Port-Cartier

Port-Cartier is a town in the North Shore region of eastern Quebec. It's in Sept-Rivières region, on the Route des Baleines and the Route Nature aux mille délices (gourmet route).

Port-Cartier is the gateway to the Sept-Rivières region from the west. It is particularly known for its mining and forestry industry as well as its services to travellers on route 138.

The main tourist attractions in the Port-Cartier region are:

  • recreational parks: at the mouth of the Rivière aux Rochers (e.g., Patterson Island, McCormick Island, Keeting Island, Quai Island) and other municipal parks (in particular, Rochelois Municipal Park, Cascades Park);
  • the Port-Cartier-Sept-Îles wildlife reserve, operated by SÉPAQ;
  • its fine sandy beach extending over 11 km (6.8 mi) on the coast of the Gulf of St. Lawrence; Rochelois Beach Park is a good place to enjoy the beach;
  • its museums and historical sites: Port-Cartier is the scene of a great history of all eras, beginning with the passage of the Indigenous people who frequented the territory from approximately 9000 years ago; the arrival of Basque fishermen at the end of the 15th century; the passage of Jacques-Cartier in 1535; the ascent of the Gulf of St. Lawrence by the ships of Admiral Walker's army, many of which ran aground near Port-Cartier; the English conquest of 1759; and industrial history. The local museums make a beautiful interpretation of this great history;
  • its mountain bike and snowmobile trails; the vast forest and mountain territory has a rich nature to discover;
  • its cycle or pedestrian paths; the itinerary of cycle paths allows you to discover the whole of the city and the islands at the mouth of the Rivière aux Rochers;
  • its service offer in hunting & fishing activities;
  • nautical excursions on the Gulf of St. Lawrence, on the waterways and bodies of water in the region.

Understand

Port-Cartier is one of the two largest municipalities in the region along with Sept-Îles. In addition to its main village, the city of Port-Cartier also includes the villages of Pointe-aux-Anglais (Cannon township) and Rivière-Pentecôte (Fitzpatrick township). Pointe-aux-Anglais owes its name to the sinking of 11 ships of the British fleet in the St. Lawrence River off Île aux Œufs in 1711, forcing Admiral Walker to abandon his mission to take Quebec City. The coastline of the village of Pointe-aux-Anglais includes a fine sandy beach of 11 km (6.8 mi).

Get in

By bus
  • 🌍 Intercar, 1, rue McCormick, ☏ +1 418-766-2787. Intercity bus service. (updated Jul 2022)

By car

Port-Cartier is located on Route 138, the main road in the region. It more or less runs along the coast of the North Shore of the St. Lawrence River and Gulf.

  • From Quebec (580 km, time: 7 hr 12 min non stop). Take Autoroute 20 (westbound) up to Saint-Hilaire; take Grande-Allée (westbound); take the 116 (westbound).
  • From Sept-Îles (62 km, time: 44 min non stop). Take Route 138 (westbound) to downtown Port-Cartier.

Get around

Port-Cartier includes a network of bike paths extending from east to west of the city.

It is on the Route des Baleines (Whale Route).

See

Touristic circuits
  • Shelter Bay Heritage Tour (Circuit patrimonial de Shelter Bay), ☏ +1 418-766-4414, toll-free: +1-888-466-6944. May to October. Series of interpretive panels throughout the city relating the history of the municipality and the characters. The circuit map is available for free online and at the tourist information office. The circuit can be traveled on foot, by bicycle or by car. Free. (updated Jul 2022)
  • 🌍 McCormick Island (Île McCormick) (via Boulevard des Îles). Graffiti café-théâtre built on the ruins of Colonel McCormick's mansion, picnic areas, beaches, beach volleyball court, cultural and sporting events. (updated Jul 2022)
  • 🌍 Patterson Island (Île Patterson) (via Boulevard des Îles). Remains of the Quebec North Shore Paper with interpretation panels, nature of the taiga, hiking trails, bird watching, salmon pits, view of the fall of the Rivière aux Rochers dam. (updated Jul 2022)

