Côte-Nord

Run by the Association Loisir Plein Air de Fermont (ALPAF), this campground sits on an exceptional site, right in the middle of the taiga, less than a kilometre from the services of the town of Fermont. It's the ideal base for exploring the Mur, the monts Severson and the whole mining area of Quebec's Far North.

The campground has 117 sites, most of them with 2 or 3 services. It also has a boat launch for pleasure craft giving access to lac Daviault, right nearby. Swimming, kayaking, fishing, hiking, campfires in the evening: everything invites you to unplug completely. There's also a children's playground, basketball and soccer courts, and pets are welcome.

What stays with you most is the striking contrast between the compact, urban feel of the Mur de Fermont and this quiet immensity of taiga, barely minutes away. Rates are very affordable — on the order of $15 to $30 a night — and the campground is open from June 15 to September 10, a necessarily short season at this latitude.

A genuine little northern paradise, where contact with nature comes with quiet and wide open space. Book ahead: the season is brief and the spots are in demand!

Before visiting the Daniel-Johnson dam, the Motel de l'Énergie is THE place to stop on Route 389. At km 211, roughly 211 km north of Baie-Comeau, it is quite simply the only accommodation available in this stretch — which is to say you don't choose it by chance, but you're very glad it exists!

The place offers literally everything under one roof: motel rooms, a restaurant, a gas station and a licensed convenience store. For campers, a campground service is also available, perfect for anyone travelling by RV, by tent or, in our case, by Tesla. You'll find everything you need for a fine night under the northern stars, in a wild and perfectly silent setting.

What gives the place its charm is precisely its isolation. Hundreds of kilometres from the first real town, surrounded by boreal forest and mountains, you genuinely feel you're into something. The atmosphere is rustic, the welcome warm and typically Côte-Nord, and being able to have dinner and sleep in the same place is a luxury you appreciate at its full value on this road.

One practical tip: book the guided tour of Manic-5 on the Hydro-Québec website BEFORE you set out on the 389. 

The Côte-Nord — From Tadoussac to Sept-Îles, the call of the open water

Stretching along the majestic St. Lawrence River, the Côte-Nord is one of the wildest and most spectacular regions of Quebec. Between endless boreal forest, steep cliffs, tumbling rivers and a river that gradually turns into a sea, it offers total immersion in magnificent nature. Three emblematic territories unfold here: the Haute-Côte-Nord, Manicouagan and Sept-Rivières, each with its own character.

La Haute-Côte-Nord

The gateway to the region, the Haute-Côte-Nord greets you with charming villages and breathtaking landscapes. Tadoussac, nestled at the mouth of the Saguenay fjord, is known worldwide for its whale-watching excursions — belugas, fin whales, blue whales and minke whales come to feast here every summer. Its little red wooden chapel, the oldest still standing in North America, and its giant sand dunes add to its undeniable charm. Farther along, Les Escoumins, Les Bergeronnes and Les Grandes-Bergeronnes offer quality marine interpretation centres and some of the most renowned dive sites in the country.

Manicouagan

Manicouagan takes its name from the imposing river that runs through it and from its famous crater, the remnant of a meteorite that fell more than 200 million years ago — a ring of water visible from space. The region impresses with both human and natural feats: the Daniel-Johnson dam (Manic-5), with its majestic arches, is one of the largest multiple-arch dams in the world and makes for a fascinating visit. Baie-Comeau, a town of aluminum and paper, appeals with its industrial architecture and its heritage circuits. Outdoor enthusiasts appreciate the landscapes of the rivière aux Outardes, the trails of the parc Nature de Pointe-aux-Outardes (a birdwatching paradise) and the seals along the shore.

Sept-Rivières

Farther east, the Sept-Rivières region owes its name to the seven rivers that empty into the gulf near Sept-Îles, its main town. An important industrial port, the city nonetheless shows a warm face with its Vieux-Quai promenade, lively in summer, its urban beaches and its islands to explore by boat — the Sept-Îles archipelago is a genuine jewel, perfect for kayaking, seabird watching and swimming at sunset. Port-Cartier, farther west, appeals with its spectacular coastal scenery, its impressive waterfalls and the parc régional des Sept-Chutes, ideal for hiking. Innu culture, present everywhere in the region, finds expression notably at the Musée Shaputuan and at the not-to-be-missed Innu Nikamu festival, a vibrant celebration of Indigenous music.

