Baie-Sainte-Catherine

Baie-Sainte-Catherine is a picturesque municipality of the regional county municipality (MRC) of Charlevoix-Est, in the administrative region of Capitale-Nationale, at Quebec, in Canada. It is located on the north shore of the St. Lawrence River and on the west shore of the Saguenay River.

The territory of Baie-Sainte-Catherine is suitable for recreational tourism activities focused on forestry (hunting, fishing, mountain biking, snowmobiling, hiking, picking wild fruits) and boating on the St. Lawrence River and the Saguenay River. In addition, Pointe Noire is a privileged observation center for the Saguenay Fjord and the Saguenay–Saint-Laurent Marine Park. The Baie-Sainte-Catherine wharf is a starting point for cetacean observation cruises. From Baie-Sainte-Catherine, water sports enthusiasts can go sea kayaking.

Understand

History

This toponym originates from the sinking of the ship La Catherine in 1686.

The site of the Saint-Firmin cemetery, built in 1865, named Saint-Firmin until 1908, and was restored from the originals in 1979. In 2008, this site was declared a heritage site. In 2017, the Government of Quebec acquired this site from the Séminaire de Chicoutimi for the purpose of enhancing it.

Geography

The territory of Baie-Sainte-Catherine is predominantly forest cover. The Parc national du Fjord-du-Saguenay occupies a strip of territory approximately 12.2 km and a width of 0.9 km at 2.3 km. The inhabited part of the territory is located on the riparian strip at the maximum 0.5 km of the St. Lawrence River.

The municipal territory is crossed by the Basque River, the Grande Crique brook, the Flavien brook, the Sainte-Catherine brook and the Canards brook, which all flow onto the shore of the St. Lawrence River. The Petites Îles River and the David River flow into the Saguenay. The main lakes are Lac Buteux and Lac François. The main capes and points are:

on the St. Lawrence River: Cap du Basque, Pointe au Bouleau, Pointe aux Alouettes and Pointe Noire;
on the Saguenay River: Cap Blanc, Cap Noir and Pointe aux Petites Îles.

Get in

The village of Baie-Sainte-Catherine is accessible by road, boat (via the St. Lawrence River or the Saguenay River), snowmobile and all-terrain vehicles.

By car

From Tadoussac (5.4 km, 26 min.), take the Tadoussac-Baie Sainte-Catherine ferry; take route (westbound) to the village of Baie-Sainte-Catherine.
From Quebec (city) (208 km, 2:41 hours), take route eastbound up to village of Baie-Sainte-Catherine.

By bus

Intercar, Stops at Restaurant Le Vacancier, 329, route 138, +1-418-547-2167, serviceclient@intercar.ca. Operates bus routes within Quebec. 2022-05-01 Operates a daily route between Baie-Comeau and Montreal including stops in Forestville, Tadoussac, Baie-Sainte-Catherine, Saint-Siméon, La Malbaie, Clermont, Saint-Hilarion, Baie-Saint-Paul, Saint-Tite-des-Caps, Sainte-Anne-de-Beaupré, Boischatel, and Quebec City. Trips toward Baie-Comeau start from Quebec City and do not include a stop in Montreal.

By boat

Baie-Sainte-Catherine is at the confluence of the Saint-Laurent and Saguenay rivers and is accessible seasonally by pleasure boat.

Traversier Tadoussac-Baie-Sainte-Catherine (gare fluviale de Baie-Sainte-Catherine), 119, route 138 (The Baie-Sainte-Catherine river station is located in Anse du Portage, 1.1 km west of Pointe Noire (at the mouth of the Saguenay River).), 48.12658°, -69.72971°, +1 418-235-4395, stq-tadoussac@traversiers.gouv.qc.ca. The wharf used for the ferry was built at the foot of a mountain cliff.
Quai de Baie-Sainte-Catherine, 151, route 138 (Wharf in the northern part of Sainte-Catherine Bay, on the shore of the St. Lawrence River), 48.11648°, -69.72121°, +1 888-773-8888.

In a helicopter

Aviation du Fjord, 159, route de la Grande Alliance, 48.10715°, -69.72753°, +1 877-692-1771. Offer of helicopter flights over the Fjord, Tadoussac and Baie-Sainte-Catherine, or other excursions.