Museums and historical sites
  • 🌍 Port-Cartier History Interpretation Center (Centre d'interprétation de l'histoire de Port-Cartier), 38, avenue Parent, ☏ +1 418-766-4414, toll-free: +1-888-766-6944, . June to mid-September: daily 09:00-17:00. In the basement of the Sacré-Coeur church, panoramic exhibition on the history of Port-Cartier and the region with period photos, visit of the church including the interpretation of the stained glass windows made by local craftsmen. Average length of visit: one hour. (updated Jul 2022)
  • 🌍 Louis Langlois Museum (Musée Louis-Langlois), 2088, rue Monseigneur-Labrie (Pointe-aux-Anglais), ☏ +1 418-799-2212, toll-free: +1-888-766-6944, fax: +1-418-766-4412, . End of June to end of August: W-Su 09:00-17:00. In a residence dating from 1873, an exhibition called "In the footsteps of Walker" telling the story of the sinking of a British ship in 1711 off the coast of Île aux Œufs and presenting numerous artefacts, objects and photos of time including the village's first Stations of the Cross, evoking the history of Pointe-aux-Anglais and Rivière-Pentecôte. Guided tour. Picnic area and access to the beach. This is the local tourist information office. (updated Jul 2022)
  • 🌍 Rivière-Pentecost Historic Site (Site historique de Rivière-Pentecôte) (by road 138 (Rivière-Pentecost)). Former site of the sawmill, mill and docks partially restored, vestiges of the past, heritage trail, picnic areas, campground. (updated Jul 2022)

Parks
  • 🌍 Rochelois Beach Park (Parc de la plage Rochelois) (via boulevard du Portage-des-Mousses and rue des Rochelois), ☏ +1 418-766-4414. Family park on the banks of the St. Lawrence River bordered by a bike path and including a children's playground and a boardwalk for walking. The fine sandy beach is unsupervised and stretches for almost 1 km (0.62 mi). At low tide, you can walk on the seabed and observe the aquatic fauna. On the horizon, you can see the wreck of the Lady Era, an ore carrier that ran aground near the shore in 1977. (updated Jul 2022)
  • 🌍 Rivière-aux-Rochers Park - salmon trap (Parc de la Rivière-aux-Rochers - piège à saumon), 24, rue Luc-Mayrant, ☏ +1 418-766-2777, fax: +1 418-766-2888, . End of June to mid-August, daily from 10:00-19:00. Salmon interpretation site, visit of the salmon capture system in full rise of the river, observation of the fall and sports fishermen in action, exhibitions on salmon, hiking trails, picnic areas, checkpoint reception of salmon fishermen. Average length of visit: one hour. Reservation required for buses. Accessible for people with reduced mobility. (updated Jul 2022)
  • 🌍 Taiga park (Parc de la taïga), Chemin des Îles, ☏ +1 418-766-4414, toll-free: +1-888-766-6944. Open year round. 2 km (1.2 mi) of beginner level hiking trails on Patterson Island in the heart of the city allowing you to discover the boreal forest and see the fall of the Rivière aux Rochers. During the fishing season, salmon fishermen can be observed in action in one of the 12 pits along the trail. There is parking at the entrance to the site. Free. (updated Jul 2022)
  • Promenade of the small wharf (P'tit Quai) (Promenade du P'tit Quai), Avenue Parent, ☏ +1 418-766-4414, toll-free: +1-888-766-6944. April to December. Promenade along the Rivière aux Rochers offering a view of Port-Cartier and the river. Picnic, rest and play areas. Near restaurants and bike paths. Free. (updated Jul 2022)

