Aerial courses, mushroom foraging and more: how to enjoy the outdoors this fall

Whether you’re an avid hiker, nature-watcher, water sports enthusiast or rock climber, Quebec offers a vast outdoor playground to explore for out-of-the-ordinary experiences. The businesses that are part of the Quebec Adventure Outdoor network have many suggestions for discovering the province’s exceptional natural territories this fall.

Give ecotourism a try in Quebec

Ecotourism activities offer a unique opportunity to explore Quebec’s natural riches while helping to protect the environment. More and more companies are committing to reducing their ecological footprint by joining the 1% for the Planet Outdoor Fund and by upholding rigorous standards of sustainable and responsible development. Thanks to this fund, nearly half a million dollars have been raised to support structuring projects focused on the conservation of nature.

Look for Ecotourism-certified businesses to ensure that your outdoor activities are environmentally friendly. These businesses include, among many others, Contact Nature, to discover the Saguenay Fjord in a different way; Nature Aventure, to explore the rivers of the Gaspé Peninsula; and Aventure Rose-des-Vents, to combine nature, culture and accommodation in Sainte-Rose-du-Nord.

Indulge your inner child on an aerial course

There’s nothing quite like a high-altitude aerial adventure course in the heart of nature to give you a good dose of thrills as you defy gravity and work on your balance! In the Mauricie region, Parc de la rivière Batiscan offers a wide range of options, including a via ferrata trail, which invites you to tackle a steep cliff overlooking the river. Equipped with harnesses, visitors to Parc Aventures Cap Jaseux can make their way across 73 aerial bridges around the Saguenay Fjord. In the Laurentians, Parc du Domaine Vert offers treetop obstacle courses for the whole family.

Learn about mushroom foraging

Quebec’s forests are carpeted with numerous varieties of mushrooms, which are veritable natural treasures! A number of companies offer mycotourism activities to teach participants how to identify and pick mushrooms as well as tastings. The Parc régional des Grandes-Coulées, in the Centre-du-Québec region, is the ideal place to spot mushrooms of all shapes and colours. Introductory identification and picking workshops are also offered in several regions, including Chaudière-Appalaches, at Parc du Massif du Sud, and Mauricie, with Les champignons du Lac Édouard.