Between the St. Lawrence River and the mountains, the Côte-de-Beaupré offers an especially appealing playground for road cyclists. Just minutes from Québec City, you can quickly leave the urban landscape behind and ride along scenic country roads, through villages and farmland, with the option of adding a few solid climbs when you feel like putting your legs to work.
At the heart of the region’s cycling network is the Véloroute Marie-Hélène-Prémont, a nearly 55-km route that crosses seven municipalities on the Côte-de-Beaupré. But there is no need to ride the entire route to enjoy it!
Whether you are looking for a longer ride from Québec City, a gourmet outing along Avenue Royale or a more challenging route with plenty of elevation, there are several ways to explore the region.
Here are 4 road cycling routes to discover the Côte-de-Beaupré at your own pace.
Main photo: Pierre-Nicolas Lessard
Feel like hopping on your bike and simply putting in the kilometres? This is probably one of the most classic road cycling rides on the Côte-de-Beaupré.
From Québec City, make your way toward Montmorency Falls, then join the Véloroute Marie-Hélène-Prémont heading toward Sainte-Anne-de-Beaupré. Once you reach Avenue Royale, it is time to settle into your pace and keep riding all the way to the Basilica and the Sainte-Anne-de-Beaupré pier.
The route is particularly enjoyable on a road bike. You will ride through L’Ange-Gardien and Château-Richer, surrounded by farmland, heritage homes and mountains gradually appearing in the distance. The road rolls nicely and makes it easy to simply enjoy the ride.
Need a destination to aim for? Head to Café Apollo in the heart of Sainte-Anne-de-Beaupré. It has become a favourite meeting place for local road cyclists, and it is not unusual to see several bikes parked outside. Order a coffee, a pastry or something to eat, refuel… then get back in the saddle for the ride to Québec City.
It is a simple outing where the pleasure is all about the ride, with a great coffee waiting for you at the halfway point.
For a completely different atmosphere, head toward Saint-Joachim and the Cap Tourmente National Wildlife Area.
Here, the landscape opens up and the road winds through beautiful agricultural scenery. Mountains rise in the background as you pedal through one of the oldest settled areas of the Côte-de-Beaupré.
You can create a loop of approximately 10 kilometres in the area or simply choose a section of the Véloroute Marie-Hélène-Prémont depending on how much time you have.
Take the time to stop at La Grande Ferme, explore the heritage heart of Saint-Joachim and continue on to the Cap Tourmente National Wildlife Area. In spring and fall, the migration of Snow Geese makes the ride even more spectacular.
It is a beautiful road cycling route for anyone who wants to log a few kilometres without necessarily making performance the main goal.
What if, for once, the goal of your ride was not to rack up kilometres?
The Véloroute Marie-Hélène-Prémont crosses a region filled with great local food and drink. All it takes is a few well-planned stops to turn a road cycling outing into a delicious Circuit gourmand tour of the Côte-de-Beaupré.
Make a detour to Ferme Comte de Roussy to discover products grown on site, stop at Praline et Chocolat in Château-Richer for a well-earned sugar boost, or visit Domaine L’Ange-Gardien, a vineyard overlooking the St. Lawrence River and Île d’Orléans.
And those are just a few examples! Several businesses featured in the Côte-de-Beaupré Circuit Gourmand are located directly along the route or only a short detour away. Depending on how far you want to ride, it is easy to choose a few addresses and create your own gourmet cycling itinerary.
Our tip? Check out the Circuit gourmand before you leave and choose two or three stops along your route. There is no need to overdo it — the whole point is to take your time!
Do you like your road rides to burn the legs a little more? Leave the flatter roads near the river behind and start climbing toward Mont-Sainte-Anne and Saint-Ferréol-les-Neiges.
The terrain quickly becomes more rolling, making it easy to add a healthy dose of elevation to your route.
Côte Sainte-Anne is one of the most popular climbs in the area. Around Saint-Ferréol-les-Neiges, you can create a variety of loops combining country roads, climbs and descents, with the Mont-Sainte-Anne massif as a backdrop.
And once the climbing is done? Saint-Ferréol-les-Neiges offers plenty of good reasons to stop before heading back downhill!
You simply do not experience the Côte-de-Beaupré the same way from a bike.
You notice a house you had never seen before, decide to stop for a view or discover a small local business simply because it happened to be along your route.
There is no need to aim for a specific distance or performance goal. Choose a route that suits you, pick a few places you would like to stop… then let the day unfold one kilometre at a time.
Enjoy the ride!
Where can I go road cycling near Québec City?
The Côte-de-Beaupré offers several road cycling options just minutes from Québec City. The Véloroute Marie-Hélène-Prémont allows cyclists to start in the Montmorency Falls area and continue toward L’Ange-Gardien, Château-Richer, Sainte-Anne-de-Beaupré, Saint-Joachim, Cap-Tourmente or the Mont-Sainte-Anne area.
How long is the Véloroute Marie-Hélène-Prémont?
The Véloroute Marie-Hélène-Prémont stretches for nearly 55 km and crosses seven municipalities on the Côte-de-Beaupré.
Can you bike from Québec City to Sainte-Anne-de-Beaupré?
Yes. You can reach the Montmorency Falls area from Québec City and then continue toward Sainte-Anne-de-Beaupré via the Véloroute Marie-Hélène-Prémont and Avenue Royale.
Where can I do a shorter bike ride on the Côte-de-Beaupré?
The Saint-Joachim and Cap-Tourmente area is particularly well suited to a shorter ride. You can also choose just one section of the Véloroute Marie-Hélène-Prémont and return the same way.
Where can I find more elevation for road cycling on the Côte-de-Beaupré?
The Beaupré, Mont-Sainte-Anne and Saint-Ferréol-les-Neiges areas offer more climbing opportunities. Côte Sainte-Anne is one of the notable climbs in the area.
Can I combine road cycling with gourmet discoveries on the Côte-de-Beaupré?
Yes. The Véloroute Marie-Hélène-Prémont follows the Route de la Nouvelle-France and provides access to several cafés, vineyards, producers and local businesses. It is a great way to combine road cycling with discoveries along the Côte-de-Beaupré Gourmet Circuit.
What are the best road cycling routes on the Côte-de-Beaupré?
The Véloroute Marie-Hélène-Prémont makes it possible to create several road cycling routes on the Côte-de-Beaupré. Popular options include riding from Québec City to Sainte-Anne-de-Beaupré, exploring Saint-Joachim and Cap-Tourmente, planning a gourmet ride along the Véloroute or adding more elevation by heading toward Mont-Sainte-Anne and Saint-Ferréol-les-Neiges.
