Quebec fall foliage 7-day itinerary: the peak colour route
Overview
Quebec’s fall foliage season is one of the most reliably spectacular in North America — six weeks of hardwood colour across a province with several of Canada’s best foliage regions. This 7-day itinerary is designed to chase peak colour: Laurentians early in the window, Charlevoix at its northern peak, and Quebec City’s culture-plus-foliage combination. Timed correctly (roughly October 1-15), you should hit peak colour in at least two of the three regions.
This itinerary assumes a car — essential for foliage routes. It starts and ends in Montreal but could be flipped to start/end in Quebec City.
Timing guide
- Mid-September to late September: Charlevoix peaks. Too early for Laurentians.
- October 1-10: Laurentians peak. Charlevoix still beautiful. Best overall window.
- October 8-18: Eastern Townships peak. Laurentians declining. Charlevoix drops fast after the first week of October.
- October 15-25: Montreal Mont-Royal peak. Most of Quebec past peak.
Recommended window: October 1-8 for this itinerary — Laurentians at peak on arrival, Charlevoix still excellent, Eastern Townships (if you extend) coming into peak.
At a glance
| Day | Region | Focus |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Montreal arrival | Mont-Royal, Old Montreal, dinner |
| 2 | Laurentians | Mont-Tremblant, gondola views, Val-David |
| 3 | Laurentians day 2 | P’tit Train du Nord, lakeside foliage |
| 4 | Drive to Quebec City | Via Trois-Rivières, scenic route |
| 5 | Quebec City | Old Quebec, Montmorency Falls |
| 6 | Charlevoix | Route 362, Baie-Saint-Paul, La Malbaie |
| 7 | Charlevoix + return | Parc des Hautes-Gorges, back to Montreal |
Day 1 — Montreal arrival
Arrive Montreal-Trudeau. Shuttle or taxi to downtown.
Afternoon: Mont-Royal Park. Hike up to Kondiaronk Belvedere (1 hour moderate walk) or drive to the chalet. Montreal’s urban foliage peaks later (October 15-20) but the park is lovely even in early October.
Evening: dinner in the Plateau. Tentative picks: Au Pied de Cochon (book ahead), Candide, Le Butterblume (brunch-focused but superb).
Overnight: downtown or Plateau hotel.
Day 2 — Drive to Mont-Tremblant
Morning: pick up rental car. Drive Autoroute 15 north, then Route 117, to Mont-Tremblant (2 hrs).
Late morning: Mont-Tremblant pedestrian village. Lunch at La Forge or Microbrasserie La Diable.
Afternoon: Mont-Tremblant gondola to the 875-metre summit. Panoramic foliage views over the Laurentians. The gondola operates weekends through mid-October. Walk the summit trails (30-90 min).
Option: Mont-Tremblant National Park (distinct from the ski resort) — the Diable sector has lakeside trails with superb foliage reflections on Lac Monroe.
Evening: dinner at the village. Fairmont Tremblant or Hôtel Quintessence for upscale; condo rentals for casual.
Overnight: Mont-Tremblant or nearby Sainte-Agathe.
Day 3 — Laurentians day 2
Morning: P’tit Train du Nord — the 232-km rail-trail-turned-bike-path. Rent a bike in Val-David (30 min south of Mont-Tremblant) and cycle a 10-20 km scenic section through maple and birch forest. The trail in early October is at its most photographic.
Lunch: Val-David village — Le Baril Roulant microbrewery, or a picnic from the local market.
Afternoon: options —
- Scenic drive on Route 117 through the Laurentians, stopping at lookouts
- Sainte-Agathe-des-Monts — Lac des Sables boat cruise (if running into October)
- Parc régional du Mont-Tremblant lake loop walks
Evening: drive back toward Montreal or south to Saint-Sauveur for the night. Alternative: overnight again at Sainte-Adèle.
Day 4 — Drive to Quebec City
Morning: leave Laurentians early. Drive south to Montreal and east on Autoroute 40 (the faster route) or 138 (the scenic river route) to Quebec City. 3-4 hours depending on route and stops.
Recommended stops:
- Trois-Rivières — oldest city in Quebec after Quebec City, compact old quarter. Lunch break.
- Batiscan or Cap-de-la-Madeleine — small riverside villages
Arrive Quebec City mid-afternoon. Check in to hotel (Fairmont Le Château Frontenac, Auberge Saint-Antoine, or Hôtel Manoir d’Auteuil are good options). Early evening walk on Terrasse Dufferin.
Dinner in Old Quebec: Aux Anciens Canadiens for traditional Québécois, Le Saint-Amour for fine dining.
