A Complete Gaspé Peninsula Road Trip Guide: Forillon National Park, Gaspé, Percé and Beyond!
The Gaspé Peninsula is one of Canada’s most scenic drives. Chris and I road tripped from Sainte-Flavie to Amqui, making plenty of stops on our way to Forillon National Park, Gaspé and Percé and back on Route 132. This drive is filled with picturesque lighthouses, rocky cliffs, mountains, red sand beaches and a ton of Québec small town charm.
Me and Chris at the famous Percé Rock in Percé.
I’ve been fortunate enough to experience some incredible road trips in the world, several of which are in Canada. The month-long trip Chris and I took to Newfoundland and Labrador stands out, and I’ve also road tripped through England’s Lake District, The Great Ocean Road in Australia and along the Icefields Parkway in Alberta, among plenty of others.
So believe me when I say that Québec’s Gaspé Peninsula is, in fact, a road trip destination that holds its own when it comes to breathtaking, memorable drives around the world.
Chris and I spent about one week road tripping around the Bas-Saint-Laurent and Gaspésie regions of Québec. In an ideal world, we would have had closer to two weeks, since each of these regions is special and worth the extra time. But regardless of whether you have the extra time or not, visiting these two regions in Québec together in one trip is a must.
While a lot of travellers set their sights on the Gaspé Peninsula, many tend to overlook Bas-Saint-Laurent, which is also well worth the time. If you visit during the summer months, you’ll likely see plenty of camper vans on the roads around you heading to Gaspésie, so if you’re looking for a slightly quieter pace, then extra time in Bas-Saint-Laurent is worth it.
Our goal during this road trip was simple: make our way to the famous Percé Rock by way of Forillon National Park and the town of Gaspé. But visiting this region is about so much more than simply getting to the tip of the peninsula at Percé—it’s about the sights, stops, landscapes and small towns you’ll experience along Québec’s Route 132 in Gaspésie.
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Getting To and Around the Gaspé Peninsula on Québec Route 132
Road trip views on Québec Route 132
Chris driving Route 132
It should go without saying that to really appreciate this road trip, you’re definitely going to need to take a car. There are some tours of the peninsula that are available, but in my opinion there are just too many unique and small places to stop and appreciate along the way that make this a worthwhile road trip.
Many travellers taking longer road trips or bringing their own vehicles will simply drive to Sainte-Flavie to begin their Gaspésie road trip. But if you’re coming from a further distance—or you’re pressed for time, like me and Chris—then perhaps flying into Québec City and renting a vehicle will be an easier option.
Chris and I originally planned on driving from Toronto, but we ended up flying into Québec City’s Jean Lesage International Airport instead. We realized that we were looking at at least a 10-hour travel day from Toronto to Québec City, followed by an additional ten-ish hours to get from Québec City to Percé—and these travel times are all assuming we’d make a minimal amount of stops, which would defeat the purpose of such a scenic trip.
Our Approach to This rOAD tRIP:
Fly from Toronto to Jean Lesage International Airport in Québec City
Rent a car from Jean Lesage—we rented with Enterprise, and they were great
A larger vehicle with 4x4 drive is recommended if you plan to take some of the smaller dirt roads off of the major routes
Drive straight to Rimouski—takes approximately 4 hours
Stay overnight in Rimouski—we stayed at Hôtel Rimouski, and it was in a great location with comfortable rooms and ample parking
Drive straight from Rimouski to Sainte-Flavie to begin the Gaspésie road trip from the northern part of the peninsula, with plans to loop around and spend time in Bas-Saint-Laurent on the way back for the second half of the trip.
Since our route in Gaspésie was Sainte-Flavie to Amqui (the north coast looping around to the south coast), all accommodation and activity recommendations are in this order in this article!
How Long to Plan For, and Where to Stay
Our pod at Cap Aventure in Cap-aux-Os
Views of Forillon National Park
Chris and I spent a short four days on the Gaspé Peninsula, and I’d definitely recommend spending closer to a full week if you have the time. We packed a ton into our days on the peninsula and savoured every moment, but we would have loved to have a few extra days so we wouldn’t have to be on the move every day. That being said, a four to five day minimum is a fine amount of time for Gaspésie if it’s all you have.
There are so many options when it comes to accommodations in Gaspésie! Many are unique, small and independently operated hotels and inns, which is a plus. Common towns and areas to stay in along the route are:
Sainte-Anne-des-Monts
Rivière-au-Renard or Cap-aux-Os (Forillon National Park area)
Gaspé
Percé
Chandler
Carleton-sur-mer
Two completely different but boutique stays that we really loved on this trip were:
Forillon National Park Area: Glamping pods at Cap Aventure in Cap-aux-Os. These small but cozy pods are perfect if you aren’t looking to set up camp, but are looking for a unique accommodation that’s camping-adjacent overlooking the water near Forillon. The peace and quiet, sunset and sunrise views from the beach here are inspiring.
