Route des Baleines

The Route des Baleines (English: Whale Route) follows the northern coast of the estuary and the Gulf of St. Lawrence, in the Côte-Nord region of Quebec, spanning over 1250 km between Tadoussac and Blanc-Sablon.

Understand

The Whale Route runs along the estuary and the Gulf of St. Lawrence on their north shore in the touristic regions of Manicouagan and Duplessis on the Côte-Nord. It begins at Tadoussac in the south-west and heads northeast to Blanc-Sablon, a journey of 1250 km. This tourist route corresponds more or less to the national road closest to the shore, usually route 138.

Thirteen species of whales live in the waters of the St. Lawrence, including the blue whale. Observation excursions at sea are organized all along the route, whether by boat, dinghy or kayak. It is also possible to watch the whales from the shore.

On land, the region along the Whale Route offers large natural spaces dotted with lakes and rivers where it is possible to observe wild fauna and flora.

Ferries make the connection to the south shore of the St. Lawrence to reach the regions of Gaspésie and Bas-Saint-Laurent.

Route

• Tadoussac 📍 – Tadoussac Bay is part of the club of the most beautiful bays in the world and Tadoussac is recognized by the association of the most beautiful villages of Quebec. It includes in particular the Marine Mammal Interpretation Centre, and other interpretation centres. Several excursions are organized in the region, which includes the Saguenay–St. Lawrence Marine Park and the Fjord-du-Saguenay National Park.

• Longue-Rive 📍 – Picturesque and modern riverside municipality of the Côte-Nord, renowned for its fine sand beaches on the Gulf coast, the remains of the 19th-century sawmill, its waterfall on the Sault au Mouton River and its hiking trails.

• Baie-Comeau 📍 – This village-relais is renowned for its land observation sites for marine mammals, Quebec Route 389 which joins Fermont and Labrador to the north, its heavenly landscapes, its majestic hydroelectric infrastructures, and its varied offer of recreational and tourist activities.

• Pointe-des-Monts 📍 – It has one of the most beautiful lighthouses in Quebec.

• Sept-Îles 📍 – Largest city in the tourist region of Duplessis. Sept-Îles is quite a paradise for nature lovers. The surroundings include many forests, many sandy beaches, world famous lakes and rivers (especially for salmon fishing). Sept-Îles is a major centre for commercial, government (e.g., health), airport, maritime and road services.

• Havre-Saint-Pierre 📍 – Mingan Archipelago National Park Reserve (French: "Réserve de parc national de l'Archipel-de-Mingan") located off the coast of Havre-Saint-Pierre has several islands with a magnificent setting ideal for observing sea birds, moreover, the archipelago of Mingan is the best place in Quebec to observe the Atlantic puffin.

• Natashquan 📍 – The famous village where the poet Gilles Vigneault was born.

• Blanc-Sablon 📍 – Beyond Kegaska (village of the municipality of Côte-Nord-du-Golfe-du-Saint-Laurent), you have to take the Relais Nordik, a supply ship, to continue east in Basse-Côte-Nord.

See

• Birdwatching. It's not just marine mammals along the Whale Route. Indeed, a stop at Pointe-aux-Outardes (between Longue-Rive and Baie-Comeau) allows you to discover an ideal place for bird watchers which includes more than 200 bird species.

;Terrestrial observation sites

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Go next

• Route Blanche (English: "White Road"), a snowmobile trail on the Lower North Shore (MRC Le Golfe-du-Saint-Laurent), in the tourist region of Duplessis, stretching over 525 km between Natashquan and Blanc-Sablon. In winter, this road becomes the main mode of transportation between the villages of the Lower North Shore.
• Route Nature aux mille délices (English: "Nature route with a thousand delights"), a tourist route in Quebec, designated "gourmet route", aimed at highlighting the agrotourism products of the North Shore. It is on the Route des Baleines, between Tadoussac and Blanc-Sablon.