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Departure
Jonquière

24 km

ROUTE DESCRIPTION

Between riverbanks, bike paths, and boulevards, here’s a lively urban route.

Start

2522 Saint-Dominique Street, Saguenay (Jonquière), Quebec G7X 6J7
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Finish

514 Racine Street East, Saguenay (Chicoutimi), Quebec G7H 1T9
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Distance

23 KM

Route duration

DAY 1

Difficulty level

MINIME

Elevation gain

75 M

Itinerary

From the Jonquière district to the Chicoutimi district

To leave Jonquière…

  • From Saint-Jean-Baptiste Street, behind Saint-Raphaël Church at 2381, turn left toward the bike path. When you reach the North Bike Path, turn left with the Rivière aux Sables on your right. At the intersection with Rue Du Vieux-Pont, turn right and cross the bridge. Take the southern bike path along the Rivière aux Sables on your left as you exit the bridge. (2 km)
  • From Rue Saint-Dominique, head to the Rivière aux Sables South bike path via either Rue Du Vieux-Pont (the bike path is on the right before crossing the bridge—1 km) or Rue Soucy to the end, then take the bike path to the right. (0.5 km)

ALL

  • Follow the bike path, cross thefirst dam (Joseph-Perron Dam), and continue to thesecond dam. Turn right. Cross the dam; you are now on Boulevard du Royaume. Keep to the left and walk to Rue Saint-Dominique. Turn left onto Rue Saint-Dominique; it will lead you to Boulevard du Saguenay. Turn right onto Boulevard du Saguenay and walk on the right side to access the bike path. The bike path begins near the cemetery. (4 km)
  • Follow the Saguenay Boulevard bike path, which runs through the Arvida and Saint-Jean-Eudes neighborhoods (along the old railroad line) to the Old Port (Chicoutimi). (18 km)
  • Walk to Côte Salaberry, which, on the right, overlooks the cathedral—a recommended place to stay. (1 km)

Practical Tips

Plan for today's drive

  • Water, soft bars
  • Lunch

Planning for the Road Ahead

  • Water, soft bars
  • Lunch

Points of View

Saguenay River in Saguenay (Chicoutimi)

To the left of a section of the bike path near Saguenay Boulevard, the river runs alongside the route, offering open views and a peaceful atmosphere.

Rivière aux Sables in Saguenay (Jonquière)

The river flows through the area and runs alongside urban developments in some places, offering an accessible setting for walking and peaceful viewpoints.

Restaurants / Food

Bizz Coop (groceries)

403 Racine Street East
, Chicoutimi, Quebec G7H 1S8
Tel. (418) 973-2499

Sorrento (Italian)

342 Sainte-Anne Street
, Chicoutimi, Quebec G7J 2M6
Tel. (418) 543-3198

Starbucks

430 Racine Street East
, Chicoutimi, Quebec G7H 1T7
Tel. (418) 973-5700

La Piazzetta

412 Saguenay Blvd. East
, Chicoutimi, Quebec G7H 7Y8
Tel. (418) 549-4860

Chez Georges Restaurant

433 Racine Street East
, Chicoutimi, Quebec G7H 1T5
Tel. (418) 543-2875

“Steakhouse” style with Mediterranean, Italian, and Lebanese influences

BOVORE

66 Racine Street West
, Chicoutimi, Quebec G7J 1E2
Tel. (418) 602-1652

Game specialties (venison, lamb, bison), beef tartare, etc.

The Kitchen

387 Racine Street East
, Chicoutimi, Quebec G7H 1S8
Tel. (418) 698-2822

French, Modern European, Quebecois

Accommodations

St. Francis Xavier Cathedral in Chicoutimi

514 Racine Street East
Saguenay, Quebec G1H 1T9
Tel. (418) 549-3212

Enter through the door on the north side.

Amenities: overnight lodging, small kitchen, restrooms. DONations welcome.

Downtown Inn

104 Jacques Cartier Street
Saguenay, Quebec G7H 1Y3

Once you’ve made your reservation, all the information about the establishment—including the phone number and address—will be available.

Les Citadines Inn

94 Jacques-Cartier Street East
Saguenay, Quebec G7H 1Y3

Other Hotels

Wide variety, see www.Booking.com

Airbnb: vacation rentals, B&Bs, etc.

Things to Do in Chicoutimi

HERITAGE AND CULTURE

Little White House Museum

The park at the Petite Maison Blanche, which withstood the 1996 flood when a dam gave way under the pressure of extremely heavy rain. Open from early June through mid-October.

251 Bossé Street, Chicoutimi, Quebec G7J 0K3
Tel. (581) 222-6610

www.petitemaisonblanche.com

HERITAGE AND CULTURE

Chicoutimi Pulp Mill Regional Museum

There isn’t much history about the paper mill. The size of the buildings is impressive and gives a sense of the industrial activity of the past. The collection includes 26,000 period artifacts and works by local artists.

300 Dubuc Street, Chicoutimi, Quebec G7J 4M1
Tel. (418) 698-3100

NATURE AND THE OUTDOORS

Trails in Moulin Park

Panoramic views from the marked trails for hiking and biking along a beautiful river. Accessible year-round, Lac du Moulin also offers water sports and fishing equipment (permit required).

1577 Rue des Roitelets, Chicoutimi, Quebec G7H 0K8
Tel. (418) 698-3235

HERITAGE AND CULTURE

Croix de Sainte-Anne Historic Park

Located on Cap Saint-Joseph, this is a historic site in Chicoutimi where a cross was erected in 1863; according to local legend, it stopped the major fire of 1870 and protected the hamlet of Sainte-Anne.

A lookout offers a magnificent view of the Saguenay River and the sunsets. Picnic tables are available on site.

EXPLORING THE CITY

Saguenay Port Area

Formerly known as the Old Port of Chicoutimi, this is a one-kilometer riverside promenade. It features bike and inline-skate paths. A popular spot for relaxation, with water features to enhance the area and entertain children. Events and festive activities are held here during the summer. There’s a snack bar and an ice cream shop. All of this is located right at the foot of Saint-François-Xavier Cathedral.

A Brief History of the Stopover Town

Chicoutimi

Permanent settlement of the Chicoutimi region began on June 24, 1676. Driven by the fur trade and a desire to spread the Gospel, a trading post and a Jesuit mission were established in this area, which had already been sporadically occupied for nearly five thousand years by First Nations peoples during their migrations.

In fact, at the confluence of the Chicoutimi and Saguenay Rivers, the site was already a stopping point for First Nations peoples who, via a series of portages along the Chicoutimi River, sought to reach the lowlands of Lake Saint-Jean or to leave them behind to reach the Saguenay River and Tadoussac region. The establishment of a settlement at this specific location facilitated encounters between them, French traders, and missionaries.

Now a borough of the major city of Saguenay, Chicoutimi is home to a vast and must-visit commercial district, the Université du Québec à Chicoutimi, and the Saguenay Integrated University Health and Social Services Center – Lac-Saint-Jean, the downtown Croissant Culturel (150 attractions), and the seat of a Catholic diocese.

 

Photos: 0x010C, CC BY-SA 4.0, and Katiou81, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons; Andre Ouellet on Unsplash.

Next Stop: Departure from Chicoutimi

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