Percé: There are several places to stay in Percé, but we really appreciated our stay at the Riotel Percé. It’s a short walk from the heart of town (you can even easily walk back on the boardwalk and beach during lower tides), has comfortable guest rooms, and a good restaurant. Several rooms and communal areas have incredible views of Percé Rock, too, plus there’s an outdoor sitting area on the water for all guests to enjoy.
Where to Go on Your Gaspésie Road Trip
Sainte-Flavie & Petit Métis-sur-Mer
Sainte-Flavie marks the official entry to the Gaspé Peninsula on the north coast, and Centre d’Art Marcel Gagnon just so happens to be a one-of-a-kind stop to start at during your time in the region.
Local artist Marcel Gagnon created his piece "Le Grand Rassemblement" (which translates to “The Great Gathering”) in 1986, which features over 80 life-size sculptures emerging from the St. Lawrence River and covering the grounds. There’s a walkway along the water here to stretch your legs, and there’s also a gallery, restaurant and rooms on site.
As you continue on, Petit Métis Café is another nice option to stop for lunch or coffee. They have an eclectic space with water views, delicious food, and they have chalets here, too.
La Martre to Rivière-au-Renard
Since the southern shore and basin of the St. Lawrence River makes it one of the world’s more challenging waterways to navigate, this stretch along the northern coast of the Gaspé Peninsula has many worthwhile lighthouses (or “phares”) to stop at and admire along the drive.
Several lighthouses are near small towns, too, which are good places for pit stops or to grab a bite along the way. Depending on how much time you have, you can also pay a small entry fee to go up several of these lighthouses. Here are a few stops worth making along this stretch:
La Martre Lighthouse. A gorgeous, bright red wooden lighthouse built in 1906 standing high above the coast. Shortly before this lighthouse, there’s a roadside stop beside the towering Voile de la Mariée waterfall, too.
Cap Madeleine Lighthouse. A Canadian heritage concrete lighthouse built in 1908. From here you’re also high up on the rocky cliffs, surrounded by views of the north shore of Gaspésie.
Halte routière de Grande-Vallée. A beautiful rest area off of Route 132 overlooking the town of Grande-Vallée. Perfect for a stretch, a photo stop or even a roadside picnic.
Pointe-à-la-Renommée Lighthouse. A bit off of Route 132 on bumpy gravel roads (but worth it with the right vehicle) sits this awe-inspiring lighthouse and lighthouse keeper’s house overlooking the dramatic St. Lawrence, surrounded by forests and not much else. A real gem of a stop.
Once you reach Rivière-au-Renard, Au Frontibus Microbrewery is a favourite local brewery and restaurant, or Casse-croûte chez Cathy is a great diner stop. If you’re planning on camping or making meals somewhere in or around Forillon National Park, this is the town to stock up on groceries and the like, too.
Stop to see Canada’s Tallest Lighthouse
Cap-des-Rosiers Lighthouse
As you get closer to Forillon National Park, you’ll pass by Canada’s tallest lighthouse. This surprised me, since I kind of expected it to be in Nova Scotia or Newfoundland. But the tallest is Cap-des-Rosiers Lighthouse!
Built in 1858, it’s a Canadian National Historic Site that is only open from late June to the end of August each year. Whether it’s open to visit or not (it was closed at the time of our early June visit), you can still admire it from the parking area.
It wasn’t in the cards for us on this trip, but many visitors to Forillon National Park come to Cap-des-Rosiers to catch a sunrise at the lighthouse. I’m sure it’s incredible! We admired it as golden hour was setting in, which was still a joy.
Forillon National Park
Forillon is the most famous national park in Gaspésie, and for good reason. It has a diverse range of experiences, hikes and natural surroundings well worth taking the time to appreciate on a road trip.
The park is divided into a north section and a south section of the park’s peninsula, both accessible from Route 132. While the two sections are geographically close, there’s no way to get between the north and south sections by car with its dense forest and rocky cliffs. For this reason, you might want to split your time in the park by focusing on each section, and then considering a few hikes along Route 132 in between.
Here are a few things I’d recommend looking into on your visit:
Begin at the Visitor Information and Discovery Centre. This new centre in the north section of the Forillon is a great place to better understand the park, sort out any permits you may need, take note of the maps and check in with staff about what might make the most sense during your visit.
Go on a whale watching tour. We took a tour with Croisières Baie de Gaspé from the south section of the park in Grand Greve. Unfortunately there were no whale sightings on the day we went (which happens sometimes!), but it was a nice morning out on the water, and we saw several sea lions and birds, and enjoyed beautiful views of the dramatic mountains and cliffs of the park from the water.
Visit Cap Bon-Ami. This famous spot in the north section has a beautiful beach (accessible by a steep staircase), incredible views of the surrounding cliffs, and steep access to the Mont-Saint-Alban hike.
