A waterfall taller than Niagara, fifteen minutes from Old Québec. How access works, the cable car
and the stairs, and the tours that really include the falls.
The park's own ticketAccess plus cable car, sold by the official operator
What each tour really doesHow long at the falls, and whether the cable car is in
Free cancellationUp to 24 hours before on most listings
Secure checkoutBooked and paid on GetYourGuide
Tickets & tours
Choose your Montmorency Falls tour
In the centre, the park's own ticket with the cable car, for anyone who can get there alone. On the left,
a half day from Québec City that adds the basilica and Île d'Orléans. On the right, the long day trip from Montreal.
A guided coach loop east of the city: a stop at the falls, the Sainte-Anne-de-Beaupré basilica and a drive on Île d'Orléans. Park and basilica entry are included; the cable car is extra.
What's included
Guided tour with a bilingual English and French guide
Air-conditioned coach, with hotel pickup and return listed
Entry to Parc de la Chute-Montmorency and the basilica
Not included: the cable car (optional, extra), meals, gratuities
Free cancellation up to 24 hours before, as the listing states
The park's own ticket: site access plus a round-trip cable car ride, with parking at the lower terminal. The simplest way to see the falls from the bottom and the top at your own pace.
What's included
Regular access fee to Parc de la Chute-Montmorency
Round-trip cable car ticket
Parking at the cable car terminal, at the base of the falls
Show the voucher at the car park entrance, then collect the cable car bracelet inside La Manufacture
Free cancellation up to 24 hours before, as the listing states
StartsCable car terminal, base of the fallsBook this →
A long coach day from Montreal: falls entry with a one-way cable car ride, then a guided walk in Old Québec. The listing asks you to arrive before 7:00 AM; the return is around 8:00 PM.
What's included
Round-trip coach between Montreal and Québec City
Falls entry and a one-way cable car ride
A one-hour guided walking tour of Old Québec
Not included: food and drink, optional paid activities
Free cancellation up to 24 hours before, as the listing states
Two questions sort almost every listing: how long you actually spend at the falls, and whether the cable
car is in the deal. A coach tour is a stop on a longer day; the park ticket and the shuttle give you the whole site.
Under-18s get into the park free, so check each listing's age rules before you book for a
family. Most options here cancel free up to 24 hours before; the listing has the final word.
What you actually get
Taller than Niagara, and no longer free.
Montmorency Falls drops 83 m where the Montmorency River meets the St. Lawrence, on the boundary between
Québec City's Beauport borough and Boischatel. That is about 30 m more than Niagara's Horseshoe Falls, although
Niagara is far wider and carries far more water. Champlain named the falls after Henri II, duc de Montmorency, in the
early 1600s, and the park around them is now run by Sépaq.
Two things surprise visitors. First, the park is not free any more: since 2019 adults pay a per-person
access fee, while under-18s and residents of the Greater Québec City area get in free. Second, many tours that carry
the falls in their title spend around 45 minutes there on a longer day. If the falls are the point of your trip, the
park's own ticket with the cable car gives you the whole site.
83 m
The height of the falls, about 30 m more than Niagara's Horseshoe
Falls. In winter the spray freezes into an ice cone called the Sugar Loaf.
BeauportBoischatelSt. LawrenceÎle d'Orléans
The falls from close up: the iron-rich riverbed gives the water a faint yellow tint.
01
Who gets in free?
Anyone aged 0 to 17, and residents of the Greater Québec City area with proof of address.
02
How far is it?
About 11 to 13 km from Old Québec, roughly 15 to 20 minutes by car.
03
Does the cable car run all year?
No: in 2026 to 2027 it closes 2 Nov to 18 Dec and 4 Jan to 5 Feb.
04
Who should skip a coach tour?
Anyone who wants more than a short stop: take the park ticket, the shuttle or the bus.
Bottom to top
How a visit works
The park has an entrance at the base and one at the top. This is the classic loop for a summer visit; in
winter the staircase is closed.
01
Start at the base
La Manufacture information centre and the lower cable car station sit by the basin, next to the lower car parks.
Spray zone
02
Ride the cable car
Glassed-in cabins climb about 80 m over a 450 m line in roughly 2 minutes 44 seconds.
Unlimited rides that day
03
Cross the bridge
A suspension footbridge spans the crest of the falls, with views to the St. Lawrence and Île d'Orléans.
Often windy
04
Take the stairs down
The panoramic staircase has 487 wooden steps, with landings and viewpoints on the way.
Summer only
Plan your visit
Plan your falls day
Getting there, who pays, what to do on site and what to bring.
By car: about 15 to 20 minutes from Old Québec on Autoroute 440 east, exit 325. There are car parks at the base and at the top.
By city bus: RTC Métrobus 800 is the route usually given to the Terminus Chute-Montmorency, a short walk from the upper entrance; check the RTC planner, as one RTC map labels route 807.
