Paseos y miradores

A wooded valley park along Highland Creek in east Scarborough, where a trail follows the creek through the forest toward Lake Ontario. It has picnic sites, washrooms and a dog off leash area, and it is a quiet spot to watch the leaves change in fall. Free and open year round.

A wooded ravine trail that follows the old course of Mud Creek below the Moore Park and Mount Pleasant neighbourhoods, linking up with the Beltline Trail and the paths down to the Don Valley Brick Works. The wide gravel path runs under tall trees and old bridges and feels far from the city. Free and open year round; the trail can be icy in winter.

A 15 metre steel lookout with a glass railing that juts about 5 metres out from the cliff in the upper bend of Côte de Sillery, 23 metres above the Promenade Samuel-De Champlain. It offers a view of more than 180 degrees over the St. Lawrence and is lit at night. It is a public lookout maintained by the City, free and open any time.

A teaching and research garden at Université Laval with about 600 species and cultivars on landscaped beds, plus a trial area showing new varieties. It is a calm green oasis in the city where you can pick up ideas for your own garden. Entry is free all year according to the garden, and the City notes it is at its best for visits from May to October.

An outdoor history walk along Boulevard René-Lévesque Est, between Avenue Honoré-Mercier and Rue De La Chevrotière, near the Parliament Building. Fourteen interpretation panels tell the story of the premiers who have governed Québec since 1867. It is free and open any time, a nice add on to a stroll around Parliament Hill.

A 15.6 hectare woods at the western tip of the Pointe-de-Sainte-Foy, with marked trails and interpretation panels through maple, red oak, ash and beech stands and a few old white pines. More than 100 bird species have been seen here, about thirty of which nest on site. It is a free green space maintained by the Commission de la capitale nationale and open to walkers all year.

A 1.7 km footpath along the St. Lawrence between Parc de la Plage-Jacques-Cartier and the Pierre-Laporte Bridge, giving access to Plage Gagnon, one of the city's rare natural sand beaches. Interpretation panels explain the tides and the changing landscape, with great views of the river, the cliff and the bridges. Free, open May 1 to November 30 (closed in winter); free parking at Parc de la Plage-Jacques-Cartier and Parc du Domaine-des-Retraités, and leashed dogs are welcome.

A small protected woods on a rocky ridge above the Promenade Samuel-De Champlain, with trails, lookouts and many trees over 200 years old. Interpretation panels explain the trees and archaeological finds showing Indigenous presence here thousands of years ago. It is a free public park open all year from 5 a.m. to 11 p.m.; parking is at the foot of Côte Ross and leashed dogs are welcome.

A restored industrial quay on the Promenade Samuel-De Champlain, crowned by a white observation tower over 20 metres high with a panoramic view of the St. Lawrence and its shores. The pavilion has public washrooms (7 a.m. to 10 p.m.) and there is a free bike repair station. The tower is free and open 24 hours during the summer season, parking is free, and leashed dogs are welcome outside.

A 28 metre waterfall tucked inside a 42 metre deep canyon on the Saint-Charles River. A walking trail and five lookouts let you discover the plants, wildlife and rock formations of the gorge. It is a public park listed by the City of Québec and is free to visit.

A riverside park at the mouth of the Cap Rouge River with a quay, an observation tower and walking paths that link to Parc Jean-Déry, the riverside trails and the Promenade Samuel-De Champlain. It is a favourite spot for walkers all year, with wide views over the St. Lawrence. The City states that entry to the park is free and its parking lots are free; only some activities, equipment rentals and boat launching cost money.

A 6.4 km network of shady forest loops in the Greenbelt, where trail 32 crosses rare inland sand dunes as well as pine forest. Loops are easy to shorten or lengthen, and an unsheltered picnic area sits by trail 32. In winter the trails are used for skiing and snowshoeing. Trails are free, parking at P14 and P15 is free all year, and leashed dogs are allowed from April 15 to November 30.