Gaspé Peninsula Loop Self-Drive
Drive along Route 132 around the peninsula, visiting Bic, the Chic-Choc Mountains, Forillon, and Percé.
Following the popular counter-clockwise route, you will explore the north shore first and then the south shore. Spend two nights each in the national park, Forillon, and Percé, leaving plenty of time for hiking, whale watching, and visiting the northern gannet colony. Return via the Matapédia Valley to cut back to the estuary. Although the total distance is long, most daily drives are under 300 km, making it ideal for road trippers who love coastal scenery and hiking. Quebec City serves as the starting and ending point, and this route can easily be connected to a rail trip.
The Mont-Jacques-Cartier trail is open from July 1 to September 30; Forillon and Bonaventure Island close around mid-October.
Day by day
Day 1 · East along the River to Bic
Rimouski & Bic（Parc national du Bic、Pic Champlain）
Drive from Quebec City along Autoroute 20 to Le Bic (approx. 290 km, 3 hours).
To spot seals in Bic, it is best to go at low tide.
Stay: Le Bic
Day 2 · Reford Gardens & into the Chic-Chocs
Rimouski & Bic（Site historique maritime de la Pointe-au-Père、Le Grand Rassemblement, Sainte-Flavie、Jardins de Métis (Reford Gardens)） → Parc national de la Gaspésie (Sainte-Anne-des-Monts)（Exploramer）
Drive along Route 132 to Sainte-Anne-des-Monts, then enter the park (approx. 290 km, 4 hours total).
Stay: Gîte du Mont-Albert Area
Day 3 · Hike Mont Jacques-Cartier
Parc national de la Gaspésie (Sainte-Anne-des-Monts)（Mont Jacques-Cartier、Lac aux Américains）
Drive 1 hour from the lodge to the registration center, then take the mandatory shuttle bus to the trailhead.
The summit trail is only open from 10:00 AM to 4:00 PM, and the last shuttle departs around 11:40 AM; reservations are required.
Stay: Gîte du Mont-Albert Area
Day 4 · Coastal Highway to the Eastern Tip
Parc national de la Gaspésie (Sainte-Anne-des-Monts)（La Martre Lighthouse、Mont-Saint-Pierre） → Gaspé & Forillon（Pointe-à-la-Renommée Lighthouse、Cap-des-Rosiers Lighthouse）
Leave the mountains and drive along Route 132 around the north shore to Cap-des-Rosiers (approx. 270 km, 4 hours).
Stay: Cap-des-Rosiers
Day 5 · Forillon Walk to Land's End
Gaspé & Forillon（Forillon National Park、Grande-Grave Heritage Site、Cap Gaspé Lighthouse (Land's End)、Forillon Whale-Watching Cruise）
Drive from Cap-des-Rosiers to Grande-Grave in the South Sector (approx. 30 minutes), then do the 16 km round-trip hike to the cape.
Whale-watching boats operate from June to mid-October; choosing between the cruise and the long hike makes for a more relaxed day.
Stay: Cap-des-Rosiers
Day 6 · The Spit, Gaspé & on to Percé
Gaspé & Forillon（Penouille Peninsula、Christ-Roi Cathedral of Gaspé、Musée de la Gaspésie） → Percé (Gaspésie)（Pic de l'Aurore、Percé Rock）
Drive through downtown Gaspé to Percé (approx. 90 km, about 1.5 hours).
Stay: Percé Village Centre
Day 7 · Bonaventure Island Gannet Colony Day Trip
Percé (Gaspésie)（Bonaventure Island、Géoparc de Percé Glass Platform）
Take a boat from Percé wharf around the rock and land on the island (approx. 30–60 minutes one way), returning to the village in the afternoon.
Buy boat tickets at the Percé ticket booths; sailings may be canceled in high winds, so keep your schedule flexible.
Stay: Percé Village Centre
Day 8 · West along Chaleur Bay
Percé (Gaspésie)（Cap-d'Espoir Lighthouse） → Carleton-sur-Mer
Drive along the south shore on Route 132 to Carleton-sur-Mer (approx. 240 km, 3 hours).
Stay: Carleton-sur-Mer
Day 9 · Through the Matapédia Valley to the Estuary
Rimouski & Bic（Promenade de la Mer）
Cut back through the Matapédia Valley to Sainte-Flavie and on to Rimouski (approx. 300 km, 3.5 hours).
Stay: Rimouski City Centre and Waterfront
Day 10 · Via Kamouraska to Quebec City
Kamouraska → Greater Québec City
Drive along Autoroute 20 back to Quebec City (approx. 310 km, about 5 hours including stops).