By shuttle: a seasonal shuttle runs from Old Québec; one version on GetYourGuide bundles park access and the cable car.
By bike: the Corridor du Littoral path along the river ends at the park entrance, with bike racks. Bikes are not allowed on the cable car.
On a tour: coach tours from Québec City and Montreal include a stop; a private SUV tour picks you up in the Québec City area.
Adults pay a per-person access fee, with a reduced rate for seniors aged 65 and over.
Access is free for children and teens aged 0 to 17.
Residents of the Communauté métropolitaine de Québec get in free with proof of residency.
The cable car, the zipline and the via ferrata are paid separately; the annual Parcs Québec card does not cover this site.
Rates change between low and high season (high season 11 May to 1 November 2026).
A quick walk to the bridge takes about 30 minutes; a full visit two to three hours.
Groomed footpaths run from about 0.5 to 3 km.
The Manoir Montmorency at the top holds an information centre, shops and a seasonal terrace restaurant.
Dogs are allowed under conditions; service dogs everywhere.
Access for reduced mobility is partial: the stairs are not an option, the cable car is the way between levels.
A light waterproof jacket: spray reaches the base and the lower viewpoints.
Shoes with grip for 487 wet wooden steps.
Layers: wind and mist make it feel colder than in town.
A cover or bag for your camera or phone near the base.
In winter, warm boots and traction for icy paths.
487 stepsPanoramic staircaseSummer only; closed in winter because of ice.
300 mZiplineA double zipline across the cove beside the falls; 2026 season 16 May to 12 October, daily from 20 June to 7 September.
260 mVia ferrataOne intermediate route, about 2.5 hours, age 12 and over; booked through Sépaq.
1781Manoir MontmorencyHome of the Duke of Kent in 1791 to 1794; rebuilt after a fire in 1993.
WinterThe Sugar LoafA cone of frozen spray at the foot of the falls, with ice climbing on the cliffs.
1885Power to the cityElectricity from the falls lit Dufferin Terrace in Québec City over a line of about 30 km.
Where the falls are
Finding the park
Parc de la Chute-Montmorency
5300 boulevard Sainte-Anne, Québec (base of the falls)
The park straddles the mouth of the Montmorency River, north-east of Old Québec along the St. Lawrence. The lower
entrance, La Manufacture and the cable car station are by the basin; the Manoir Montmorency, the bridge and the
upper car park are on the cliff above. Île d'Orléans lies just offshore, reached by the bridge a little further east.
Manoir Montmorency: open all year, 9:00 to 17:00, except 25 December and 1 to 3 January
Cable car 2026 to 2027: daily 1 April to 1 November, 19 December to 3 January (not 25 December), 6 February to 31 March
Car parks at the base, at the top and on the Boischatel side
Back in town, a sightseeing cruise on the St. Lawrence shows Québec City and its cliffs from the water. It
does not stop at the falls, so treat it as a separate outing.
Québec City Guided Sightseeing River Cruise
1.5 hours · Chouinard Pier, Old Port · GetYourGuide
See Québec City from the St. Lawrence on a 90-minute cruise with a bilingual guide, leaving from the Old Port. It is a river view, not a falls visit: the boat does not stop at Montmorency, so pair it with a separate trip to the park.
Most visitors to Québec City hear about Montmorency Falls as a short hop from town, taller than Niagara.
Both are true. What the brochures skip is how the park works today: who pays, what the cable car covers, and how
much of the site a tour really shows you.
A park with two entrances
The falls sit at the mouth of the Montmorency River, where it drops into the St. Lawrence.
The park is built on two levels. At the base are the basin, La Manufacture information centre, the lower car parks and
the cable car station. On the cliff above are the Manoir Montmorency, the upper car park and the paths to the suspension
bridge across the crest. Between them run the cable car and, in summer, the 487-step panoramic staircase. Whichever end
you start from, the classic visit is a loop: up one way, down the other.
Up close the falls are a wall of white water on dark rock.
Who pays, and for what
Until 2019 the park charged only for parking. Today Sépaq charges a per-person access fee to visitors, with a reduced
rate for seniors. Children and teens up to 17 get in free, and so do residents of the Communauté métropolitaine de
Québec who show proof of address. The cable car is a separate ticket, a round trip with unlimited rides on the same
day, and the zipline and via ferrata are paid activities of their own. The annual Parcs Québec card does not cover the
site. The park's own access and cable car ticket is sold on GetYourGuide, and Sépaq recommends buying before you go.
The honest small print: a coach tour that lists the falls usually spends about 45 minutes there,
and some leave the cable car out. That is enough for the view from the base or the bridge, not for the full loop. If
the falls are the reason for your trip, take the park ticket with the cable car, the shuttle bundle or a private tour.
