Where to run in Charlevoix: the Mont Grand-Fonds Trail station, runnable hiking trails and easy loops near La Malbaie — a guide for your stay.
In Charlevoix, the mountains and the river are never far apart — and that is exactly what makes the region a dream playground for trail running. For anyone who would rather trade asphalt for dirt and roots, it has everything: marked trail-running stations, hiking paths that flow beautifully underfoot, and views over the St. Lawrence that more than justify a pause at the top. Here is where to run during a stay, from the curious beginner to the seasoned ultra-runner.
This guide is the running companion to our guide to the essential hikes of Charlevoix: where one invites you to take your time, the other invites you to pick up the pace. The good news is that most of Charlevoix's hiking trails run very well, as long as you match your speed to the terrain.
Mont Grand-Fonds: the trail station
A view from Mont Grand-Fonds, in La Malbaie. Photo: @snapsbymarc.
About twenty minutes from La Malbaie, the Mont Grand-Fonds Trail station (1000 chemin des Loisirs) is the beating heart of trail running in Charlevoix. Run by Trail Running Québec — the organization behind the Ultra-Trail Harricana — it offers six marked courses totalling close to 147 kilometres, from short and rolling to full mountain ultra:
- Le Petit-Fonds — 4.9 km, +80 m: easy, ideal for a warm-up or a family run.
- Sentier des Kak8chaks — 9.8 km, +254 m: intermediate, the sweet spot between effort and pleasure.
- Le Sentier de la Meute — 20.7 km, +699 m: difficult, for strong legs.
- Montagne Noire — 31.4 km, +1,065 m: expert.
- L'Orignac — 40.1 km, up to +1,587 m: expert, a linear route running toward Saint-Siméon.
The marking is meticulous: colour-coded plaques set at eye level roughly every 50 metres, arrows at junctions and cumulative kilometre markers — you focus on your stride, not the map. Day access costs a modest fee; it is worth checking the trail info before you go. One thing to know: during hunting season (autumn), the long courses (Montagne Noire, L'Orignac) are open only from 9:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m., and a bright orange vest is required.
Hiking trails, made to be run
Charlevoix's strength is that its great hiking trails double as superb running terrain. In Hautes-Gorges-de-la-Rivière-Malbaie National Park, the valley-floor paths run almost flat between sheer walls, while climbs like the Acropole-des-Draveurs deliver serious vertical for those after a challenge. Farther west, Grands-Jardins National Park, the Sentier des Caps and Les Palissades line up ridges and lookouts.
The principle is simple: almost everything that can be walked here can be run, as long as you ease off in the technical sections and share the trail. Our guide to the essential hikes of Charlevoix details these summits and their distances — just take them at a run.
Running from the doorstep: the Terrasses of Cap-à-l'Aigle
A wooded trail in Cap-à-l'Aigle. Photo: Tourisme Charlevoix.
For a morning outing without even starting the car, the village of Cap-à-l'Aigle — perched on its terraces above the river — hides small wooded trails perfect for an easy jog or a warm-up before something bigger. It is exactly here, on the hillside, that the Le Littoral and Les Thermes chalets sit: the trails open right behind, between forest and glimpses of the St. Lawrence. A stone's throw away, the paths of the Cap-à-l'Aigle Gardens (the Lilac Village) add a few more shaded kilometres. Enough to start the day with a gentle loop, the river below, before the first coffee.
Running through the seasons: two marquee events
Trail running in Charlevoix has its highlights, too. In autumn, the Ultra-Trail Harricana draws thousands of runners across eleven distances, from the Hautes-Gorges to Mont Grand-Fonds — a trail festival in its own right. Come winter, the Course du Yéti des Glaces, part of the Virée Nordique, offers a 10 km foot race on packed snow along the frozen river. Timing your stay around one of these events adds an atmosphere — and a bib for a souvenir.
Practical tips for running here
A few markers to make the most of Charlevoix's terrain. The relief is mountainous: pick trail shoes with good grip and calibrate your ambitions to the vertical rather than distance alone. In summer, set off early to beat the heat; carry water (streams are not drinkable everywhere) and a windproof layer, since the weather turns quickly at altitude. In autumn, respect the schedules and wear the orange vest on trails open to hunting. And to recover well — or in case of a mishap — our guide to health care around La Malbaie keeps the right addresses within reach. The rest is between you, the forest and the river.
To rent a luxury chalet in La Malbaie (Cap-à-l'Aigle), Charlevoix, discover the Le Littoral chalet with heated pool, sauna and spa. Book your stay online or call 418-476-1442.