudière

41 places

Plage municipale Sainte-Émélie-de-l’Énergie

Intimate beach with play modules, volleyball and boat rentals.

Parc André-Auger

Located on the shore of the Achigan River, this park is the nautical destination in Saint-Lin-Laurentides.

Plage Maria-Goretti

Public beach in shallow water, ideal with young children.

Réserve faunique Rouge-Matawin

Reserve with over 450 lakes and rivers and numerous mountains.

Sport et Marine MV

Specialist in snowmobile rentals in Saint-Donat since 1982.

Plage du Camping Vacances St-Tropez

Our campsite will allow you to enjoy a magnificent fine sand beach giving access to swimming thanks to our natural lake.

See 35 more ›

Laurentides

38 places

Mont Habitant Beach

Just 2 km from Saint-Sauveur, at the foot of Mont Habitant, this beach is an ideal place to enjoy a family outing in a quiet, lakefront environment.

Plage Major

Vast public beach (admission fee) able to accommodate large groups.

Parc national du Mont-Tremblant

The dean of Quebec's national parks, two-thirds of which are located in the Lanaudière region.

Parc national d’Oka

From the Calvaire Hill to Lac des Deux-Montagnes, history abounds.

Parc Nature du Lac Beattie

This nature park is located 50 minutes from Montréal and offers a wide variety of year-round outdoor activities in a 100% preserved environment.

Tremblant Beach and Tennis Club

This heavenly site on Lac Tremblant offers a stunning view of the mountain, plenty of outdoor activities, such as beach volleyball, and a vast array of water sports.

See 32 more ›

Mauricie

27 places

La Mauricie National Park

An array of trails, lodgings, forests, lakes and beaches are available to outdoor enthusiasts, campers and sports enthusiasts, summer and winter alike: road biking, hiking, paddleboarding, kayaking, canoeing, fishing, swimming, cross-country skiing, snowshoeing and much more.

Parc des Chutes-de-la-Petite-Rivière-Bostonnais

The Bostonnais River transforms into a 30-metre waterfall as it enters the park.

Réserve faunique Mastigouche

The reserve's special appeal is a magnet for visitors who come to enjoy other recreational activities for the day or to stay at one of the superb cabins located in enchanting surroundings.

L’Île Saint-Quentin

This family park, located at the confluence of the St-Maurice and St-Lawrence rivers, combines relaxation and recreation.

Sentiers Aux berges du Lac Castor

This hiking and snowshoeing network is made of 16 trails totalling about 30 kilometres (18.5 mi.).

Coop Aventures Matawin

Enjoy a day of rafting, canyoning, hydroluging, kayarafting or take part in one of our multi-day river expeditions by canoe or raft, all accompanied by a professional guide who's sure to pass on his or her passion.

See 21 more ›

Montérégie

60 places

Parc historique de la Pointe-du-Moulin

A heritage site where visitors can take a guided tour of the oldest working mill in Québec (built in 1708), its miller's house (built between 1785 and 1791) and the interpretation centre with its two exhibitions.

Centre nautique de Châteauguay

The Nautical Centre offers many outdoor activities such as kayak, canoe, stand up paddle (SUP), pedalboat and sail boat (dinghies and catamarans).

La route bleue – Rivière Châteauguay – Ormstown – Saint-Martine (débutant)

Set off on an adventure along the Châteauguay River from Ormstown on this 25 km one-way route.

La route bleue – Rivière Richelieu – Parc des Îles au parc Martel

This 6.7 km out-and-back route in the Chambly Basin, between Parc des Îles and Parc Martel, is perfect for beginner paddlers.

La route bleue – Rivière Châteauguay – Centre Nautique à la Pointe Nautique

Out-and-back route on the Châteauguay River.For a longer adventure, continue south toward the launch site at Marcel-Seers Park or paddle around Île Saint-Bernard, exploring a portion of Lake Saint-Louis.Watercraft rentals are also available at the City of Châteauguay Nautical Centre ($).

Parc national des Îles-de-Boucherville

This national park in the middle of the St. Lawrence River just a short distance from the heart of Montréal, boasts green spaces, channels teeming with life and waterside trails for campers, hikers, cyclists and canoeists looking for a breath of fresh air and an escape from noisy city life.

See 54 more ›

Outaouais

32 places

Parc du Lac-Beauchamp

Lac-Beauchamp Park offers recreational facilities accessible all year round, and 15 km of recreational trails.

Réserve faunique de Papineau-Labelle

In summer, enjoy the fine sand beaches and calm lakes where you can set out in your canoe, kayak or pedal boat.

Parc national de Plaisance

Located on a series of islands in the Ottawa River, the Parc national de Plaisance is a paradise for outdoor enthusiasts, particularly birdwatchers: over 250 species can be observed all year.

Kenauk Nature

Who doesn’t wish to escape in the great outdoors where time stands still?

Éco-Odyssée Nature Park

Live a unique experience at the Eco-Odyssee Nature Park in Wakefield.

Location sport Duhamel

Equipment rental company located on Lac Simon's large beach (SEPAQ), offering direct access with a reservation (no entrance fee).

See 26 more ›

Saguenay–Lac-Saint-Jean

37 places

Parc national du Fjord-du-Saguenay

Imagine standing among breathtaking cliffs and steep slopes.

Parc de la Rivière-du-Moulin

Discover the pleasures of the outdoors in the city!

Parc national de la Pointe-Taillon

A unique view onto lake Saint-Jean, an immense inner sea.

Parc national des Monts-Valin

Set in the heart of the Saguenay–Lac-Saint-Jean region, this national park boasts peaks over 900 m (2,953 ft.) high, spectacular views, and rivers and other bodies of water ideal for hikers, canoeists and fishing enthusiasts.

H2O Expédition et Aventure

This company offers a wide range of activities for beginners to experts of all ages, on the Métabetchouane, Shipshaw, Ashuapmushuan and Mistassibi rivers.

Rigolet public beach

On the shores of Lac Saint-Jean, discover this free public beach and its many services: tourism information, walking and interpretation path, outdoor playgrounds and observation sites, restaurant, picnic area and paid parking for motor homes.

See 31 more ›

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