Route bleue: Paddle your way throughout Portneuf!
By David C, April 16 2025
The region of Portneuf’s Route bleue boasts 15 Canot-Kayak Québec-certified paddling trails, offering an ideal way to discover paddle sports along the St. Lawrence River, the Sainte-Anne River and on four local lakes. These itineraries are perfect for solo, family or group experiences and guarantee safe canoeing, kayaking or paddleboarding for hours of fun.
The Sainte-Anne River
On the Sainte-Anne River, six trails stretch from Saint-Raymond to Parc naturel régional de Portneuf. Ideal for beginners, the Au Chalet en Bois Rond tourist village trail offers a calm experience and a peaceful immersion in nature. The more dynamic trail between Saint-Alban and Saint-Casimir presents some challenging whitewater sections and is geared towards intermediate paddlers. For a more leisurely outing close to town, the Saint-Raymond trail offers calm-water cruising, perfect for families or beginners.
The Saint Lawrence River
The four trails along the St. Lawrence River offer splendid views of the region between Neuville and Grondines. One of the longest trails, between the village centres of Grondines and Deschambault, is ideal for soaking up Portneuf’s beauty and history. Other, shorter trails, such as the one between Cap-Santé and Donnacona, offer a shorter but just as memorable way of seeing the River, with stunning views of the banks, the hills of the south shore and the River’s bluish expanse.
Portneuf’s lakes
Route bleue now boasts five additional trails on the region’s lakes. Lac Simon, in Saint-Léonard-de-Portneuf, and Lac Blanc, in Saint-Ubalde, offer courses suitable for beginners. In the heart of Parc naturel régional de Portneuf, the new Lac Long and Lac Montauban trails will also be very popular for their loop circuits, such as the Grand Tour or Boucle du Lac Long, which allow you to discover these tranquil stretches of water and enjoy the calm waters and spectacular scenery.
In a nutshell, whether you’re out on a peaceful lake, on the Sainte-Anne River in town or in the countryside, or on the majestic St. Lawrence River, Portneuf’s Route bleue delivers an unrivalled experience. Share your best water sports photos with us on Facebook and Instagram with #regionportneuf!