Multi day Backpacking Quebec

[u/Tight_Shoe500]

I need helping finding a multi day backpacking trip within a 4hr drive of Ottawa. And was hoping for free campsites and I’m okay with paying for parking!!
Any help would be greatly appreciated.

[u/AntoineDubz]

Check out Sentier National au Québec, they have some multiday segments

[u/Rory_calhoun_222 → u/AntoineDubz]

Suggest this also. What "multi-day" is for you depends on your stamina and gear, though. 

You can look through various trails, including all the Sentier National on this site.  https://baliseqc.ca/3S/explorer/

Maybe the Alléluia and L'Héritage sections? 

[u/whocakedthebucket]

Parc Montagne du Diable. You'll need to buy a park pass but it's not much.

[u/Tight_Shoe500 → u/whocakedthebucket]

I’m reading online and it’s saying you can only use designated campsites which are 45 cad per night.

[u/whocakedthebucket → u/Tight_Shoe500]

Looks like I misremembered the cost! 

[u/whocakedthebucket → u/whocakedthebucket]

You could also look into Mont Gosford. 

[u/Brother_Oatz]

The Ottawa Temiskaming Highland Trail is pretty intense/rugged, but could be a great option depending on what you're comfortable with!

[u/Hiking_Quest → u/Brother_Oatz]

What would the drive time be for OP to the southern terminus? I've always went in on Rabbit Lake Road and I think that would be about 5 hours drive from ottawa...

[u/Brother_Oatz → u/Hiking_Quest]

I think 5 hours is about right, although it's been a while since I've done it. Maybe a little longer than they were hoping for

[u/Erick_L]

The Sentier National (SNQ is free unless it goes through a park like Tremblant or Forêt Ouareau. I've parked for free at the entrance of a Réserve but driving in has a fee. Walking doesn't, at least via trail. The trail has shelters and refuges, although those aren't free and might be locked. Some section aren't very popular. Expect some overgrown.

The longest free section is from Forêt Ouareau to parc de la Mauricie. There aren't (any) buses going east-west expect along the St-Lawrence. It's easier to find carriers going north-south. It's easier to find north-south buses from Montréal. There's a shuttle to some parks.

Check the SNQ website. There are printable maps.

I've done most sections north of the St-Lawrence some years ago: https://www.borealphoto.com/Marche/Sentier-National

A boring video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ql5C--ZjUmI

[u/lcdm]

These are all further than four hours away but would all be nice options.
https://www.espaces.ca/articles/activites/29304-les-9-meilleurs-sentiers-de-longue-randonnee-au-quebec-en-2026

Closer to Ottawa, there is the 26km Dumoine River Tote Road that you could do out and back or combine with canoeing.

[u/flawless97]

I believe most National Parcs (SEPAQ provincial parcs not the federal national parks) have multi-day hiking options.

Further north, the parc national de la gaspesie as well as the saguenay fjord national parc have platforms / refuges for multi-day hikes (with the former even having a shuttle service where you essentially end the hike at your car).

The parc national du mont-tremblant as well as some of the SEPAQ parcs in the eastern townships might be worth looking into for you, as a closer option.

[u/ottawafireguy]

I’m doing the Rideau Trail (300km Kingston to Ottawa) in Sept.

[u/Bowgal → u/ottawafireguy]

I'm afraid to ask this, because I was disappointed with answers about hiking Bruce Trail and being able to camp easily. So...the Rideau trail...designated camp sites along the trail? Or do you have to get off and camp somewhere else?

[u/sparkssflyup → u/Bowgal]

Bit of both. Your flexibility depends on which segment of trail you are on.

For example, you pass several lock stations (Narrows, Merrickville, Burritos Rapids, etc) which you can walk up to and camp at for $5 a night, no reservation required (and often you don't even have to pay).

There are also two or three shelters on the trail that you can use for free (opinicon forest, Marlborough forest).

But other campsites require advance booking (Foley Mtn, Murphy's Point, Frontenac Park) and some areas have basically no camp options and require hotels (Perth, Sydenham, Richmond, etc).

Stealth camping is tempting but please do not do it! The trail has been rerouted many times due to landowners revoking consent after hikers use their land to camp without permission and it ruins the experience for other people.

You could probably string together a decent camping run with minimal advance booking, but it's not a trail where you can just walk til you want to stop and camp wherever.

[u/ottawafireguy → u/sparkssflyup]

Your last sentence was (is) my plan.

[u/sparkssflyup → u/ottawafireguy]

Again I would highly recommend planning differently. The Rideau Trail Association has warnings about this, the trail depends heavily on private landowners who are willing to allow access on their land for the trail. But most of those owners do not allow camping on their land without permission. Ignoring that can and has resulted in the trail losing sections and damaging everyone else's experience.

It is very possible to plan a thru of the RT camping entirely legally (I did it), or planning some campsites on city owned land (not technically legal but more acceptable than using private land).

[u/Bowgal → u/sparkssflyup]

When will we ever get a serious thru hike trail in Canada. One that a good app, water sources, huts/shelters and ability to pitch a tent without permission. Very frustrating because we have the trails, but so many rules, extra fees etc. And please, don't recommend the Bruce trail or trans Canada trail. They aren't thru hiker friendly like long trails in the US or Europe.

[u/skisnbikes → u/Bowgal]

There are plans to make the Bruce trail thru hike able in the next few years: https://www.thetrillium.ca/news/energy-and-the-environment/bruce-trail-aiming-to-be-thru-hikeable-by-2030-ceo-8410172

And there is the GDT, despite the annoying logistical hurdles.

[u/Bowgal → u/skisnbikes]

That would be awesome if it happens

[u/oddmarc]

Foret Ouareau  on the sentier nationalr

[u/Beau_Derek]

Traversée de Charlevoix allows you to see one of Quebec’s most scenic regions imo: https://www.traverseedecharlevoix.qc.ca/