When most people think of Quebec, the first thing that comes to mind is likely this eastern province’s gorgeous European-esque cities like Montreal and the provincial capital. But as the biggest of Canada’s 13 provinces—stretching from the US border up to the northern end of Hudson Bay, just a few degrees shy of the Arctic Circle—the vast majority of this 595,391-square-mile province is wilderness. Home to river fjords, taiga boreal forests and boglands, time-flattened mountains, coniferous forests, and freshwater lakes, this vast province offers practically every kind of outdoor adventure imaginable.
While you can easily access national parks and wildlife reserves from major urban centers like Quebec City, these popular cities stay busy throughout the year, especially during summer and around the holidays. Luckily, you can avoid the crowds and connect with Quebecois nature at cabins and design-driven properties around the province. Ranging from sleek treehouses to avant-garde tiny homes, these cabins and rentals also show that Quebec’s design scene is far from being stuck in the 1600s.
But before booking your stay out in the Quebec wilderness, here are some other travel tips to help plan your trip to La Belle Province.
When to visit Quebec
Reaching Quebec any time of the year is easy, with international airports in Ottowa, Montreal, and Quebec City. Summer and winter draw the biggest crowds, with fair-weather urban exploring and summer sports between June and September. December to February brings holiday revelry in the form of Christmas markets, magical light displays, and the renowned Quebec Winter Carnival.
Spring and fall are the best times to discover Quebec’s treasures sans crowds. Not only does springtime have seasonal flowers and the chance to partake in both warm- and cold-weather sports, but it’s also sugar season; thawing trees start releasing their sap between February and April, which is collected and transformed into maple syrup. In fall, landscapes like Jacques-Cartier National Park come alive with autumnal color, making for dazzling hikes and canoe trips.
Things to do in Quebec
With 24 national parks and 92% of the province being public land, Quebec has ample acreage for exploring the great outdoors.
Summertime is high season for hiking, mountain biking, and watersports like kayaking and canoeing on the province’s wealth of waterways. Spot humpback whales, blue whales, and belugas on whale-watching tours or sea-kayaking excursions in the Saguenay–St. Lawrence Marine Park, and (carefully) observe moose, black bears, and other wildlife on land.
But winter offers arguably even more outdoor fun. As rivers, lakes, and coastal tributaries ice over, you can take part in classic Canadian pastimes like ice-canoeing on the St. Lawrence River or ice-climbing up frozen waterfalls like Montmorency Falls outside Quebec City. In the La Baie area of the Saguenay Fjord, locals haul tiny huts out onto the frozen expanse for ice fishing. Most national parks remain open throughout the winter, with hiking trails transforming into snowshoeing routes through snow-covered winter wonderlands like the Vallée des Fantômes in Monts-Valin National Park. Among the Laurentides, some of the oldest mountains on Earth, ski on both groomed and off-piste runs at ski resorts like Tremblant and Mont Blanc. As the birthplace of the snowmobile, winter is also when over 20,000 miles of groomed snowmobile trails spread across the province, letting you experience Quebec’s homegrown sport.
Now that you know all the things you can do in Quebec outside the cities, here are some stylish accommodations to keep you close to all the outdoorsy action in all seasons.
The 10 Best Quebec Cabins and Vacation Rentals
- Uhu Treehouse - Les Éboulements, Quebec
- Bora Boreal Floating Chalet - Sainte-Brigitte-de-Laval, Quebec
- Reflection Mirror House - Petite-Rivière-Saint-François, Quebec
- The MICA - Lac-Beauport, Quebec
- Perché-sur-la-Rivière Log Cabin - Notre-Dame-des-Prairies, Quebec
- Maikan Tiny Home - Les Éboulements, Quebec
- La cAbin A-Frame - Lac-Beauport, Quebec
- Waterfall Cottage - Saint-Jean-Port-Joli, Quebec
- Wolf Chalet - Parc Omega, Quebec
- Imago Village Yurts and Igloos - Saint-David-de-Falardeau, Quebec
Uhu Treehouse - Les Éboulements, CA
Vibe: Treetop retreat
Standout amenities: Aerial view, hot tub
Rising 32 feet in the air, the Uhu Treehouse comes with commanding views of the mighty St. Lawrence River from its bankside perch. Located on Repère Boréal, a property offering architecturally unique accommodations in the Charlevoix area northeast of Quebec City, this edgy, modernist rental both blends in and stands out from its forest home thanks to a white facade and spindly, branch-like support poles.
