Quebec City - Portneuf
What to do in Portneuf
From the Chemin du Roy up to the northern lakes, Portneuf is Québec City's countryside: rivers, bike trails, heritage villages and wide open space — thirty minutes from town. Discover the region season by season, and the cottage to make your base.
Portneuf: nature at Québec City's doorstep
On the north shore of the St. Lawrence, between Québec City and Trois-Rivières, Portneuf gathers 18 municipalities across almost 4,000 km². The region reads from south to north: first the river and the Chemin du Roy, the oldest carriage road north of Mexico, lined with heritage villages; then the farmland plain and the rivers; and finally the mountains, the forests and hundreds of lakes.
That closeness is its strength: the first cottages are about thirty minutes from Québec City, and yet you will find a valley renowned for mountain biking, a 68 km cycling trail on a former railway line, a regional nature park with its lakes and caves, and a wildlife reserve holding some 150 lakes. A quiet, easily reached territory, perfect for a cottage stay in Portneuf, summer and winter alike.
COTTAGES TO RENT IN PORTNEUF
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Cottages in Portneuf: explore by experience
HOLIDAYS IN PORTNEUF
Who is Portneuf for, and when should you go?
The region for short getaways: close enough to Québec City to leave on a Friday evening, wild enough to feel far away. The right time depends mostly on what you are after.
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With family
A family holiday in Portneuf: a car-free cycling trail, lake beaches, easy trails and the villages of the Chemin du Roy.
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As a couple
Small cottages with a private hot tub deep in the forest, thirty minutes from Québec City — the last-minute getaway.
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Outdoors & cycling
Vallée Bras-du-Nord and its mountain-bike trails, canyoning, via ferrata and rock climbing.
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Fishing & open country
The Portneuf Wildlife Reserve with its 150-odd lakes, and the regional nature park with its forests.
When to visit Portneuf
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Spring
Sugaring-off season, the rivers running high and the birds returning to the marsh.
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Summer
Cycling, swimming, canoeing on the lakes and hiking in the valley.
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Fall
Colour along the trails, fishing and the farmers' markets.
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Winter
Cross-country skiing, snowshoeing, fat biking and downhill skiing at Saint-Raymond.
WHAT TO DO IN PORTNEUF
What to do in Portneuf: activities by season
Things to do in Portneuf with family, in summer as in winter. Pick a theme to see the matching activities — every place named here is real.
With family
- Jacques-Cartier/Portneuf Cycling Trail 68 car-free kilometres on a former railway right-of-way, all the way to Rivière-à-Pierre.
- Portneuf Regional Nature Park Lac Long and Lac Montauban: swimming, canoeing and trails, at Saint-Alban.
- Base de plein air de Portneuf Trails, skating and supervised outdoor activities, year-round.
- The Chemin du Roy — Neuville, Cap-Santé, Deschambault-Grondines Three villages listed among the prettiest in Québec, right along the river.
- Marais-Léon-Provancher Nature Reserve — Neuville Birdwatching from accessible boardwalks.
- Ski Saint-Raymond A small family hill: ski school and inner-tube sliding.
In summer
- Vallée Bras-du-Nord — Saint-Raymond Well-known hiking and mountain biking, an hour from Québec City.
- Canyoning & via ferrata Canyon descents and secured rock faces in the valley.
- Cycling the vélopiste Stone dust and gentle grades (4 % maximum): open to every level.
- Fishing — Portneuf Wildlife Reserve Around 150 lakes and 11 rivers, an hour northwest of Québec City (Sépaq).
- Canoeing, kayaking & climbing — the regional nature park Lac Long and Lac Montauban, climbing walls and the Trou du Diable cave.
- Golf — Club de golf Le Grand Portneuf A course at Saint-Basile, a short hop from several of our cottages.
In winter
- Downhill skiing — Ski Saint-Raymond Skiing, snowboarding and tube sliding, on a family scale.
- Snowshoeing, ski-snowshoeing & fat biking — Vallée Bras-du-Nord The valley's trail network stays open all winter.
- Cross-country skiing — Portneuf Wildlife Reserve 50 km of trails linking cabins in the forest (Sépaq).
- Centre Nature de Saint-Basile Snowshoeing, fat biking and sliding, minutes from the cottages.
- Centre Dansereau — Pont-Rouge Cross-country skiing, snowshoeing and winter hiking in the middle of town.
- A cottage stay with a hot tub A private hot tub, a fireplace and a frozen lake outside the window.
COTTAGE RENTALS IN PORTNEUF
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Our cottages to rent in Portneuf
Twenty-one cottages across the region, most with a private hot tub and several pet-friendly, from Pont-Rouge to Saint-Raymond. Details come straight from our listings — click through for availability and rates.
ITINERARY
A weekend in Portneuf: our itinerary
A suggested three-day route starting from your cottage. The links lead to official sources.
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Day 1 — The Chemin du Roy, along the river
Follow Route 138 from east to west: Neuville, Cap-Santé and its Vieux Chemin, then Deschambault-Grondines and its heritage buildings. Three villages ranked among the prettiest in Québec.