Do
  • 🌍 Port-Cartier–Sept-Îles Wildlife Reserve (Réserve faunique de Port-Cartier–Sept-Îles), Chemin de la Réserve-de-Sept-Îles-Port-Cartier, ☏ +1 418-766-2524, toll-free: +1-800-665-6527, fax: +1 418-766-2921, . May to September. Wildlife reserve operated by the Sépaq (Société des establishments de plein air du Québec) with an area of 6,423 km2 (2,480 sq mi) offering magnificent landscapes including Walker Lake and the footbridge joining MacDonald Falls. It is possible to practice a range of outdoor activities such as swimming, boating, hiking, kayaking and mountain biking. For fishing enthusiasts, the reserve offers day or stay packages for sport trout fishing. It is also possible to fish for salmon in the Rochers and MacDonald rivers. For hunters, there is bear and small game hunting as well as hare trapping. Lodging is offered in cabins and camping. There are picnic areas. Free. (updated Jul 2022)
  • 🌍 Les Goélands outdoor base (Base de plein air Les Goélands), Route 138, ☏ +1 418-766-8706, fax: +1 418-766-8836, . Open year-round. Hiking trails, mountain biking, beach, observation of migratory birds, cross-country skiing, snowmobiling, playground, restaurant, camping, dormitory accommodation. Free. (updated Jul 2022)

Outdoor activities
  • Network of cycle paths (Réseau de piste cyclables). 6 km (3.7 mi) bike path network in the city, 3 km (1.9 mi) bike paths starting at Rivière-Pentecôte and going to Baie-des-Lobsters, offering a magnificent view of the St. Lawrence River, multifunctional Girard trail of 8 km (5.0 mi) in nature for cyclists and walkers. Free. (updated Jul 2022)
  • Sport fishing (Pêche sportive). The Pentecost and Riverin rivers as well as Pentecost and Dupont lakes are suitable for fishing from the wharf or the edge of the rivers, boats are necessary for the lakes, species include salmon, speckled trout and sea trout. Free. (updated Jul 2022)
  • Kayak. On the St. Lawrence River or on the lakes and other rivers. Free. (updated Jul 2022)
  • Snowmobile (Motoneige), ☏ +1 418-766-8706. Club Odanak, trails connected to the Golfe-et-du-Caribou circuit going to Fermont. Free. (updated Jul 2022)
  • 🌍 Hiking (Randonnées pédestres). Walks on the islands, the beach, at the outdoor centre, in the wildlife reserve and in the Rivière-aux-Rochers park. The main marked trails are:
    • Loop of the islands (Boucle des Îles): 2.6-km trail.
    • Access to Pointe Thériault (Accès à la Pointe Thériault): 1.4-km trail.
    • Gull Trails (Sentiers des Goélands): 1.8-km trail.
    • Pointe Vigneault Road (Chemin de la Pointe Vigneault): 6.1-km trail. Free. (updated Jul 2022)

Buy
  • 🌍 Boutique Marie-Fleur Florist (Boutique Marie-Fleur Fleuriste), 4, boulevard des Îles, ☏ +1 418-766-6505. Florist. (updated Jul 2022)
  • 🌍 Les Galeries des Îles, 8, boulevard des Îles, ☏ +1 418-766-3033. Mall. (updated Jul 2022)

Eat

Port-Cartier offers restaurants, dining rooms, cafes-restaurants, canteens. Seafood and local products are highlighted in the gastronomic menus.

Cafés
  • 🌍 Café-Cartier, 48, avenue Parent, ☏ +1 418-766-1393. Daily 11:00 to 22:00. Coffee, sandwiches, paninis, salads, ice cream. (updated Jul 2022)
  • 🌍 Café Bob-Inette, 8, boulevard des Îles (in the Islands gallery). Fast food, coffee, soup, sandwiches. (updated Jul 2022)
  • 🌍 Café-théâtre Graffiti, 50, chemin des Îles (île McCormick), ☏ +1 418-766-3513, toll-free: +1-888-766-0101, fax: +1 418-766-2162, . June to August: W-Su from 14:00 (by reservation the rest of the year). Coffee, seafood, fine regional, Canadian and Italian cuisine. Bar, terrace, intimate atmosphere. Shows, visual art exhibitions by regional artists. (updated Jul 2022)
  • 🌍 Tim Hortons, 7, rue de Shelter Bay, ☏ +1 418-766-3636. (updated Jul 2022)

