Hautes-Gorges-de-la-Rivière-Malbaie National Park

Hautes-Gorges-de-la-Rivière-Malbaie National Park, created in 2000 to protect this exceptional landscape recognized as one of the central areas of the Charlevoix Biosphere Reserve, owes its name to the deeply carved valleys between towering mountains whose rock faces—among the highest east of the Canadian Rockies—plunge in places over 800 metres to the bed of the Malbaie River, which meanders peacefully at the bottom of this spectacular gorge. The park's territory showcases remarkable forest diversity for its relatively compact geographic area, transitioning within just a few kilometres from sugar maple forest to alpine tundra, passing through typical mixed and boreal forests—an ecological gradient that allows hikers ascending the iconic Acropole-des-Draveurs trail—leading to the park's summit at 1,048 metres elevation—to witness a remarkable succession of distinct natural environments. For visitors preferring a less physically demanding experience, an hour-long scenic boat cruise allows you to ascend the valley and appreciate the breathtaking scale of the rock faces from the water, while canoe, kayak, and mountain bike rentals at Le Draveur Service Centre offer intermediate exploration options. The American marten, the park's faunal emblem, shares this territory with woodland caribou, bald eagles, and golden eagles, observable near the massive rock faces that dominate this exceptional valley.