Montmorency Falls Park (Parc de la Chute-Montmorency)

One of Quebec City’s highlights, Montmorency Falls Park (Parc de la Chute-Montmorency) is often visited on city sightseeing tours and dedicated bike tours. For a close-up view of the waterfall, you can climb the 487-step mountainside staircase or take the fee-based cable car to the top.

Once there, cross a suspended bridge over the crest of the falls to access both sides of the park. In summer, adventurous travelers can go ziplining over Montmorency Falls or try out the park's via ferrata circuits, while winter travelers can take part in snowshoeing and ice climbing.

• Fees apply for the cable car, ziplining, via ferrata access, and snowshoe rentals.

• Food is offered at the cable car station, at Manoir Montmorency, and at La Terrasse du Manoir.

• The park features three playgrounds for kids.

• Much of the park is wheelchair accessible, although only some of the viewing platforms can be reached by wheelchair.

The falls are located on the boundary between Beauport and Boischatel, about 7.5 miles (12 kilometers) from the heart of Old Quebec. The site offers two paid parking lots, one below the falls and another above the falls. To reach Montmorency Falls by car, take Autoroute 20 northeast from Montreal to Quebec City. Then take Autoroute 440 east out of Quebec City.

Montmorency Falls is a year-round attraction. Ziplining is offered from May to October, and if you’re visiting in July or August, you can try out the via ferrata circuits or catch the international fireworks competition that takes place at the park. In winter, the cable car still runs and the falls gain the famous "Sugarloaf," an impressive mound of ice that forms at the foot of the falls and sometimes reaches up to 98 feet (30 meters) tall.

The Montmorency Falls Park is one of Quebec City's most popular natural attractions, but there's plenty more to explore close to the capital of Quebec Province. Don't miss the historic Plains of Abraham park in downtown Quebec or the Jacques-Cartier National Park, known for its stunning glacial valleys and rivers.

Montmorency Falls Park is technically open 24/7, but various facilities within the park, including the parking lot, cable car, food stations, and via ferrata, hold their own hours. Most facilities tend to be open from roughly 9am to 6pm, though always check the park’s website directly before planning your visit.

Technically, it costs nothing to enter Montmorency Falls Park—simply take public transit and walk to the falls directly from the parking area. However, if you’re arriving in your own vehicle, there’s a fee to park in the onsite lot. Plus, additional activities, such as riding the cable car, will be an additional fee as well.

If you want true flexibility, the best way to get to Montmorency Falls Park from Quebec City is by car—it’s just a 15-minute drive from downtown. Otherwise, shuttle tours run year-round, and public transit (on the #800 bus) drops riders off a few minutes’ walk from the suspension bridge at the top of the falls.

Yes, guided tours are available at Montmorency Falls Park. Tours of the park and its history are offered in both English and French, from June through November, and typically run daily. Otherwise, park walking tours, biking tours, and bus tours are widely available out of Quebec City.

Beyond checking out the waterfall viewpoints and walking across the suspension bridge, activities at Montmorency Falls Park include riding the cable car, climbing the via ferrata, ziplining, hiking, ice climbing (in winter), picnicking, birdwatching, and more. There’s also an onsite restaurant, an interpretation center, and a historic orchard to enjoy.

It’s difficult to rate waterfalls that are both spectacular. Montmorency Falls is about 99 feet (30 meters) taller than Niagara Falls, but Niagara Falls is significantly wider and flows with more volume. Niagara Falls also has more infrastructure, such as boat rides, but it’s also considerably more crowded and commercial.