Choose wisely. Connect locally.Add your business Anticosti Island lies in the Gulf of St. Lawrence, a long, sparsely populated island of forest, rivers, canyons and pale limestone cliffs. It is larger than Prince Edward Island yet has only one village of note, Port-Menier. Reaching it takes planning, and that effort rewards you with waterfalls, wildlife and a sense of space that few places in eastern Canada can match.
The island is about 222 kilometers long and up to 56 kilometers wide, and its rocks hold some of the most complete Ordovician and Silurian layers in eastern North America. It was added to the UNESCO World Heritage list in 2023. Much of the island is parkland or conservation territory, with 24 rivers and streams that run through deep gorges and canyons.
Its modern story began in 1895, when the French chocolate maker Henri Menier bought it, built the village of Port-Menier and introduced white-tailed deer for hunting. The herd thrived and now far outnumbers the roughly two hundred residents. Visitors come for the scenery, for salmon fishing and for the quiet.
The village sits on the western coast and has most of the island's services, including a general store, a grocery, a garage and a fuel station. Many of the original houses built in Menier's time still stand. Stock up here, since services are scarce elsewhere on the island.
The ecomuseum in Port-Menier presents the island's history and ecology, with furniture and artifacts from the Menier era. It is open in the warmer months, so check the season before you arrive. Allow an hour, and ask staff about road and trail conditions.
Port-Menier is the only village of note on Anticosti Island. Photo: AnonymousUnknown author, Wikimedia Commons, Public domain
The western tip of the island has a lighthouse station and a coast scattered with the remains of ships. The wreck of the Calou lies here and is one of the most accessible on the island. More than 400 wrecks off these shores earned Anticosti the nickname Cemetery of the Gulf, so walk with care and look but do not remove anything.
A lighthouse station stands at the western end of Anticosti Island, near the village of Port-Menier. Photo: Nichole Ouellette/ouellette001.com Camera location50° 10′ 52.3″ N, 61° 49′ 15.7″ W View…, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY 4.0
The Vauréal River drops about 70 metres into a canyon, and Menier named the falls after the town of Vauréal in France where he owned a home. Allow a couple of hours to walk to the viewpoints and look down into the gorge. Keep to marked paths, because the canyon walls are steep.
The Vauréal River flows through a deep gorge on its way to the Gulf of St. Lawrence. Photo: Nichole Ouellette|ouellette001.com, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY 4.0
The lighthouse stands near Vauréal Falls on cliffs that give a wide view of the strait. The cliffs are a good place to watch for whales, so bring binoculars and patience. Dress warmly, since the wind off the water is cool even in summer.
The Carleton lighthouse stands near Vauréal Falls and the cliffs offer a vantage point for watching whales. Photo: JackyM59, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0
On the south shore, the Chicotte River has carved a narrow limestone gorge known as the Petit Canyon. Walk the trail along the rim and look at the layered rock walls. Allow a couple of hours and wear shoes with good grip.
The Petit Canyon of the Chicotte River is one of the island's best known gorges. Photo: Nichole Ouellette/ouellette001.com, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY 4.0
The Jupiter River, fed by the largest lake on the island, Lake Wickenden, is famous for Atlantic salmon fishing. Fishing requires a provincial licence and is organized through Sépaq, the agency that manages the park. Book well ahead if you plan to fish.
The wreck of the Wilcox lies near Pointe-Carleton and is another of the island's most accessible shipwrecks. The coast is rocky and dangerous, with large shoals to the south, which explains why so many ships were lost here. Visit at low tide and keep an eye on the weather.
This small coastal outpost on the south shore has an inn and restaurant and serves as a base for exploring the south coast and canyons. It is far from Port-Menier, so allow time on the road. Ask the staff about wildlife and the best viewpoints in the area.
On the north shore, McDonald Bay has an inn that looks out over the Jacques Cartier Strait. The strait separates the island from the mainland and carries both ships and whales. It is a quiet place to watch the light change over the water.
Food on the island is simple and tied to hunting, fishing and the sea. Venison is the signature, since the deer herd is large, and the grocery in Port-Menier offers a cutting and packing service for hunters during the season. Atlantic salmon comes from the island's rivers, and Menier once built a cannery here for fish and lobster, so lobster is part of the story too. Restaurants are found in Port-Menier and at the inns, and the village grocery has a bakery, a butcher counter and seafood. Pack extra supplies if you plan to self-cater, and order ahead where you can.
Popular dishes to try in Anticosti Island
Port-Menier is the practical base for most visitors, with an inn, a restaurant and the shops, and it suits anyone arriving by plane or ship. Chicotte-la-Mer, on the south shore, is a small outpost with an inn and restaurant that suits anglers and walkers who want to be near the canyons. McDonald Bay, on the north shore, has a larger inn with views of the Jacques Cartier Strait and suits travelers who want a remote setting. Pointe-de-l'Ouest, at the western tip, has former lightkeepers' houses where visitors can stay in summer, a good choice for those who want guided tours and camping trips with equipment and meals. Outfitters also run lodges for hunters, and campsites are available in the park.
Where to stay in Anticosti Island
Summer is the best season for general visitors. The ecomuseum and many services open then, the ship runs from early April to early October, and the weather is mildest, with July the warmest month and an average of about 15 degrees Celsius. Winters are long, cold and snowy, with February the coldest month. Autumn is the hunting season for deer, which brings outfitters and hunters to the island. Fishing seasons depend on the river, so check with Sépaq before you book. Pack warm layers in every season.
Port-Menier Airport has scheduled flights operated by Air Liaison from Havre-Saint-Pierre and Sept-Îles, and from Baie-Comeau, on certain days of the week. The ship Bella Desgagnés, run by Relais Nordik, sails seasonally between Rimouski and Blanc-Sablon and stops at Port-Menier once a week. The crossing takes about five hours from Havre-Saint-Pierre and about 23 hours from Rimouski, and the operator suggests allowing a day or two before onward plans because sailings can shift. You can bring a vehicle on the ship or rent a small truck in Port-Menier, and guided packages often include transport. There is no mobile phone service on the island, and the nearest hospital is on the mainland, so plan ahead.
Arrive in Port-Menier, visit the ecomuseum and walk the village. Stock up on food and fuel, and confirm any tours or fishing bookings.
Drive to Vauréal Falls and the Carleton lighthouse, and watch for whales from the cliffs. Spend the afternoon on the nearby trails.
Head to the south shore for the Petit Canyon of the Chicotte River and Chicotte-la-Mer. Add a fishing day on the Jupiter River if you have booked ahead.
Visit Pointe-de-l'Ouest and the shipwreck coast before your departure. Allow extra time in case flights or sailings change.
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