In winter, you’d be hard-pressed to pick it out from the surrounding snowscape of white trees, while in summer, the towering stilts look just like the neighboring birch. Within the tiny single-room A-frame-adjacent cabin at the top, a full-wall window looks out over the river and forests, and two skylights help bathe the interior in natural light. A queen-sized bed, kitchenette, and bathroom squeeze into the compact, minimalist space. At the rear of the cabin, an outdoor walkway connects to an enclosed staircase spiraling down to the forest floor, where you’ll find an outdoor terrace and access to the property’s Nordic spa area with hot tubs, cold plunges, and barrel saunas.
Bora Boreal Floating Chalet - Sainte-Brigitte-de-Laval, CA
Vibe: Boreal boathouse
Standout amenities: Utter isolation, wood-burning stove, outdoor deck
Freshwater covers over 12% of the province, so what better way to immerse yourself in this quintessential part of the Quebec landscape than by staying in an actual floating cabin? Located on a private estate 45 minutes north of Quebec City, this modern cabin and its siblings occupy their own secluded lake in the woods, surrounded by dense forests and mountains. The chic exterior features classic hallmarks of Scandinavian minimalism like blonde wood, black trim, and simple, straight lines. Inside, large windows—including a garage door-style window wall that rolls up or down—illuminate uncluttered, open-concept spaces that flow into each other.
With a wood-burning stove, the rectangular living room encompasses an enclosed outdoor deck at one end and a kitchenette and dining banquette at the other. Above the dining area, a ladder drops down to access the loft sleeping area. A backyard area with grill and firepit allows you cook up delicious meals outside in nature. Being located off the beaten path, several large solar panels power the whole operation. A kayak and stand-up paddleboard are available to explore the surrounding lake, but you can also hike and bike in nearby Jacques-Cartier National Park or ski at Stoneham Mountain Resort.
Reflection Mirror House - Petite-Rivière-Saint-François, CA
Vibe: Sci-fi sanctuary
Standout amenities: Dreamy design, hot tub
Covered in a 40-foot-long reflecting mirror along its exterior length, this futuristic chalet hides in plain sight within the paper birch forests of southeastern Quebec’s Charlevoix region. Looking like something out of a science-fiction film, an elevated platform under the cabin’s box-like frame creates the illusion of the whole structure hovering just above the ground. Jet-black trim and sooty wood paneling cover the rest of the exterior walls, with crystal-clear windows looking out onto the forest.
The moody interior of black and blonde wood and minimalist furnishings can accommodate up to six guests, with two separate bedrooms and one bathroom with a sleek, tiled walk-in shower. There’s also a full kitchen, laundry room, heated floors, and an outdoor hang-out area complete with Jacuzzi. The stylish main living room is the centerpiece of the chalet, with wall-spanning floor-to-ceiling windows and a cozy, wood-burning fireplace. Located an hour northeast of Quebec City, the cabin has the St. Lawrence River at its front and the Laurentides Wildlife Reserve at its back for access to water and land-based outdoor activities.
The MICA - Lac-Beauport, CA
Vibe: Hilltop haven
Standout amenities: Epic views, hot tub, instant trail access
Encompassed by forests as far as the eye can see, the MICA is a contemporary, cubist tiny home perched high on a hill in the La Maelstrom cabin and outdoor community just half an hour north of Quebec City. Inspired by the region’s chalky mica outcroppings, it’s a vision in white, clad in blonde wood and white trim. Come winter, it disappears almost completely into its snowy surroundings apart from the warm, golden glow of the windows, while in summer, it’s a bright-white beacon.
