Côte-Nord (region)

The road that ends at Natashquan

Route 138 runs along the north shore of the Saint-Laurent from Québec City northeast to Natashquan, a distance of approximately 730 km. It is the only road serving the Côte-Nord and it simply stops at Natashquan, a village of around 300 people where Gilles Vigneault was born and which has been the end of the road since the highway was extended there in 1996. Beyond Natashquan, there are communities — Kegaska, La Romaine, Chevery, Harrington Harbour, Tête-à-la-Baleine — that have no road connection to the rest of Québec and are accessible only by small aircraft or supply boat.

The Côte-Nord is not a region that simplifies travel. The distances are real, the services are sparse, and the towns are small. What it offers in exchange is a quality of landscape and wilderness that is increasingly rare in eastern Canada, plus some of the most interesting geology in Québec — the Mingan Archipelago’s limestone monoliths are unlike anything else in the province — and communities with a mix of French, English, and Innu culture that you will not find anywhere else.

GetYourGuide does not list activities anywhere on the Côte-Nord. For whale watching, kayaking, and excursions, book directly with local operators — see individual destination pages for specific recommendations.

The three distinct sections of the Côte-Nord

From Tadoussac to Baie-Comeau (~200 km)

This is the best-covered section for tourism infrastructure. Tadoussac is technically part of the Côte-Nord region and is the premier whale-watching hub in eastern North America — belugas and minke whales are present from May to October, with fin whales, humpbacks, and blue whales peaking in July and August. Croisières AML and Otis Excursions operate the main whale-watching boats from Tadoussac.

The drive east from Tadoussac to Baie-Comeau (about 215 km) follows the north shore with regular river crossings and ferry connections. The landscape is boreal forest and river mouths, increasingly dramatic as you push east.

Baie-Comeau is the largest town on the Côte-Nord and the base for visiting the Manic hydroelectric complex — Manic-2 and Manic-5 are remarkable engineering achievements and offer free guided tours through Hydro-Québec.

From Baie-Comeau to Sept-Îles (~200 km)

Route 138 continues east through sparsely populated boreal forest. The most significant stop is Sept-Îles, the second-largest city on the Côte-Nord (population ~26,000). Sept-Îles has the Musée régional de la Côte-Nord, the reconstructed Vieux-Poste trading post, and the Archipel des Sept-Îles for boat excursions.

The Innu community of Uashat-Mani-Utenam is adjacent to Sept-Îles and has cultural interpretation facilities and the Shaputuan Museum, which covers Innu history and land use.

From Sept-Îles to Natashquan (~330 km)

This is the most remote and least-visited section. The key stops are:

Havre-Saint-Pierre (300 km east of Sept-Îles): the gateway to the Mingan Archipelago National Park Reserve. The limestone monoliths of Mingan are the Côte-Nord’s most globally distinctive natural attraction.

Anticosti Island: accessible by air or ferry from Havre-Saint-Pierre, this island is UNESCO-listed (2023), extraordinarily deer-dense, and one of the most unusual wilderness destinations in Québec.

Longue-Pointe-de-Mingan: second access point for Mingan excursions, 50 km east of Havre-Saint-Pierre.

Natashquan: the end of Route 138. A small fishing and artistic community with deep connections to Gilles Vigneault’s music and poetry. There is an interpretation centre, a village of ancestral fishing huts along the shore (Le Vieux Poste de Natashquan), and almost no tourist infrastructure.

Planning your Route 138 drive

Logistics

Vehicle: a reliable car with good ground clearance is recommended. Route 138 is entirely paved between Tadoussac and Natashquan, but secondary roads and park access roads can be rough.

Fuel: fill up in every town. Gas stations become progressively more infrequent east of Sept-Îles. Between Havre-Saint-Pierre and Natashquan there are very limited fuel options.

Accommodation: Baie-Comeau, Sept-Îles, and Havre-Saint-Pierre all have hotels and motels. East of Havre-Saint-Pierre, options are minimal — Natashquan has a small auberge and some camping. Book everything in advance for July and August.

Mobile phone coverage: Rogers and Telus have coverage in the main towns but the rural stretches between have significant coverage gaps. Download offline maps before leaving.

Food: bring provisions for the stretches between towns. Baie-Comeau, Sept-Îles, and Havre-Saint-Pierre have grocery stores. East of Havre-Saint-Pierre, plan ahead.

Recommended itinerary (7 days)

Day 1: Québec City → Tadoussac. Evening whale watching. Day 2: Tadoussac — full day: morning whale-watching zodiac tour, afternoon Saguenay fjord hike. Day 3: Tadoussac → Baie-Comeau (~215 km). Afternoon Manic-2 guided tour. Day 4: Baie-Comeau — full day: Manic-5 guided tour (drive 220 km inland; early start required), return to Baie-Comeau. Day 5: Baie-Comeau → Sept-Îles (~200 km). Afternoon Vieux-Poste and archipelago boat cruise. Day 6: Sept-Îles → Havre-Saint-Pierre (~300 km). Afternoon Mingan excursion boat. Day 7: Havre-Saint-Pierre/Longue-Pointe — Mingan Archipelago full day. Return to Sept-Îles or continue to Natashquan.

Returning from Natashquan requires either backtracking on Route 138 or flying from one of the small airports at Havre-Saint-Pierre or Sept-Îles.

Ferry connections across the Saint-Laurent

Several ferries cross between the Côte-Nord and the south shore, allowing loop itineraries rather than the out-and-back Route 138 drive:

Trois-Pistoles → Les Escoumins: late spring to mid-October, approximately 1h15 crossing. Connects the Bas-Saint-Laurent to the Côte-Nord.

Rivière-du-Loup → Saint-Siméon: 65-minute crossing, connects to Tadoussac via 45 km on Route 138.

Matane → Baie-Comeau or Godbout: connects the Gaspésie to the Côte-Nord. Two destinations; check CTM-NAVMAR schedule.

These ferries enable a classic circular Québec trip: Québec City → Charlevoix → Tadoussac (north shore) → Baie-Comeau → Matane ferry south → Gaspésie → Bas-Saint-Laurent → return to Québec City.

Wildlife

The Côte-Nord is one of the best regions in Québec for large wildlife encounters.

Whales: the richest whale-watching waters in eastern Canada are in and around the Saguenay–Saint-Laurent Marine Park, centred on Tadoussac. Belugas are present year-round in lower numbers and in concentrations from May to October; humpbacks, fin whales, and occasional blue whales peak in late July and August.

Moose: present throughout the boreal forest interior. The best chances are early morning along secondary roads, particularly between Baie-Comeau and Sept-Îles.

Black bear: common but rarely seen. Most visible in berry seasons (late July, August).

Migratory birds: the north shore of the Saint-Laurent is a major migratory corridor. Seabirds (gannets, razorbills, Atlantic puffins) are visible on boat excursions from Sept-Îles.

Honest assessment

The Côte-Nord is not a region that makes travel easy. The distances are large, the services are thin, and the language barrier (French only in most places) is a real practical consideration for non-French-speaking visitors.

What it offers is access to a stretch of Québec that is genuinely remote by North American standards — boreal wilderness, extraordinary geology at Mingan, whale-rich waters at Tadoussac, and a road that ends because there is nothing beyond it except more wilderness. For travellers who find value in that kind of finitude, it is one of the most rewarding road trips Québec offers.

For the best Côte-Nord experience, read our individual guides to Tadoussac, Baie-Comeau, Sept-Îles, Mingan Archipelago, and Anticosti Island.