Hiking in Promenade Samuel-De Champlain: trails, map and practical info

The route

The promenade runs for nearly 6.8 km along the St. Lawrence River, from the bridges to the côte Gilmour area, according to the Commission de la capitale nationale du Québec (CCNQ). The City of Québec places it on boulevard Champlain, between the Pierre-Laporte Bridge and côte Gilmour.

The CCNQ built it in three phases: a 2.5 km linear park from the Quai des Cageux to côte de Sillery, then a link between the Quai des Cageux and the sentier des Grèves, which continues to plage Jacques-Cartier, and finally 2.5 km from côte de Sillery to côte Gilmour. End to end, pedestrian paths, sidewalks and a bike path lead to the six stations.

The six stations

• Cageux (2795 boulevard Champlain): an observation tower more than 20 metres tall, a 280-metre riverside marsh, a services pavilion, a picnic area, a bike repair station (Biciborne) and 112 parking spaces.
• Quais: four themed gardens (Quai-des-Brumes, Quai-des-Flots, Quai-des-Hommes, Quai-des-Vents) and the contemporary art park.
• Sports: two soccer fields, a multi-purpose grassy play area, a services pavilion and limited parking.
• Côte (2200 côte de Sillery): at the foot of côte de Sillery, with the Frontenac wharf, an event area, a services pavilion and 154 parking spaces.
• Plage (1375 boulevard Champlain): an artificial sand beach, a swimming basin (maximum depth 1.2 m), a reflecting pool, a services pavilion with food service and 76 parking spaces.
• Voile (1331 boulevard Champlain): a large lawn with beach volleyball courts and a pétanque court, climbing blocks for children, a picnic area with charcoal barbecues, water access for canoes and kayaks (navigate at your own risk) and 145 parking spaces.

Art and scenery

The contemporary art park, at the Quais station, has 10 monumental sculptures, which the CCNQ says makes the site “the highest concentration of contemporary art in Québec.” Two more works stand at the Cageux and Voile stations.

Dogs, barbecues and alcohol

Dogs on a leash are welcome on the promenade, but only assistance animals are allowed at the Plage station. Barbecues are prohibited everywhere except the fixed barbecues at the Voile station, with no reservations. Alcohol is allowed only with a meal, except at the Plage station, where it is prohibited.

In winter

According to the City of Québec, the promenade is accessible year-round, and a multi-use path running from the Quai des Cageux to côte de Sillery is groomed in winter along the river.

Getting there

According to the CCNQ, bus route 400 of the Réseau de transport de la Capitale runs from May to September, every 30 minutes, between 8 a.m. and 8 p.m., on Saturdays, Sundays and holidays. The Flexibus service also serves the Champlain sector and connects to the bus network at the same fare as a bus trip.

Accessibility

According to the CCNQ, the Côte, Voile and Quais stations are accessible, and the Plage, Sports and Cageux stations are partially accessible.