Side Trips

Canyon Ste-Anne

42km (26 miles) NE of Québec City; about 9km (6 miles) NE of Ste-Anne-de-Beaupré

After Ste-Anne-de-Beaupré, you finally enter into thick evergreen woods, and the frenetic pace of urban life begins to slip away. A short drive off Route 138 is Canyon Ste-Anne, a deep gorge and powerful waterfall created by the Ste-Anne-du-Nord River. Unseen from the main road, the canyon and its falls are an exhilarating attraction.

A bit inland is the Parc Mont Ste-Anne, which surrounds an 800m-high (2,625-ft.) peak. In winter, it's the area's busiest ski mountain, while summertime invites camping, hiking, and biking.

Getting There

By Bus -- From mid-November until late April, the Taxi Coop Québec (tel. 418/525-5191; www.taxicoop-quebec.com) shuttle service picks up passengers at Québec City hotels in the morning to take them to Parc Mont Ste-Anne, returning them to Québec City in the late afternoon.

By Car -- Continue along Route 138 from Ste-Anne-de-Beaupré. To get to the waterfalls, stay on Route 138 about 5 minutes past the basilica; the marked entrance will be on your left. To get to the park and ski mountain, exit onto Route 360 east. The entrance to the Château Mont Sainte-Anne will be on your left, with the entrance to the park directly after it.

Where to Stay & Dine

In addition to the resort reviewed, Herbergement Mont-Sainte-Anne (tel. 888/827-2002; www.hmsalm.com) offers condo rentals at the base of the mountain. They run from C$129 (£65) for a studio in summer to C$499 (£250) for a three-bedroom unit in peak winter periods.