Go hiking up to Mont-Saint-Alban. You can hike to the Mont-Saint-Alban observation tower from either the north or south sections of the park. We took the steep 3.6 km hike from the north section of the park, only to learn after the fact that you can hike up here from the south section on a less intense trail (which I would have appreciated!). Whichever route you take, you’ll be met with incredible panoramic views of Cap Bon-Ami from the top.
Hike La Chute Trail. This short yet steep 1km hike brings you to a tall, cascading waterfall. The trail is just off of Route 132 between the north and south sections of the park.
Gaspé Town
Birthplace of Canada site in Gaspé
Rue de la Reine, Gaspé
Paquebot Gaspé
As we continued along Route 132, Chris and I only had time for a brief stop in the namesake town of the Gaspé Peninsula on this road trip.
Pay for parking on Rue de la Reine or Place Jacques-Cartier to stretch your legs and walk around a little. Rue de la Reine between Rue Adams and Rue Wakeham is the best area to come for pubs, restaurants or cafe stops. We enjoyed excellent espressos, lattes and snacks (a must on a road trip!) from Paquebot Gaspé cafe.
You can also check out the Birthplace of Canada historic landmark on the water here in Place Jacques-Cartier, or go for a walk along the water on the Jacques-Cartier waterfront walkway.
Percé Town
The small town of Percé is the crown jewel of Gaspésie. As you round the mountainous corners on Route 132, you’ll immediately see Percé Rock in the distance as you descend on the town.
Here are a few things you can get up to in Percé, some of which we were able to do, and others we’ve flagged for next time:
Walk along the Percé Wharf and waterfront. The views of Percé Rock are beautiful from the wharf downtown, and there’s also a nice park along the waterfront with walking paths that connect to the rocky shore, which you can walk further along in lower tides.
Visit Percé Global Geopark. There are a few activities to do here, the most famous of which is to walk out on the platform and admire the town of Percé and the rock from high up above town.
Take a tour or boat excursion to Bonaventure Island. We would have done this if we had more time, but Bonaventure Island is a small island off the coast of Percé. It’s famous for being the home of one of the world’s largest Northern Gannet colonies, which we saw flying in a cyclone formation and dramatically diving into the water from shore.
It’s also just nice to walk along Route 132 in town. The central part of town has plenty of restaurants, coffee shops, general stores and sweets stops. La Maison du Pêcheur has an especially beautiful waterfront view and patio, with a great menu.
Chandler to Amqui
Road trip stop at Hope Beach just outside Hope Town
Despite Chandler to Amqui being quite a long stretch, we only made a few stops along this route. Feel free to stay for as long or as short as you’d like as you make your way along this stretch:
Mich Café. A great breakfast or lunch and coffee stop in Chandler. It’s clearly a favourite of locals and visitors alike, with fresh crêpes, sandwiches, baked goods and much more. They have a vibrant indoor seating space and a fun outdoor patio with plenty of unique sitting spots. The perfect road trip stop.
Parc Colborne. This small park is at the end of a bumpy, sandy road, but worth it for the views and landscape. There is a short coastal walk trail along the water here.
Hope Beach. Don’t drive too quickly before Hope Town, or you might miss the small, red sand Chemin de la Plage road alongside Hope Baptist Church that takes you down to this gorgeous red sand and stone beach. Its short red stone cliffs have been dramatically carved away by the ocean over time, making for a beautiful sight.
Sentier de la Pointe-aux-Corbeaux. A short 1.5km hike with beautiful views of rocky cliffs and carved out seawalls.
Bonaventure. A great place to stretch your legs and take a beach walk.
Brûlerie du Quai. Another perfect place for a coffee or snack stop in Carleton-sur-mer. They have a nice front porch and sitting area with water views in the distance.
Microbrewery La Captive. A unique place to stop for a pint of beer or a meal inside of this former jail in Amqui.
Don’t Forget to Extend Your Road Trip in Bas-Saint-Laurent
This road trip around Québec’s Gaspésie region was a dream. It’s a trip in Canada that I’ve been wanting to take for a long time, and it didn’t disappoint in the slightest! If anything, I’m ready to come back for a longer visit next time.
I’ve mentioned it already, but I can’t overstate how well worth it is taking an extended trip and combining your time on the Gaspé Peninsula with the Bas-Saint-Laurent region. More on that to come!
I’d like to thank Québec Maritime for hosting me and Chris as media during this trip. As always, all opinions expressed in this article are entirely my own.
Bri Mitchell
Bri Mitchell is a travel writer and content creator from Toronto, Ontario. She loves to highlight all things nature, food, wellness, sustainability and adventure in her work. Bri writes and shares her travel experiences from across Canada, the United States and around the world on Instagram and TikTok (@brimitchelltravels); in her articles for travelingmitch, Ultimate Ontario, and We Explore Canada; and in her weekly travel newsletter, The Weekly Traveller.