Getting there on your own
By car it is about 15 to 20 minutes from Old Québec on Autoroute 440 east to exit 325. Without a car, city buses run
to the Terminus Chute-Montmorency near the upper entrance; route 800 is the one usually quoted, but check the RTC planner
before you set out. A seasonal shuttle leaves from Old Québec, and cyclists can follow the Corridor du Littoral, a bike
path along the river that ends at the park. Bikes cannot go on the cable car, so leave them at the racks.
The riverside bike path from Québec City ends at the park.
Summer, autumn or winter?
Summer is the full experience: the staircase, the zipline from mid-May to mid-October and the terrace restaurant at
the Manoir. Autumn colour usually peaks from late September to mid-October. Winter is a different place: spray builds
the Sugar Loaf, an ice cone at the foot of the falls, and climbers work the frozen cliffs. The staircase closes, and the
cable car stops from 2 November to 18 December and from 4 January to 5 February, so plan around those dates.
Making the most of it
Arrive early or late in the day to avoid the busiest hours. Ride the cable car up and walk down the staircase.
Bring a light waterproof layer for the spray at the base and something warm for the wind on the bridge. And if you are
travelling with teenagers, remember that they get in free.
Straight answers to what visitors ask most about Montmorency Falls.
Is Montmorency Falls worth visiting?
Yes, for most visitors to Québec City. At 83 m the falls are about 30 m taller than Niagara's Horseshoe Falls, they sit only about 15 to 20 minutes by car from Old Québec, and one visit takes in the base, the cable car (a separate ticket), the suspension bridge over the crest and, in summer, the 487-step staircase. Allow two to three hours for the whole site.
Is it free to visit Montmorency Falls?
Not for most adult visitors. Since 2019 the park run by Sépaq charges a per-person access fee. Access is free for anyone aged 0 to 17 and for residents of the Greater Québec City area (the Communauté métropolitaine de Québec) with proof of address. The cable car, zipline and via ferrata are paid extras. Details in tickets and access.
Do I need to buy tickets for Montmorency Falls in advance?
Sépaq recommends buying online before your visit. The park's own entry and cable car ticket is also sold on GetYourGuide, with free cancellation up to 24 hours before according to the listing. The annual Parcs Québec card does not cover this site.
How long should I spend at Montmorency Falls?
About 30 minutes is enough for a quick walk to the suspension bridge. Plan two to three hours to ride the cable car, cross the bridge, walk the paths and come down the staircase. Most coach tours stop for around 45 minutes.
How do I get from Québec City to Montmorency Falls without a car?
City buses (RTC Métrobus 800 is the route usually given) run to the Terminus Chute-Montmorency near the upper entrance; check the RTC trip planner for the current route before you go. There is also a seasonal shuttle from Old Québec, a bike path along the river (the Corridor du Littoral) that ends at the park, and taxis. See getting there.
How many stairs are at Montmorency Falls?
The panoramic staircase has 487 wooden steps, with landings and viewpoints along the way. It is a summer feature and closes in winter because of ice. The cable car is the alternative between the base and the top.
Is the Montmorency Falls cable car worth it?
For most people, yes. The ride is about 2 minutes 44 seconds over 450 m, and the cable car ticket is a round trip with unlimited rides the same day. It does not run every day of the year: in 2026 to 2027 it is closed from 2 November to 18 December and from 4 January to 5 February. More in the cable car guide.
Will I get wet at Montmorency Falls?
Possibly. Spray from the plunge pool reaches the walkway at the base and the lower viewpoints, and the suspension bridge can be windy. A light waterproof layer and a cover for your camera are worth bringing.
How far is Montmorency Falls from Old Québec?
About 11 to 13 km north-east of Old Québec, roughly 15 to 20 minutes by car via Autoroute 440 (exit 325). By city bus it takes longer, depending on where you start.
What is the difference between Montmorency Falls and Niagara Falls?
Montmorency is taller: 83 m against about 51 m for Niagara's Horseshoe Falls. Niagara is far wider and carries far more water. Compare them in Montmorency vs Niagara.
Can you visit Montmorency Falls in winter?
Yes. The outdoor site stays accessible, spray freezes into an ice cone called the Sugar Loaf (pain de sucre), and ice climbing takes place on the frozen cliffs. The staircase is closed in winter and the cable car has closure periods, so check the dates before you go.
Are there places to eat at Montmorency Falls?
Yes, seasonally. The Manoir Montmorency at the top houses a terrace restaurant (16 May to 12 October 2026), and snack bars open from May to September. There is also an old orchard with space for a picnic.
Ready to go
Find the visit that fits your trip.
The park's own ticket with the cable car is the simplest choice, with free cancellation up to 24 hours before, as the listing states.
Half day
5 hours 15 minFree cancellation