Canteen
  • 🌍 Cantine Le Roi de la patate / Bar laitier La Lichée, 58, rue Élie-Rochefort, ☏ +1 418-766-2121. Seasonal. Fast food, ice cream. (updated Jul 2022)

Restaurants
  • 🌍 Restaurant des Chutes, 24, rue des Chutes, ☏ +1 418-766-2787. Canadian and Italian cuisine, grills, seafood, rotisserie. Delivery service. (updated Jul 2022)
  • 🌍 Restaurant Le Forum, 6, boulevard des Îles, ☏ +1 418-766-8881. Daily 05:00-21:00. Canadian, Italian, Chinese and Greek cuisine. Delivery service. (updated Jul 2022)
  • 🌍 Le Routier de Pentecôte, 2767, route Jacques-Cartier (route 138) (Pointe-aux-Anglais), ☏ +1 418-799-2600. M-F 07:00-19:00. Fast food, Canadian and seafood. (updated Jul 2022)
  • 🌍 Resto-pub Le Remous, 25, avenue Parent, ☏ +1 418 766-3070. Tu-F 11:00-20:00, Sa Su 16:00-22:00. Fish, seafood, fine pizza, Canadian and Italian cuisine. Terrace. Delivery service. (updated Jul 2022)

Fish
  • 🌍 Mar-Gil fishmonger and butcher (Poissonnerie-boucherie Mar-Gil), 1, rue des Pins, ☏ +1 418-766-2811. Fishmonger, butcher, prepared meals, regional products. (updated Jul 2022)

Supermarkets

Drink

Sleep

Port-Cartier tourist accommodation includes camping, summer camp, inn, youth hostel, bed and breakfast, motel and hotel.

Inns

Youth hostel
  • 🌍 Auberge de jeunesse Manoir aux Rochers, 8, rue des Rochelois, ☏ +1 418-766-3173, fax: +1 418-766-4447. Shared kitchen, laundry room, storage for bicycles and skis. 24 rooms. 3 stars. (updated Jul 2022)

Chalets

Dormitory

Gîtes
  • 🌍 Gîte Le Vent de mer, 42, place McCormick, ☏ +1 418-766-2191, . Open year-round. Wireless internet access, non-smoking, gazebo, storage for bicycles and skis. Lunch. 4 units. 3 stars. (updated Jul 2022)
  • 🌍 Hébergement de la Promenade, 2, rue de Tonawanda, ☏ +1 418-766-2925, . Open year-round. High-speed wireless internet access, kitchenette, non-smoking, laundry room, shed for bicycles, snowmobiles and skis. 1 unit (up to 8 people). 3 stars. (updated Jul 2022)
  • 🌍 The Pioneer House (La Maison des pionniers), 4568, rue des Pionniers (Rivière-Pentecôte), ☏ +1 514-217-7113, . Open year-round. Kitchenette, non-smoking, pets allowed, laundry room, gazebo, view of the St. Lawrence River, shed for bicycles, snowmobiles and skis. 1 unit. 4 stars. (updated Jul 2022)

Hotels

Camping

Connect

Access to wireless networks in mobile telephony is available on the territory of the village of Port-Cartier. Access to networks along Route 138 may vary from location to location.

Go next
Routes through Port-Cartier
New York State→Elgin ← Montréal ←  W  E  → Kegaska→(discontinued between Kegaska and Bonne-Espérance)→Bonne-Espérance → Blanc-Sablon→Labrador


  • 🌍 Baie-Trinité Mountainous municipality, forest and crossed by the rivers of the Trinity, it includes the township of Royer and De Monts, as well as the magnificent villages of Pointe-des-Monts, Pointe-à-Poulin, Baie-Trinité (west, center and east) and Petit-Mai.
  • 🌍 Sept-Îles The largest city in the region. Sept-Îles is quite a paradise for nature lovers. Surrounding areas include a lot of forests, many sandy beaches, lakes and world-renowned rivers (notably for salmon fishing).
  • 🌍 Lac-Walker Unorganized territory of the Sept-Rivières region.

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