Our top 15 picks to paddleboard in Québec
With a vast territory including some 15,000 waterways, Québec is brimming with magnificent sites to explore on a paddleboard. Whether you’re a novice or paddleboard enthusiast, here are our favourite places to paddle through breathtaking scenery and enjoy the great outdoors.
Opémican National Park – Témiscaming, Abitibi-Témiscamingue region
Bordered on either side by Lake Témiscamingue and Lake Kipawa, this Sépaq park is a true gem of the Abitibi-Témiscamingue wilderness. In calm weather, Opémican Bay is a paradise for standup paddleboarding and exploring Lake Témiscamingue and its red and white pines.
Lac-Témiscouata National Park – Témiscouata, Bas-Saint-Laurent region
Rent a paddleboard at Lac-Témiscouata National Park and venture out on Grand Lake Touladi or Lake Témiscouata, the largest and most majestic lake in the Bas-Saint-Laurent region.
Hautes-Gorges-de-la-Rivière-Malbaie National Park – Saint-Aimé-des-Lacs, Capitale-Nationale region
The spectacular scenery of the Hautes-Gorges-de-la-Rivière-Malbaie is impossible to ignore. Paddleboard on the Malbaie River’s remarkable route to discover some of the highest rock faces east of the Rocky Mountains. It’s a unique SUP (standup paddleboarding) experience worthy of a Viking movie!
Nicolet River – Kingsey Falls, Centre-du-Québec region
Park your car at Marie-Victorin Park in Kingsey Falls and enjoy the splendid Nicolet River. Keep an eye out for unexpected encounters on its banks—hello beavers and snapping turtles! Looking for an original SUP activity? Check out the diverse program at the SUP et cie school!
Carré Lake – Sainte-Apolline, Chaudière-Appalaches region
Looking for the perfect paddleboarding destination for the whole family? Head to Centre de plein air Sainte-Apolline. With its big sandy beach, SUP rental service, and supervised swimming area, it’s the perfect place to introduce young and old alike to the pleasures of paddleboarding.
Marteau Islands – From Havre-Saint-Pierre, Côte-Nord region
For a memorable paddleboarding adventure, head to Havre-Saint-Pierre and discover the wonders of the Mingan Archipelago on a guided expedition to the Marteau Islands with Les Vagues. It’s not uncommon to encounter whales, porpoises, seals, and many other marine mammals on this kind of outing. Be on the lookout!
Cerises River marsh – Magog, Estrie region
Just five minutes from downtown Magog lies the Cerises River marsh, a dream playground for paddleboarders. Located between Mont-Orford Park and Lake Memphremagog, this green trail rich in biodiversity will wow you with its clear, shallow waters where you can admire fish and turtles, standing on your SUP.
Bonaventure River – Bonaventure, Gaspé region
Paddling the crystal-clear waters of the Bonaventure River is an extraordinary experience. The clarity of this beautiful Gaspé river allows paddleboarders to see schools of salmon swimming beneath their feet. Its Class 1 and Class 2 rapids make it ideal for intermediate paddleboarders!
L’Assomption River – Saint-Charles-Borromée, Lanaudière region
The L’Assomption River, with its 12 km canoe route, is definitely a favourite spot for paddleboarding in the Lanaudière region. In summer, be sure to take a relaxing break at the beach in Léo-Jacques Park, where you can also rent a paddleboard and book a guided excursion.
Rouge River – Labelle, Laurentides region
With sand as far as the eye can see and a steady current that makes paddling easy, the Rouge River is paddleboarding bliss. Relax on its beaches and have a picnic or enjoy the sun. A small bonus: Its shallow waters are safe for little paddleboarders!
Rivière-des-Mille-Îles Park – Laval, Laval region
Rivière-des-Mille-Îles Park is accessible from downtown Montréal and offers four self-guided paddleboarding routes to escape from the city. Stop off on the islands to consult the interpretation panels and discover the birdwatching sites!
La Mauricie National Park – Shawinigan, Mauricie region
La Mauricie National Park offers breathtaking scenery abounding in crystal-clear lakes and dense forests. This park is ideal for paddleboarding, offering the absolute tranquility of secluded beaches and spectacular waterfalls, as well as the chance to observe a wide variety of wildlife in its natural habitat. It’s the perfect place for a date with your significant other!
Îles-de-Boucherville National Park – Boucherville, Montérégie region
Only 15 minutes away from Montréal lies a well-kept secret of water sports enthusiasts. You can navigate through a maze of marshes in Îles-de-Boucherville National Park on an 8 km loop, all with a view of the Olympic Stadium on the horizon. Tip: Plan your trip for sunset to see this site at its best!
Eco-Odyssee Nature Park – Wakefield, Outaouais region
Immerse yourself in nature at Eco-Odyssee Nature Park, just 30 minutes from Gatineau. Hop on your paddleboard and connect with the surrounding flora and fauna as you navigate the park’s more than 6 km water labyrinth under the midday sun, at dusk, or even at night under a starry sky.
L’Anse-Saint-Jean Bay – L’Anse-Saint-Jean, Saguenay–Lac-Saint-Jean region
The Saguenay Fjord has a lot to offer water sports enthusiasts. For paddleboarding in a larger-than-life setting, the bay of L’Anse-Sainte-Jean is the place to be. Don’t have a SUP? No problem! Fjord en Kayak offers paddleboard rentals on site.
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