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.