If you want a challenging day hike near Quebec City with rewarding mountain views, the Acropole des Draveurs in Parc national des Hautes-Gorges-de-la-Rivière-Malbaie is a solid choice. It’s a steady climb from start to finish, well maintained, and doable in a half day if you keep a good pace. We hiked it in August, starting early to avoid the heat, and it was a tough but satisfying climb.
Practical Info
Trail distance: ~11,2 km round trip
Tickets: Buy your park entry online in advance – 10,10 CAD
Elevation gain: 800 m
Time: 4-6h total (2h to Summit 1, 2.5h to Summit 3, 1.5h descent)
Difficulty: Challenging – steep from the start
Starting point: Google Map (park entrance parking lot)
Water: None on the trail – bring at least 2L per person
Hiking Info: Important hiking information from Sepaq
Shuttle: Mandatory from the parking lot to the trailhead
Best start time in summer: Before 8am to avoid the heat
Gear tip: Hiking poles help on the way down; bring layers for the summit wind
Accommodation in Quebec
For this trip, we based ourselves near Beaupré, a great little spot near Mont-Sainte-Anne with a relaxed vibe. We stayed at … which we found on Booking.com a month before. It’s 40 min north of Quebec City and from our research, it looked like a great countryside spot with some hiking options around. There are many other affordable accommodation options in Quebec you can choose from. Here’s some options:
- L’Agachoun – Ski-Bike-Hiking – comfortable studio apartment with everything necessary, we stayed there for 8 days
- Bienvenue chez Alice et daniel – a cosy apartment with 8.9 rating on Booking.com located near Beaupré
- Chalets Montmorency Mont-Sainte-Anne – fully equipped family-friendly units with access to pools, spa facilities, and outdoor activities
We used DiscoverCars.com to rent a car for our trip in Quebec because there’s really no practical way to get around in Canada without one. It was a pretty quick and straightforward process to rent a car. We did so around 2 months before our trip to ensure we had good rates for a month-long car rental in Canada which can be pretty steep.
National Park Hautes-Gorges-de-la-Rivière-Malbaie in Quebec, Canada – the views from the trail
About Acropole des Draveurs
The Acropole des Draveurs trail is located at Parc national des Hautes-Gorges-de-la-Rivière-Malbaie. It is one of the park’s most popular hikes, known for its elevation gain and panoramic views. It’s a well-marked path with sturdy wooden and stone steps where needed. The route climbs steadily to three summits, each with open viewpoints over the Malbaie River valley and surrounding mountains.
Getting to the starting point
From Beaupré, it’s a 2-hour drive to Parc national des Hautes-Gorges-de-la-Rivière-Malbaie. You park at the main parking lot, then take the mandatory shuttle to the trailhead. The shuttle runs regularly, especially in summer. We reached the national park entrance exactly for the 8am shuttle and there were already 20 people in. The shuttle stops at a few trails so make sure to get off at the correct one – for the Acropole des Draveurs. It’s hard to miss it as most of the other hikers are heading that way too.
Park Rules and Hiking Details
The Acropole des Draveurs has set start and turnaround times for safety. From August 1 to September 2, you must begin your hike before 2 pm and start your descent from Summit 3 no later than 4:30 pm – park wardens will close the trail after that. The hike gains 800 m of elevation over almost 12 km, with no drinkable water along the route, so bring at least 2 L per person. Hiking boots with ankle support, poles, and layers for cooler summit temperatures are strongly recommended. Toilets are only at the trailhead and at km 3. No dogs are allowed on the trail.
- Check the conditions of trails in real time
- Purchase your hiking pass for the day
The Hiking
We hit the trail at 8 am after leaving Beaupré at 6 am. Even early in the day, it was warm, so we were glad we started before the sun was fully overhead. The Acropole des Draveurs starts climbing immediately – no gentle warm-up. The first section is steep, with a mix of dirt path, rocky steps, and wooden staircases. It’s well maintained and easy to follow, but it’s a workout from the first minute.
After about two hours, we reached Summit 1. This is a natural stopping point for a quick break, with your first clear views of the surrounding mountains and the Malbaie River. From there, the trail continues uphill but at a more moderate grade. The vegetation gets lower as you climb, and by the time you reach Summit 3 (about 2.5 hours from the start at our pace), it’s wide open with full 360° views.
The top is exposed, so on hot summer days the sun is intense – bring a hat and sunscreen. We sat down for homemade sandwiches and plenty of water. There are no facilities at the top, so anything you need you’ll have to carry up.
The descent took us about 1.5 hours. It’s quicker but can be tough on the knees, so hiking poles are worth bringing if you have them. The steep sections we climbed up earlier feel even steeper going down, and the big stone steps require careful footing, especially if it’s wet. By the time we reached the shuttle stop, we were hot, tired, and ready for cold drinks – but the views made every step worth it.
Final Thoughts
The Acropole des Draveurs is a hike that’s both challenging and rewarding. It’s steep, long, and will test your endurance, but the views from the top make it worth the effort. Good preparation – early start, enough water, and booking your park ticket ahead – will make the day go smoothly. If you’re visiting Quebec City or staying in Beaupré and want a real mountain climb with a clear payoff, this trail should be on your list.