Day 5 — Quebec City foliage day
Morning: walking tour of Old Quebec. Start at Place d’Armes, work to Petit-Champlain via the Breakneck Stairs (the cobblestone lanes + fall colours + stone architecture makes this one of the most photographed combinations in North America). Walk up through the Citadel.
Lunch: Lower Town — Chez Boulay, Buvette Scott, or Paillard.
Afternoon: Montmorency Falls (15 min drive from Old Quebec). The falls surrounded by maple forest in October are spectacular. Cable car up, bridge across, staircase down (or reverse). 2 hours.
Late afternoon: Île d’Orléans — cross the bridge to the “cradle of French civilization.” Drive the 67-km loop road. Stops at Cassis Monna, Fromagerie Île d’Orléans, Isle-de-Bacchus (ice cider). The island in fall with apple orchards and maple trees is remarkable.
Evening: dinner back in Quebec City or at Ile d’Orléans at La Goéliche (old inn).
Day 6 — Charlevoix
Morning: check out of Quebec City hotel. Drive Route 138 east toward Charlevoix. The landscape starts rolling dramatically after Cap-Tourmente.
Late morning: arrive Baie-Saint-Paul. Walk the art-town main streets; many galleries and studios. Lunch at Le Diapason or a café.
Afternoon: Route 362 — the coastal scenic road. Drive slowly from Baie-Saint-Paul toward La Malbaie (45 min without stops; allow 2-3 hrs with stops). Stops:
- Les Éboulements — panoramic viewpoints over the St. Lawrence
- Saint-Irénée — beachside village, Le Domaine Forget arts centre grounds
- Cap-à-l’Aigle — small harbour village
Foliage here includes views of St. Lawrence islands and mountains across the water — a distinctive combination.
Arrive La Malbaie late afternoon. Check into hotel (Fairmont Le Manoir Richelieu for the splurge; Auberge des Peupliers for intimate; La Pinsonnière for luxury).
Evening: dinner at Fairmont or local restaurant.
Day 7 — Parc des Hautes-Gorges and return
Morning: Parc national des Hautes-Gorges-de-la-Rivière-Malbaie. 45-min drive from La Malbaie. The deepest canyon east of the Rockies; dramatic cliffs, fall foliage, river. Options:
- Boat cruise (90 min, calm water, seated)
- Hiking — Acropole-des-Draveurs is strenuous (6-8 hrs); Riverain or L’Érablière are easier
Plan half a day minimum.
Lunch: back in La Malbaie or en route.
Afternoon: return drive to Montreal (4.5-5 hrs total from La Malbaie). The drive is long but broken up by river views; stop in Baie-Saint-Paul if you skipped it on day 6, or Quebec City for a coffee.
Evening: arrive Montreal, hotel near airport if flying out next day.
Option to extend
- Add Eastern Townships (Day 8-9): drive south from Montreal through the Townships, peak foliage region.
- Add Saguenay Fjord (Day 7-8): extend past Charlevoix to Tadoussac and the fjord.
- Add Mauricie (Day 4-5 extended): stop for a day at La Mauricie National Park between Montreal and Quebec City.
See our Quebec 10-day itinerary for a similar route with more time.
Practical fall tips
- Accommodation books out 2-4 months ahead for peak foliage dates
- Rental cars — reserve 2+ months ahead; popular dates sell out
- Weather: variable. Mornings can be frosty. Days usually mild. Dress in layers.
- Tour packing: waterproof hiking boots, warm layers, camera with polarising filter, binoculars for distant foliage views
What to bring
- Warm layers (fleece, insulated jacket, hat, gloves)
- Waterproof shell
- Hiking boots with grip
- Camera (polariser filter for saturation)
- Binoculars
- Water bottle
- Small daypack
Budget
Per-person moderate budget for 7 days:
- Accommodation: $200-350/night × 6 = $1,200-2,100 (split for couples)
- Rental car: $300-450 + fuel
- Food and drink: $600-900
- Activities: $200-300
Total for couple: approximately $4,000-6,500 CAD
Weather averages (early October)
| Region | Day high | Night low |
|---|---|---|
| Montreal | 13-17°C | 4-8°C |
| Laurentians | 11-15°C | 1-5°C |
| Quebec City | 12-15°C | 3-6°C |
| Charlevoix | 9-13°C | 0-4°C |
Related content
- Quebec in fall (complete guide)
- Quebec fall foliage: where to go
- Laurentians weekend
- Charlevoix destination guide
- Quebec City weekend
- Mont-Tremblant National Park
Final word
This 7-day fall itinerary covers Quebec’s three most photogenic foliage regions in a well-paced loop. Aim for October 1-8 for the best overall colour mix, book everything 2-3 months ahead, and don’t rush the Route 362 drive through Charlevoix — that’s the defining afternoon of the trip.