Best Waterfalls Near Quebec City Worth Visiting

If you’re looking for waterfalls near Quebec City, chances are Montmorency Falls is the first one you’ll come across. And it’s easy to see why. At 83 metres high, it’s taller than Niagara Falls, with viewpoints, a suspension bridge and trails that let you see the falls from several different angles.

We’ve visited Montmorency Falls several times and it’s absolutely worth seeing, but it can also get incredibly busy, especially during the summer. The good news is that it’s not the only waterfall near Quebec City, and depending on what you’re looking for, one of the others might be a better choice.

We’ve visited three waterfalls around Quebec City, and while Montmorency is easily the most impressive, our favourite is actually Chutes de la Chaudière, just across the river in Lévis. It’s free to visit, has its own suspension bridge and has been much quieter every time we’ve stopped.

In this guide, I’ll share three waterfalls near Quebec City worth visiting, what to expect at each one and which I’d choose depending on the kind of stop you’re looking for.

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Best Waterfalls Near Quebec City

All three of these waterfalls are within easy reach of Quebec City, but each offers a different experience. Here’s what to know about each one before deciding which to visit.

1. Montmorency Falls

At 83 metres high, Montmorency Falls is the most impressive waterfall near Quebec City and the one most visitors have heard of. It’s actually almost 30 metres taller than Niagara Falls, and you can see it from several different viewpoints, including a suspension bridge that crosses directly above the falls.

Montmorency Falls near Quebec City, with water cascading down a cliff and a pedestrian suspension bridge above, framed by autumn trees and a visible rainbow.

We’ve visited Montmorency several times in different seasons, and there’s plenty more to do than simply stop for a photo. You can walk the trails along the top and bottom of the falls, climb the (very steep!) staircase or take the cable car between the two levels.

The downside is that Montmorency can get very busy in the summer, particularly around the suspension bridge and cable car. Parking and admission also make it the most expensive of these three waterfalls to visit.

Visiting without a car?
If you don’t have a car, you can still visit Montmorency Falls on a tour from Quebec City. Some tours, like this one, combine the falls with Île d’Orléans or other stops along the Côte-de-Beaupré, which can be an easy way to visit without worrying about transportation.

Best for: A first visit to Quebec City or anyone who wants to see the biggest and most dramatic waterfall of the three.

A child take a photo of Montmorency Falls, a towering waterfall near Quebec City surrounded by rocky cliffs and early fall foliage. A suspension bridge crosses high above the falls against a clear blue sky. — see the falls from below

Powerful white waterfall cascades over a rocky cliff beneath a high suspension bridge. Brilliant red orange and green fall foliage surrounds the falls under a deep blue sky. — or head up to the top to see the falls closer up

View looking straight down from the top of a massive waterfall as white water plunges over the rocky edge into the dark river far below. Mist rises from the base and emphasizes the dramatic height of the falls near Quebec City. — And then, if you can handle it, take in the view from above on the suspension bridge

2. Chutes de la Chaudière

Just across the St. Lawrence River from Quebec City, Chutes de la Chaudière is our favourite of these three waterfalls. The falls are 35 metres high, and while they’re not nearly as dramatic as Montmorency, we’ve always enjoyed the experience here more.

Powerful waterfall near Quebec City rushing between dark rocky cliffs into a calm blue pool. A concrete dam stretches above the falls beneath a bright blue sky. — Chutes de Chaudiere as seen from the rocks along the river

A suspension bridge crosses the Chaudière River, with views towards the falls and gorge. My kids love any excuse to cross a suspension bridge (especially because they know I’m not nearly as enthusiastic about them) so this is always part of the fun when we stop here. You can also follow the trails down towards the river and walk out along the rocks for a closer look at the falls. You can’t reach the base of the waterfall, but you can get surprisingly close and see it from several different angles.

There are several kilometres of walking trails throughout the park, although you don’t need to hike far to see the falls. You can make this a longer stop and explore some of the trails, or simply walk to the viewpoints, cross the suspension bridge and head down towards the rocks (where I took the photo from).

One of the best things is that Chutes de la Chaudière is completely free to visit, including parking. It’s also been much quieter than Montmorency whenever we’ve visited, making it a good option during the busy summer months.

It’s also a good stop if you’re driving past Quebec City on the south side of the river. We’ve stopped here several times on road trips between Nova Scotia and Ontario, as it’s an easy place to get out, stretch our legs and see the falls without having to cross into Quebec City.

Best for: A free, quieter alternative to Montmorency Falls or an easy stop when driving through Lévis.

