An absolutely enchanting way to see the Autumn foliage colors is on a Saguenay Fjord cruise in Quebec. The breathtaking granite walls, enswathed by the trees, engulfs you in misty coves of pristine and colorful wilderness. Lush greens let go into waterfalls and golden hues as you cruise into the mystery.
Located in Quebec, Canada the Saguenay Fjord is one of the most southerly fjords in the northern hemisphere. Also, this 65-mile (105 km) long fjord is one of the longest in the world. This fjord was carved by glaciers in the Ice Age. Majestically, its granite cliffs soar to an average height of 490 feet (150 metres), reaching a maximum height of 1.150 feet (350 metres). In contrast, the water plunges to depths of 900 feet below the waterline. Also, the Saguenay Fjord is a tributary of the Saint Lawrence River, with its head at the City of Saguenay.
This vast 78,900-acre park is also a wonderland for hiking and biking. Most noteworthy, National Geographic named the trail system at Saguenay Fjord National Park one of the world’s ‘Top Walks and Hikes.” There is also Chalets nearby for delicious French- Canadian cuisine and accommodations. In addition, there is a 270-mile cycling route that skirts the Saguenay River. Another way to enjoy the fjords is by kayaking intimately through its water reflections.
There are 3 main regions to Saguenay Fjord National Park:
Baie Eternite (Eternity bay) -First, this southwest region has the Saguenay Fjord Interpretation Center in the village, Riviere-Eternite.
Baie Sainte Marguerite (St. Margaret Bay)-Secondly, this north region is where the Beluga whales congregate in the bay. Also, in Sacre-Coeur is the Beluga Interpretation Centre.
Baie du Moulin-a-Baude (Moulin Bay in Baude) – Thirdly, the eastern region of the park has the Maison des Dunes Interpretation Centre, featuring the sand dunes, ecosystem and wildlife of the park.
The park’s waters are also home to 4 species of whales, such as, the beluga, blue, fin and minke. Unfortunately, because of pollution in the Saguenay river, the beluga whale population has significantly declined in this area. Also, in the waters are Atlantic salmon, Arctic cod, brook trout and seals.
My Amazing Saguenay Fjord Cruise Experience
As an Acupuncturist-at-Sea on cruise lines, I spent an autumn season between New England’s Boston and Quebec City. We cruised the St. Lawrence River and its tributary to Saguenay as one of our port-of-calls. Besides cruising through the fjords on the cruise ship, I also took a more intimate excursion on a chartered cruise throughout the fjords. Most importantly, it was an amphibious tour, in that we not only cruised the waters but also stopped for lunch and hiked trails to iconic viewing points from Saguenay National Park.
It was a misty late September day on my Saguenay Fjord Cruise. So, this brought on some visibility challenges with bouts of rain showers. However, the times in between were stunning and mysterious with the whispers of foggy shapes fading through the yellow, orange and red trees along the shorelines.
Related: Top 12 Things to Do in Enchanting Quebec City, Canada
We cruised close to the iconic Cape Trinity.
Our guides were informative about the geological development of these granite towers. On the first of the 3 terraces of Cape Trinity is the famous sculpture, “Notre-Dame du Saguenay” or State of our Lady of Saguenay. This 7.5-meter symbolic statue stands at a height of 180 meters, overlooking the fjord on the south shore of the Saguenay River.
This amphibious tour was a nice balance of water and land. Lastly, we stopped at charming villages, such as, Ste Rose du Nord and L’Anse St-Jean. Most importantly, it was the best way to connect with the colorful landscapes and get the best panoramic views of the fjord waters and canyon walls.
Overall, Saguenay Fjord Cruise
Overall, there are many moods to this experience depending on the weather and wildlife. I wasn’t fortunate enough to see any whales or seals. Also, it rained for us a lot of the time. However, this wafted gossamers of foggy mystery for our unknown journey. One can only imagine what a bright, clear sunny day would be like amidst the fiery red and golden colors reflecting on calm waters. Either way, cruising Saguenay Fjord is one of the best ways to experience the fall colors in their autumn glory, rain or shine.
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