A region apart

The Côte-Nord is also the warm welcome of the Nord-Côtiers, those scenic roads (Route 138 follows the river for hundreds of kilometres), those local products such as wild berries, fresh seafood and salmon, along with that singular feeling of being at the end of the world, where the river becomes an ocean. Whether it's to watch whales, explore immense territories or simply get away from the bustle, the Côte-Nord offers a complete change of scene, only a few hours' drive from Quebec City.

A trip by Tesla for a first taste of this magnificent region. Six days weren't enough to reach the end of the road, and it was also a chance to visit a friend.

About 10 minutes from downtown Baie-Comeau, on the Côte-Nord, the Camping Lac Malfait offers a peaceful, bucolic setting, ideal for outdoor lovers and families. The site, on the shore of lac Malfait, gives you a calm natural setting where you can unplug while staying close to town. Managed by the Lac Malfait recreational association, the campground has about thirty sites (seasonal and for travellers) with 2 services. Rates run between $30 and $50 a night, and the campground is open from June 1 to September 25. The site is perfect for the whole family, with a fine view of the lake. As for activities, you're spoiled for choice: a beach, swimming, beach volleyball, a boat launch for anyone who likes to fish or get out on the water, golf nearby, bike trails and campfires permitted. Pets are also welcome free of charge — perfect for anyone travelling with a four-legged companion! A stop that is at once quiet and well equipped, perfect for exploring the Manicouagan region and getting your fill of nature a stone's throw from Baie-Comeau's big attractions (the Daniel-Johnson dam, the parc Nature de Pointe-aux-Outardes, and so on).

For anyone travelling by RV on the Côte-Nord, the Camping municipal de Sept-Îles is a stop as practical as it is scenic. Behind the Maison du Tourisme de Sept-Îles, at 1401 boul. Laure Ouest, this site for motorized camping vehicles offers 18 sites, 3 services, a washroom block and a sweeping view over Sept-Îles bay. Close to downtown, it's the ideal base for visiting the Vieux-Quai promenade, the shops and the restaurants of the city, while enjoying a peaceful setting. The campground is reserved exclusively for self-contained vehicles (class A, B, C, trailers and so on), but also offers 4 platforms (12 ft x 12 ft) for rustic tenting. Count on $35/night for a motorized vehicle and $16/night for the tent platforms, with a maximum of 5 nights. Registration is done at the Maison du Tourisme during opening hours.

A fine discovery on the Côte-Nord! The restaurant Café Chez Sophie is a charming little local bistro where you can enjoy a very wide choice of starters, surprising thin-crust pizzas, delicious pastas and salads, on top of a broad choice of wines by the glass and microbrewery beers. 

What we particularly liked: the intimate atmosphere of the little bistro, the attentive service and the variety of the menu. A local institution you absolutely have to try. 

The restaurant's name refers to the clinking of glasses and to the little bell in the kitchen. It's an unpretentious, human-scale place where you have a drink and a few dishes to share in a pleasant setting. There's also a large terrace that can seat about twenty people. Chef Marie-Noël Tremblay builds on market cooking with plenty of seafood, fish and local vegetables. Everything is made in house, with no pre-made products. She sources notably from market gardeners in Les Bergeronnes, and the menu changes with what comes in. The service is impeccable even on busy evenings. It's a friendly, local, no-fuss address, ideal for a good meal in Tadoussac. Perfect if you're passing through the region this summer!

A stone's throw from the famous village of Tadoussac, on the Côte-Nord, Camping Tadoussac offers one of the finest camping experiences in Quebec. Perched on the mountainside, it treats visitors to a striking panorama over the mouth of the Saguenay Fjord and the St. Lawrence River, ranked among the most beautiful bays in the world. And what a sunrise! Run by Vacances Essipit (an Innu company), the campground has 193 sites with a spectacular view, with options for every kind of camper: sites with 1, 2 or 3 services (water, electricity, sewer), ready-to-camp tents already set up, a small house and fully equipped rustic cabins. The sites are separated from one another by trees for more privacy, and each one comes with a fire pit and a picnic table.  The campground is also a few minutes from the village of Tadoussac, where you can browse the charming shops, savour local specialties in the restaurants or visit the famous Tadoussac chapel, the oldest wooden church in North America. Special mention: you can even spot whales with a good pair of binoculars straight from the campground! In short, a magical place to experience the Côte-Nord in its natural state — a guaranteed favourite for anyone who loves the outdoors and grand landscapes.