the best hikes at Parc National Du Bic, Québec
- Giselle Benson
- Aug 13
- 6 min read
Updated: Aug 14
Where land meets sea. Discover the best hikes and swim spots amid the beauty of the Saint-Lawrence river and the coastline splendour of Parc National du Bic, Québec. The scenery is breathtaking, seals are abounding, tides are transitional, sunrises and sunsets are picturesque moments to remember.
This is your ultimate hiking, paddle-boarding, and sun-seeking travel guide for Parc National du Bic, Québec.
I stayed at Parc du Bic for three days, which was perfect for me, although you could still have an excellent jam-packed nature-filled experience in one or two days. Whether you're planning ahead or enjoying a spontaneous trip like I did, the tides will determine what you can do and see and when. I would suggest checking in at the discovery centre, looking online, or calling head to find out when the high and low tides are for the period of time that you are planning your visit. High tides and low tides occur twice per day. There are multiple entrances to Parc du Bic, however I exclusively used centre de services de la Rivière du sud-ouest throughout my three-day excursion. You can click here to access the Parc du Bic official visitor guide for a map of the park and details about the location and duration of hikes.
TRAVEL GUIDE
HIKING AT PARC NATIONAL DU BIC, QUÉBEC
Le parcours les Anses
This gentle blend of a coastal and forest stroll is a great way to stretch your legs after what might be a long drive into the park. From the visitors centre this is a 5.7km out-and-back trail. This trail offers a beautiful 'Bain Nature' with guided signposts inviting you to pause, be present, and soak up the sensations, sights and surroundings of this natural abode. Along this trail you'll pass Anse aux Bouleaux-Est which is one of the best spots in the park to catch a sunrise. If you visit this bay early in the morning or late in the evening you'll be able to witness the stunning tranquil blue waters of the Fleuve Saint-Laurent. If you visit this bay, or anywhere in the park, from mid-morning to early afternoon the tides will be out and you'll be graced with a muddy, still beautiful landscape, offering a different perspective of the coastal region of the Saint Lawrence river. From here, the trail leads to Anse aux Bouleaux-Ouest which is a great location for seal-spotting when the tide goes out. Anse aux Bouleaux-Ouest is best seen at sunrise if you want to see the surrounding hills reflected in the water. The day I visited, in late July, over 105 seals were counted in this bay alone. The SEPAQ team set up several spotting scopes along the beach to get a closer look at the wildlife.
Le Pic-Champlain
Le Pic-Champlain is a 6km out-and-back uphill forested trail offering panoramic views of Parc du Bic. I hiked this trail in the early afternoon and the view was spectacular. I imagine this would be a great hike to explore at any moment throughout the day, particularly towards sunset (if you're happy walking through the forest after dark on your way down).
Le parcours le Grand-Tour
Le parcours le Grand-Tour is a 8.7km loop trail accessible two hours before low tide. This hike blends beach walking, rocky coastal scrambling and forested trails, offering stunning views of the Saint-Lawrence river and landscapes of Parc du Bic. If you only do one hike on your visit to Parc du Bic, this would be my recommendation. Fortunately, I was blessed with beautiful weather: no wind, pure blue skies, sunshine and calm waters. I wouldn't recommend this hike on a rainy day due to the rocky portion of the trail.
If you don't want to do this challenging trail, you can still enjoy the beautiful surroundings by walking either along the beach or the coastal trail starting at the Ferme Rioux discovery centre towards the start of Le Tour Cap-à-l'Orignal hike. From here you can simply turn back or take an inland forested route. Another great stroll is from the beach in front of the Ferme Rioux discovery centre towards Baie des Cochons. While this beach walk is only accessible when the tide is out, you can also drive round to Baie des cochons and walk this peaceful beach strip during the early morning or late-afternoon/evening to capture the beautiful blue waters of this bay. Baie des Cochons can also be a great spot to view seals.
Paddle-Boarding
I paddle-boarded one evening around sunset at Baie du Ha! Ha! and it was pure bliss. The sea, the sky, and the setting sun merged into one expression of tranquil-watered beauty. I also saw four seals swimming about 100 metres away from me. I'll admit I was a little scared to be out in open water amid these wild creatures although they did seem peaceful and content enjoying the warmth of a mid summer's sun. If you paddle out to the end of the bay and merge with open waters it's one of the most beautiful locations in the park to watch the sunset (I'd recommend this only if the wind and water are calm). Note: you need to bring your own paddle-crafts as there are no paddle-boarding rental locations in Parc du Bic.
Best views in the park
Pointe aux Épinettes was my favourite spot in the park. I returned here multiple times throughout the day, each day. If you want beautiful reflections in the bay visit at sunrise and early morning. There's a great beach here to enjoy a picnic or simply soak up the surroundings. This is the prime beach for seal spotting in the afternoon right through til sunset. It's also a beautiful spot to watch sunset. Before your stroll down to the beach you'll arrive at the junction of two dirt trails, one of these takes you north a hundred metres or so to take in breathtaking views of Anse a l'Orignal, the other takes you up a staircase towards the best view in the park (subjective opinion) of le Bic. Overall, I preferred this spot in the early morning and evening when the tides were in.
As previously mentioned, Baie du Ha! Ha! is a gorgeous spot if you have your own paddle-board or kayak. Paddle out to where the bay meets open water and you mayt be greeted by groups of seals. Additionally when you paddle out beyond the bay you'll get brilliant views of sunset.
THE ULTIMATE full-day itinerary
Here's what I'd do if I had only one day to visit Parc National du Bic.
Park at the discovery centre (centre de services de la Rivière du Sud-ouest) and walk le parcours les Anse trail (~5.7km) at dawn/sunrise (more details here)
Drive to Pointe aux Épinettes and enjoy the view from the beach and the panoramic platform for breakfast (more details here)
Baie des Cochons for a gentle beach stroll while the tide is in. (more details here)
Le parcours le Grand-Tour (8.7km) starting 2 hours before low tide. While I was here I started around 11:00am (either bring a lunch or enjoy a lunch on the Ferme Rioux beach afterwards). (more details here)
Le Pic-Champlain trail (6km) in the early afternoon. (more details here)
Baie du Ha! Ha! for an afternoon/early evening paddle-boarding session (you need to bring your own paddle-craft as there are no rentals here) (more details here)
Pointe aux Épinettes for sunset and dinner on the beach (more details here)
Check out my video on Instagram below to experience the richness of Parc du Bic!
I hope this hiking and travel guide for Parc National du Bic inspires you to explore the wonders of le Bas-Saint-Laurent.
Whether you've been to Parc du Bic before or intend to visit this region soon, feel free to leave a comment down below and share your experience or any questions you may have.
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