The Scandi interiors are similarly ivory-toned, with accents of silver, gray, and black like an indoor fireplace and polished chrome appliances. The main part of the tiny house consists of two boxes stacked on top of each other, with a full kitchen and living room on the ground floor and two bedrooms and a bathroom on the top floor. Floor-to-ceiling windows span three walls of the living room and main bedroom, flooding the interiors with light and giving you panoramic landscape vistas. A rectangular covered terrace extends outward from the two-story segment, furnished with an outdoor dining area, grill, firepit, and hot tub. A network of mountain-biking routes and fat-tire trails branch out into the forests right from the property’s doorstep for instant adventure and adrenaline.
Perché-sur-la-Rivière Log Cabin - Notre-Dame-des-Prairies, CA
Vibe: Rustic riverside repose
Standout amenities: River-view veranda, nearby walking and bike paths
Dating from 1962, this charming log cabin in the small town of Notre-Dame-des-Prairies near Montreal lets you stay in a piece of Quebecois history. Sitting on the banks of the L'Assomption River among towering trees, this petite property feels like it’s in the middle of nowhere when in fact, it’s right in the heart of town close to walking and cycling paths. Although the exterior is old-school cabin style with stacked logs and white trim, the single-room interior has been refreshed for contemporary standards. The front door opens into a spacious and bright living area, complete with a queen-sized bed, bathroom with shower, and a small kitchenette with microwave, oven, and stove.
White-washed walls, timber beams, and blue accents give the space a breezy, New England coastal vibe. But the star of the show is the enclosed veranda at the rear of the cabin, which cantilevers out over the riverbank and provides a peaceful spot to lounge with a book or listen to the murmuring water. In summer, you can even sleep outdoors on the double-futon bed. With the river right at your feet, plop a chair down into the shallows to cool down on hot summer days, or set off to explore the city on foot or by bike. Canoeing, hiking, and gorgeous scenery can be found in nearby Mont-Tremblant National Park and smaller regional parks.
Maikan Tiny Home - Les Éboulements, CA
Vibe: Quaint cube
Standout amenities: Outdoor deck, firepit, forest views from bed
Another accommodation option on the Repère Boréal property, the Maikin Tiny House trades the sweeping views of the treetops for the serenity of the forest floor. Sheltered by overarching birch and conifers, this cute little cube of a cabin features a minimalist, wood-and-glass exterior, with an L-shaped window running up one wall and along the roof to let in views of the forest and sky. Wrapped in warm wood with black trim on the windows, door, and hardware, the single-room interior keeps things simple with a dining area, kitchenette, and bed.
The bed sits right under the window, allowing you to lay in bed and stargaze at night. It’s close quarters inside, but that just means you can take full advantage of the outdoor deck, which has a firepit and dining area. There’s no bathroom attached to the cabin, but 24-hour bathrooms and showers are a short walk away, as well as the property’s Nordic spa amenities. For fun, drive two hours north to Saguenay Fjord National Park, whose forests and deep waters offer hiking, sea kayaking, wildlife-watching, and wintertime snowshoeing.
La cAbin A-Frame - Lac-Beauport, CA
Vibe: Bike-in bolthole
Standout amenities: Majestic views, modern design, bike-in and bike-out
If La cAbin’s blend of modern A-frame and minimalist tiny home doesn’t catch your eye, the views from its mountaintop perch most certainly will. Surrounded by 12 arpents (or 12 acres, in non-Old French measurements) of forest half an hour north of Quebec City, this design-forward rental comes with sweeping, panoramic views of the Laurentide Mountains and the forests of southern Quebec. But the cabin itself is just as much of a stunner, with a golden wood and black roof exterior and chic, blonde wood interior. Despite packing a lot into a small space—two bedrooms, a kitchenette, 1.5 baths, and a snug, fire-heated living space—the functional inside feels far from cluttered.