Two children wearing sunglasses pose playfully in the middle of a long suspension bridge with wooden planks and metal fencing. Evergreen forest surrounds the bridge on a sunny day.

Two children pose playfully on rocks beside the water with wide waterfalls cascading over dark cliffs behind them. The dramatic falls make this a memorable family stop for anyone exploring waterfalls near Quebec City.

3. Jean-Larose Falls

About 40 minutes northeast of Quebec City, Jean-Larose Falls is near the base of Mont-Sainte-Anne and feels completely different from the other two waterfalls on this list. The waterfall drops 69 metres in several sections, surrounded by forest, and getting there is more of a hike than a quick sightseeing stop.

Chutes Jean Larose plunges down a tall rocky cliff surrounded by dense green forest near Quebec City. The waterfall flows into a shallow rocky creek scattered with large boulders.

The trail follows a long series of wooden stairs alongside the falls, with viewpoints along the way. There are more than 400 steps, so while going down might seem easy enough, remember that you’ll have to climb them again on the way back up. It’s worth taking your time, both for the views and to give your legs a break.

We liked that visiting Jean-Larose felt more like an outdoor adventure than simply stopping to see a waterfall. You can get some great views of the different sections of the falls as you make your way down, and the forested setting makes it feel much farther from Quebec City than it actually is.

Jean-Larose Falls is also close to Canyon Sainte-Anne, so you could easily combine the two if you want to spend more of the day exploring waterfalls and trails along the Côte-de-Beaupré.

Best for: A waterfall hike and anyone who doesn’t mind tackling a lot of stairs.

Which Quebec City Waterfall Should You Visit?

Choose Montmorency Falls if you want the most impressive waterfall and haven’t visited before.

Choose Chutes de la Chaudière if you want a quieter, free waterfall experience with trails and a suspension bridge.

Choose Jean-Larose Falls if you want more of a hike and don’t mind tackling all those stairs.

Other Waterfalls Near Quebec City

There are a couple of other waterfalls near Quebec City that we haven’t visited yet, but both look like great options, so they’re worth mentioning here.

Kabir Kouba Falls

Located in Wendake, Kabir Kouba Falls is one of the closest options to Quebec City. The waterfall drops 28 metres into a 42-metre-deep canyon, with a 2.5 km trail and several viewpoints along the gorge. Access to the park and parking are both free.

This one is definitely on our list for a future visit, especially since it would be easy to combine with more time exploring Wendake.

Canyon Sainte-Anne

About 35 minutes from Old Quebec, Canyon Sainte-Anne is more of an attraction than a quick waterfall stop. The 74-metre waterfall drops through a steep canyon, with about 3 km of trails, several viewpoints and three suspension bridges, including one that crosses 60 metres above the river.

Unlike the other waterfalls on this list, there is an admission fee, but there’s also more to do here than simply see the falls. Other activities include AirCANYON, a two-person ride high above the gorge, and the Pétraminis Family Park with an obstacle course and interactive rally.

Whitewater rapids rush over layered dark rocks toward a broad waterfall surrounded by dense green forest. The view shows the rocky river and powerful flowing water at Chutes de Chaudiere near Quebec City. — the view of Chutes de Chaudiere from the suspension bridge

Our Take: Which Waterfall to Visit Near Quebec City

Montmorency Falls is the most impressive of these three waterfalls, and if you’ve never been, it’s absolutely worth seeing. Standing near the top and looking down over the falls, or seeing just how small everyone looks from the viewpoints below, really gives you a sense of how big it is.

But if we were choosing just one to visit again, we’d head to Chutes de la Chaudière. It’s become one of our regular stops when we’re driving through Quebec, and my kids are always happy to cross the suspension bridge while I follow slightly less enthusiastically.

It’s free, usually much quieter and you can spend as little or as much time there as you want. Especially during the busy summer months, it’s a great alternative when you want to see a waterfall without making it a major part of your day.

And if you have more time and want a hike rather than a quick stop, Jean-Larose Falls gives you a completely different experience — just be prepared for those stairs on the way back up!

Two children pose on a suspension bridge surrounded by autumn trees beneath the text. "3 WATERFALLS NEAR QUEBEC CITY. NOT JUST MONTMORENCY FALLS. TAKETHEKIDSEVERYWHERE.COM."

Planning a Trip to Quebec City?

Looking to explore more of Quebec City?Check out our guide to the best things to do in Quebec City with kids in the summer, including plenty of ideas beyond the waterfalls. If Montmorency is the waterfall you choose, our guide to Montmorency Falls has everything you need to plan your visit. And if you’re staying for a few days, we’ve also rounded up the best Quebec City hotels for families.