Get around

Miraco Gas Station, 338, route de la Grande-Alliance, 48.10277°, -69.72320°, +1 418-237-4013. Service station for motor vehicles. 2021-12-27

See

Centre d'interprétation et d'observation de Pointe-Noire (Pointe-Noire Interpretation and Observation Center), route 138, 48.12303°, -69.71658°, +1 418-237-4383, info.parcmarin@pc.gc.ca. Closed for the winter season. The belvedere at the top of the rock or the terrace of the interpretation center offer an exceptional panorama of the Saguenay-St. Lawrence Marine Park and the Saguenay Fjord. From the mainland, using binoculars, it is possible to observe whales, seals and seabirds. Several signs interpret the maritime environment made up of lighthouses and numerous islands.
Église Saint-Firmin (Reception pavilion Views of Port-au-Persil), 294, rue Leclerc (Located on the point facing the Port au Persil cove.), 48.10472°, -69.72682°, +1 418-665-3935, fabriquestsimeon@gmail.com. Church forming part of the Saint-Laurent-de-Charlevoix parish of the Catholic Archdiocese of Quebec.

Do

Croisière AML Baie-Sainte-Catherine, 159, route 138, 48.11684°, -69.72213°, +1 866-856-6668. Whale watching excursion by observation boat or zodiac. AML also offers cruises from Montreal and Quebec, including whale watching activity.
Ranch Campground Chute Hiking Trail, route 138, 48.08978°, -69.75227°. Hiking trail from the ranch campground waterfall.

Buy

;Food/alcohol

Coop Alimentaire Baie-Sainte-Catherine, 338, route de la Grande Alliance, 47.83849°, -69.88086°, +1 418-237-4013. Friend Market. SAQ agency. 2021-12-27

Eat

Restaurants

La Bête à Lunch, 358 , route de la Grande-Alliance, 48.10111°, -69.72255°, +1 581-309-5214. Sandwiches and chips. 2022-08-24

Drink

Sleep

Inns, hotels and motels

Hôtel Motel Baie Ste Catherine, 294, route de la Grande Alliance, 48.10438°, -69.72623°, +1 877-444-7247. 2021-12-28

Gîte

Gîte de la colline, 234, rue Leclerc, 48.10760°, -69.72919°, +1 514-231-0704. Bed and breakfast in the Saint-Firmin sector, facing Sainte-Catherine bay. 2021-12-28
Gîte Le Portail du Fjord, 358, route de la Grande Alliance (Gîte on the edge of Route 138.), 48.10178°, -69.72268°, +1 581-985-3031. Leisure facilities available: canoeing, diving and horseback riding. 2021-12-28
Au gîte de la chute, 389, route 138 (Gîte on the edge of Route 138.), 48.09535°, -69.72281°, +1 418-454-1045. Leisure facilities available: canoeing, diving and horseback riding. 2021-12-28
Gîte la Maison Rochefort, 475, rue de la Grande Alliance (Cottage located near Pointe-aux-Alouettes where an alliance had been concluded between Samuel de Champlain and Anadabijou.), 48.08801°, -69.72558°, +1 418-237-4010. Almost two-hundred-year-old family house with antique furniture. Superb view of the river. Breakfast included. 2021-12-28
À Fleur de Baie, 305, rue Leclerc, 48.10414°, -69.72531°, +1 418 638-2349. Gîte 2022-08-24

Camping

Camping et Ranch du Fjord, 604, route de la Grande Alliance (Located 5 minutes by road from the Tadoussac-Baie-Sainte-Catherine ferry.), 48.08055°, -69.73954°, +1 418-237-4230, info@campingetranchdufjord.com. Campsite with 55 pitches: 12 with 3 services, 11 with 2 services and also pitches designed for wild camping. Laundry room and community center. Access to a footpath. 2021-12-28

Outfitters

Pourvoirie Humanité, Baie-Sainte-Catherine, 48.09990°, -69.72229°, +1 418 638-5151, info@pourvoiriehumanite.com. Main adventures offered: kayak excursion, group paddleboarding, canoe trip, marked hikes and observation points, whale watching excursion on the river and in the summer, jumping to the island of a rock cape. Specialty: trout fishing. Five hiking trails (easy level). 2021-12-28
Pourvoirie Baie-Sainte-Catherine, Baie-Sainte-Catherine, 48.11058°, -69.72229°, +1 418-633-0100, pourvoiriebsc@hotmail.com. Offer of fishing trips (native and stocked speckled trout, moulac trout), hunting (orgnal and bear) and resort stays. Chalets (4 stars) each with a private dock with boats. 2021-12-28

Cope

Bibliothèque municipal (Municipal Library). 2021-10-28

Baie-Sainte-Catherine - municipality in Quebec, Canada