There’s even a touch of whimsy, with catamaran nets hanging in lofty corners beckoning to adventurous kids looking for a private nook. Natural light fills the living room and bedrooms from large windows, and at sunset, the entire structure positively glows in the fading light. Outside, two rope-enclosed decks sit at the front and rear of the cabin, with terraced seating and a firepit on the back deck for a front-row seat to the scenery. Best of all, La cAbin sits smack-dab in the middle of Sentiers du Moulin, a massive network of mountain biking, fat-tire cycling, snowshoeing, and skiing routes, allowing you to roll straight from your door to the trails.
Waterfall Cottage - Saint-Jean-Port-Joli, CA
Vibe: Historic hideaway
Standout amenities: Waterfall views, outdoor hot tub
Fans of the modern farmhouse aesthetic will love this stately, barn-style cottage in southeastern Quebec, which sits at the foot of a small waterfall on the Trois-Saumons River close to where it empties into the St. Lawrence. This century-old structure has lived many lives, first operating as a tannery before becoming a workshop and finally finding its current incarnation as a roomy cottage with three bedrooms and 1.5 baths. In a nod to the building’s history, weathered wood covers the exterior but with modern touches like black trim, clean lines, and a pitched roof.
The interior goes full modern, with honey-hued wood and Scandinavian furniture outfitting the bedrooms, living room, and kitchen. A covered porch with dining area and grill faces the river and an old mill. Off to the side, a wooden walkway heads through tall grasses and lush greenery to a small platform with a river-view hot tub. Staying here, you have the chance to explore the oft-overlooked south bank of the St. Lawrence, heading north along the Gaspé Peninsula for hiking on Mont Jacques-Cartier, the highest peak in the Appalachians, in Gaspesie National Park or taking in the seaside scenery at the coastal Forillon National Park.
Wolf Chalet - Parc Omega, CA
Vibe: Lupus lupus lodgings
Standout amenities: Wolf neighbors, wood-burning stove
Surrounded by so much raw, rugged wilderness, it may seem counterintuitive to stay inside a safari park, even one as big as the 2,200-acre Parc Omega in southern Quebec. But it’s worth booking one of the park’s grand, old-fashioned log cabins for the good odds of getting up close and personal with the park’s most famous residents: gray, black, and Arctic wolves. Safely tucked inside your sturdy log cabin, gaze out through the floor-to-ceiling windows and watch as these majestic creatures come right up to the glass.
Decked out in wood shingles and giant beams with rustic touches like rough-hewn furniture and wall-mounted antlers, different-sized chalets are available for groups ranging in size from four to six people, and each comes furnished with living areas, kitchens, dining areas, bathrooms, and wood-burning stoves. Staying here, you also have the chance to see other native wildlife like moose and bison, or head outside the park to the Papineau-Labelle Wildlife Reserve for a wilder, less fenced-in side of nature.
Imago Village Yurts and Igloos - Saint-David-de-Falardeau, CA
Vibe: Glamping getaway
Standout amenities: Outdoor decks, valley views, stargazing skylights
Located in the mountains outside Saint-David-de-Falardeau, a small town close to Saguenay Fjord in eastern Quebec, Imago Village is a collection of colorful yurts and igloo-esque accommodations whose secluded setting makes for great stargazing. Wrapped in eye-catching colors like sunshine yellow and sky blue, the property’s yurts stand on elevated platforms spread across the hillside, with their outdoor decks facing the ski resort across the valley. The rotund interiors are simple but cozy, with an indoor fireplace, living room, kitchenette, and attached outhouse toilet (full showers and bathrooms are a short walk away).
A ladder leads to the upper loft, where the bed lays beneath a small skylight so you can stargaze before falling asleep. Taking a page from geodesic domes, the property’s other dome accommodations feature skylights and wrap-around windows for mountain and sky views. Larger than the yurts, the ground floor includes a bathroom, kitchenette, and living space, with an upstairs loft bedroom area under a circular skylight. In winter, you can head across the valley to ski at Le Valinouët or snowshoe through ghostly trees in Monts-Valin National Park for its breathtaking fjord and forest summit views.
Published 07-10-2024
