Mont Jacques-Cartier Trail

Mont Jacques-Cartier Trail is a day hike in Parc national de la Gaspésie, in Quebec, aimed at the high, tundra-like landscape on the slopes of Mont Jacques-Cartier.

Expect a hard climb for a round trip of about 3.77 km and roughly 465 m of elevation gain; typical timing is 4–5 hours for the full hike.

The ascent begins with a steep push through conifer forest for roughly the first 2.5 km, often rugged where you’re mixing tight footing and rock.

Higher up, the trail transitions onto an alpine tundra ridge with rocky tread and built features (wood steps) as it angles up toward the summit tower.

Access to the trailhead is managed: a mandatory shuttle departs from the Mont-Jacques-Cartier Registration Centre, and reservations can be required.

The hike runs in the summer season (July 1–September 30, with stated daily hours of 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.), which is when the trail is scheduled to be open.

At the top, the area is known for woodland caribou using tundra habitat, and the hike is also recognized for its second-highest provincial peak context (over 1,000 m).

More information: Our favourite national parks in Quebec - Canadian Sky, 5 Highest Peaks to Hike in Gaspésie, Transportation service - Sepaq