The Chemin du Roy ↗ -
Day 2 — Vallée Bras-du-Nord, at Saint-Raymond
The big outdoor day: hiking or mountain biking in summer, snowshoeing and fat biking in winter. Allow a full day, and book ahead in high season.
Vallée Bras-du-Nord ↗ -
Day 3 — The northern lakes, or the cycling trail
Take your pick: Lac Long and Lac Montauban in the regional nature park at Saint-Alban, or a ride on the 68 km cycling trail, before heading back to the cottage.
Parc naturel régional de Portneuf ↗
WHAT TO SEE IN PORTNEUF
The essential sights of Portneuf
Places we have checked, and that keep their appeal year after year. Each card links to the official source so you can plan your visit.
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SAINT-RAYMOND
Vallée Bras-du-Nord
valleebrasdunord.comAn outdoor co-operative an hour from Québec City: renowned hiking and mountain-bike trails, canyoning and via ferrata in summer, snowshoeing, ski-snowshoeing and fat biking in winter.
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SAINT-ALBAN · SAINT-UBALDE · SAINT-CASIMIR
Portneuf Regional Nature Park
parcportneuf.comMore than 70 km² around Lac Long and Lac Montauban: swimming, canoeing, climbing, the Trou du Diable cave and the Portes de l'Enfer sector, open in winter.
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SÉPAQ · NORTHWEST OF QUÉBEC CITY
Portneuf Wildlife Reserve
sepaq.comAround 150 lakes and 11 rivers spread over six sectors. Fishing and cabin stays in summer; 50 km of cross-country ski and snowshoe trails in winter.
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FROM SAINT-GABRIEL-DE-VALCARTIER TO RIVIÈRE-À-PIERRE
Jacques-Cartier/Portneuf Cycling Trail
tourisme.portneuf.com68 km of cycling path laid on a former railway right-of-way, stone-dust surfaced, with a maximum grade of 4 %. It is part of the Route verte and connects to Québec City via the Corridor des Cheminots.
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NEUVILLE · CAP-SANTÉ · DESCHAMBAULT-GRONDINES
The Chemin du Roy and its villages
lecheminduroy.comThree Portneuf villages belong to the association of Québec's prettiest villages, lined up along the oldest carriage road north of Mexico.
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SAINT-RAYMOND
Ski Saint-Raymond
villesaintraymond.comThe region's ski hill: family-scale downhill skiing and snowboarding, a snow school and inner-tube sliding, minutes from the village.
The 6 sectors of Portneuf
The region reads from the river northwards: first the villages of the Chemin du Roy, then the plain and the rivers, and finally the mountains and the lakes. Each sector has its own character — pick yours according to the mood you are after.
Pont-Rouge & Donnacona — the populated heart, the Jacques-Cartier River, 30 min from Québec City.
Neuville, Cap-Santé & Portneuf — the river, the Chemin du Roy and the heritage buildings.
Saint-Basile & Sainte-Christine — golf, a nature centre and quiet countryside.
Saint-Raymond & Saint-Léonard — the mountains, Vallée Bras-du-Nord and the ski hill.
Deschambault-Grondines & Saint-Marc — the farming west, local food and old villages.
Saint-Alban, Saint-Ubalde & Rivière-à-Pierre — the lakes and the wide open north.
FAQ
Holidays in Portneuf: common questions
Where is Portneuf?
Portneuf is an RCM within the Capitale-Nationale administrative region, on the north shore of the St. Lawrence between Québec City and Trois-Rivières. It gathers 18 municipalities across almost 4,000 km², among them Pont-Rouge, Saint-Raymond, Donnacona, Saint-Basile, Neuville, Cap-Santé and Deschambault-Grondines. Its nearest villages are about thirty minutes from Québec City.
When should you visit Portneuf?
All year round. Summer for cycling, hiking in the Vallée Bras-du-Nord, and swimming and canoeing in the regional nature park; fall for the colours and the fishing; winter for cross-country skiing, snowshoeing, fat biking and downhill skiing at Saint-Raymond; spring for sugaring-off season.
What is there to do in Portneuf in winter?
Downhill skiing at Ski Saint-Raymond; winter hiking, snowshoeing, ski-snowshoeing and fat biking at Vallée Bras-du-Nord; cross-country skiing on the Portneuf Wildlife Reserve's 50 km of trails; plus the Centre Nature de Saint-Basile and the Centre Dansereau at Pont-Rouge.
What is there to do in Portneuf with family?
The Jacques-Cartier/Portneuf cycling trail and its 68 car-free kilometres; the beaches and lakes of the regional nature park at Saint-Alban; the Base de plein air de Portneuf; the Léon-Provancher marsh at Neuville; and the heritage route of the Chemin du Roy through Neuville, Cap-Santé and Deschambault-Grondines.
Can you rent a cottage in Portneuf with Chalets Confort?
Yes. Chalets Confort has 21 cottages to rent in Portneuf — among them L'Astral and Le Kalm at Pont-Rouge, Chalet Altitude at Saint-Raymond and Kaïros at Saint-Basile — most with a private hot tub, and several pet-friendly. See available cottages →
Ready to explore Portneuf?
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