Baie-Sainte-Catherine: Shoreline, Hiking Trails and History

Baie-Sainte-Catherine combines a shoreline shaped by the tides with hiking trails through forest and hilly terrain. History is also part of the townscape: At Pointe aux Alouettes, a complex of wooden buildings, a cemetery and monuments recalls early encounters between Indigenous peoples and the French. When choosing where to stay, you can consider whether you are mainly looking for time by the water, outdoor activity or a cultural focus.

Beach and Shoreline in Constant Change

The public fine-sand beach stretches for several kilometres from Pointe-Aux-Alouettes to Ruisseau Catherine. It is accessible at several points, and swimming is possible. From here, you can enjoy views of the town’s bay, the mouth of the Saguenay Fjord, its wildlife and the St. Lawrence River. The shoreline does not always look the same: The tides shape the beach, changing its form about every six hours.

If you are considering Baie-Sainte-Catherine for its waterside setting, you will find not just a sandy beach, but also a landscape that changes with the tides. You can weigh this against the town’s other attractions when planning your trip: Will it be shaped by time on the shore, hiking or a focus on history?

Hiking Trails Through Forest and Hilly Terrain

The municipal hiking trail network includes more than 12 kilometres of trails through forest and hilly terrain. It consists of four intersecting linear trails that allow for several loop routes. This means the network offers the option of hiking individual sections or taking loop routes. The trails are open year-round from sunrise to sunset and are free of charge.

The combination of linear trails and possible loop routes offers different ways to spend time hiking, without requiring a particular distance or duration. The network is especially suited to travellers who want to include outdoor activity in their days.

Pointe aux Alouettes: Wooden Buildings and Remembrance

Pointe aux Alouettes lies at the confluence of the St. Lawrence River and the Saguenay River. The site includes a chapel built in 1875, two houses now connected by a covered passageway, a detached house and three outbuildings. The houses and detached house were built in the late 19th century; all the buildings are made of wood. The site also includes a cemetery established before 1865, two religious monuments and a memorial kiosk built in 1914.

The buildings illustrate rural architectural styles that were widespread in the second half of the 19th century. At the same time, Pointe aux Alouettes commemorates one of the first alliances between Indigenous peoples and the French. This gives Baie-Sainte-Catherine another distinct facet for travellers interested in history and architecture as well as nature. The Centre d'interprétation et d'observation de Pointe-Noire also offers a spectacular view of the Saguenay–Saint-Laurent Marine Park.

Trip Ideas and Getting Oriented

You can also pinpoint the ferry terminal’s location: The Tadoussac–Baie-Sainte-Catherine ferry terminal is in Baie-Sainte-Catherine, at 119 Route 138. When choosing a vacation rental for your stay, you can first decide which side of the town you want your trip to focus on: the changing shoreline, hiking or historic Pointe aux Alouettes. The town’s features appeal to different interests, and none has to take the place of the others.

If you would like to discover other places, you can also find Saint-Irénée, La Malbaie, Les Éboulements and Saint-Siméon here.

For the broader travel overview: Charlevoix-Est.