Québec City – like most Canadian cities we visited on our recent road trip – is very bicycle-friendly. When we mentioned to our Airbnb host that we like to cycle, he recommended a ride that would take us from Lower Old Québec to Chute-Montmorency, Québec’s majestic waterfall on the Montmorency River.
Fortunately, Québec City not only has a wonderful network of hiking and bike paths, but they have several rental shops that are happy to provide bikes, helmets, locks, and a helpful map. For about $25 dollars (Canadian) each for a four-hour rental, my husband and I had everything we needed to explore the area via pedal-power.
The ride to Montmorency Falls was a pretty easy one. Just under ten miles and fairly flat, it took us alongside the harbor, under and around railroad tracks, and through parks, residential areas, and some commercial zones. We made the ride on a Saturday but, because we started early, we didn’t have a lot of company on the trail.
Montmorency Falls Park is just a few minutes from downtown Québec City and is easily accessible by car (but, I really encourage anyone to go by bicycle if they can). There is plenty of parking, several picnic areas, and a visitors’ center where we picked up a map of the park and bought tickets for the aerial tram.
The waterfall is 275 ft (84 m) tall, which is actually higher (98 ft or 30 m) than the Niagara Falls (as you will be proudly told more than once) and is truly spectacular. The park is really laid out nicely with well-groomed paths, a suspension bridge that spans the top of the falls, and an amazing 487-foot wooden stairway that hugs the side of a cliff. We opted to ride the aerial tram from the bottom of the park to the top of the falls and come back down via the stairway, but plenty of hardy souls take the stairs both ways. And, for the real adventurous types, there is a zip line across the falls and rock climbing opportunities.
After spending a couple of hours enjoying the falls, we returned to beautiful Québec City for our final afternoon and evening. We were happy to find that the main avenue had been closed off for a street fair and enjoyed several hours of music and people watching.
Then, to top off a glorious day, we were treated to a spectacular sunset. We had to leave in the morning for our next destination, but we knew that some day we’d be back.
Retirementally Challenged 
That’s s fun way to see the sights. Great photos.
We often rent bikes when we travel and always have a wonderful time (and it’s a good excuse to eat more when we are done).
Exercise, then reward. Sounds logical.
Great post and photos, Janis. I am greatly enjoying reading about Canada through your eyes. I look forward to your future posts about this trip.
Donna
http://www.retirementreflections.com
Thanks, Donna. It is also nice to relive the trip this way. My trip journal and pictures remind me of things I had forgotten.
This is so nice! Quebec looks amazing!
It really is a stunning city! I hope to go back one-of-these-days. Thanks for commenting!
Beautiful views! What a great bike ride!
I’m so glad our host mentioned it! We could have driven there but it wouldn’t have been nearly as interesting.
Lovely sights. What a ride!
Thank you! It really was beautiful.
It sounds like the park has been developed a lot since we were there 25 years ago! The falls were spectacular then, of course, but there wasn’t as much to do.
I sure hope they don’t over-develop it! Right now there is just enough… although I wish “they” didn’t feel the need to put a zip line everywhere.
Beautiful! Quebec City is still on my Canadian to-do list so this is one to remember.
I hope you can go!
Québec City is stunning. I have friends who live there. Being that I am in Arizona we have lots of winter residents from the North. I love seeing these pictures.
Lucky you to have friends there! We get Canadian snow birds here too (also Zonies in the summer too 😄 ).
Of course you do. Lucky!!!
Because I love reading your blog I nominated you for the Sunshine Blogger Award. It’s no big deal if you don’t want to participate I wanted to share your blog with others. Have a great day.
That’s very sweet but I have made it a policy not to participate in these types of awards (unless they involve vast sums of prize money or free trips to Paris 🙂 ). Thanks for the nomination, though!
Truly it is no big deal. You are welcome.
What no zip line pics? 😉 Looks like a beautiful city!
Not with me on one! Actually I’ve done a zip line once and may do so again… but that one was just too scary. Quebec is beautiful!
That stamped cement parkway in the first photo is so artsy. A nod to the cobblestone roads of by-gone days, no doubt?
Enjoying your picture-travelog.
I don’t think it was stamped – I think they were actually laid like that. It was pretty impressive. Loved the gentleman riding by at just the right time.
Since you were hands-on there, I was hoping you noticed whether or not it was ‘stamped’ or not. Even more delightful to my eye as it shows artistry and craftsmanship and yields beauty in the everyday environment of that city…
Cool!! I didn’t know about the bike trails and the ride to Montmorency Falls. I would love to do something like that! I’ll just file that information away for our next trip to QC 🙂
Too funny! I love that I’ve been able to introduce you to a few things you didn’t know about QC! You’d love the bike paths.
When I read your post I was out of town and I finally had a chance to ask Gilles about it. He didn’t know either!! It’s now “on the list” 😉
Those are some spectacular falls. Beautiful! And, I love easy bike rides. I am a “flat lander” after all. Such a great excursion. You are really enticing me to go to Quebec City with all these stories and photos… 🙂
Liesbet @ Roaming About
While you are living in the northeastern US, you should take advantage of how close you are! I wonder if there could be a house sitting opportunity for you there… 😄
We were looking for that as well, actually, but have now accepted a three month sit in Northern California. I wish we had some time in September to visit Quebec. Maybe, I can convince Mark to take a break from work that is longer than the 5 days we plan to spend in Acadia NP in Maine! 🙂
I look forward to reading about your adventures! Where in NoCal will you be?
Not the most exciting place, but then we are there, out west, and can be on the lookout for more intriguing future sits. We’ll be in the furthest suburb of Sacramento, a town called Rocklin. And, I did see palm trees on the Google images! 🙂 Where are you guys located?
Driving in places you don’t know well is tough. I love your solution – bikes. Faster than walking, so you can cover more ground.
Absolutely! We would have had to get our car out of the underground long-term parking then fussed with maps or GPS on unfamiliar roads. Much better to get good exercise and see the sights along the way!
Love Quebec City! Beautiful images
Quebec City is a real gem. Even though it’s touristy, they’ve managed to maintain the old world look and feel.
I ❤️ Quebec City. Always enjoy visiting there