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Anticosti Island is a vast, sparsely inhabited island in the Gulf of St. Lawrence, larger than Prince Edward Island but home to only a few hundred people. In the late nineteenth century it was bought by the French chocolate maker Henri Menier, who introduced white-tailed deer that now vastly outnumber residents. Its limestone layers hold an exceptional fossil record, recognized as a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Port-Menier, the only village, has basic services and the Anticosti ecomuseum, which covers the island's history from the Menier era onward. Beyond it, gravel roads lead to dramatic natural sites. Vauréal Falls drops into a deep canyon that can be explored on foot, and the Petit Canyon of the Chicotte River offers another striking hike. The Jupiter River is renowned for salmon fishing. Along the coast, Pointe-de-l'Ouest, the Carleton lighthouse, the wreck at Pointe-Carleton, Chicotte-la-Mer and McDonald Bay showcase cliffs, beaches and a shoreline that claimed many ships.
Anticosti suits self-sufficient travelers, hunters, anglers and nature lovers comfortable with remoteness. Most visitors stay through outfitters or rent a sturdy vehicle, since distances are long and roads rough. The short summer season is best for sightseeing, while fall is popular for deer hunting.
WiserMap travel guideAnticosti Island Quebec Vaureal Falls and Shipwreck CoastsExplore Anticosti Island in Quebec, a World Heritage wilderness with Vauréal Falls, river canyons, lighthouses, shipwreck coasts, salmon rivers and Port-Menier.Read the guide
The only village on Anticosti Island, founded by French chocolate maker Henri Menier, who bought the island in the 1890s. It has the airport, ferry dock, stores and lodging. Stock up here before heading out on the island's long gravel roads, as services elsewhere are very limited.
A small museum in Port-Menier telling the story of Anticosti, from the Menier era and its model village to shipwrecks, lighthouse keepers and the island's wildlife. It is a good first stop to understand the island. Ask at the museum about current road conditions and sites to visit.
The site of the grand wooden villa that Henri Menier built near Port-Menier at the end of the 19th century, which burned in the 1950s. Panels and foundations recall its luxury and the island's era as a private estate. It is a short drive from the village; combine it with the ecomuseum.
The rusting remains of the Wilcox, a ship that ran aground near Pointe-Carleton in the 20th century, now one of the island's best-known sights on the shore. It recalls the many wrecks around Anticosti. Visit at low tide, admire it from the shore and do not climb on the unstable hull.
Anticosti's cliffs and shores are among the world's richest records of marine fossils from the end of the Ordovician and early Silurian periods, and were listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2023. Fossils can be seen in rock slabs on many beaches. Look but never collect, as they are protected.
A historic lighthouse on Pointe-Carleton on the north shore of the island, with the keeper's house nearby and wide views over the gulf. Many ships wrecked on Anticosti's reefs, which earned it the nickname graveyard of the gulf. Visit on a clear day and look for whales offshore.
The island's most famous sight, a waterfall about 76 meters high plunging into a deep limestone canyon in Anticosti National Park. A short trail leads to a lookout, and a longer walk follows the river bed to the base of the falls. Wear waterproof boots for the river walk.
A deep canyon in Anticosti National Park cut by the Observation River, with sheer limestone walls and lookouts over the gorge. It is one of the park's most dramatic landscapes. Access is by gravel road; check road conditions in Port-Menier and carry a spare tire.
A limestone cave in Anticosti National Park, reached by a hiking trail through the forest and a climb to its entrance, with passages that stretch far into the rock. Exploration is possible only for a short distance without equipment. Bring a headlamp and sturdy boots, and go with a guide.
A bay on the north coast of the island framed by tall limestone cliffs that drop into the Gulf of St. Lawrence, one of the most photographed coastal views on Anticosti. Trails follow the clifftops. Stay well back from the edges, as the rock can crumble, and visit at low tide for the shore.
One of Anticosti's most famous salmon rivers, known for its clear water and wild Atlantic salmon, with pools that draw anglers from around the world. Fishing is tightly regulated and booked through outfitters. Even without fishing, the river's turquoise pools are lovely to see.
White-tailed deer introduced by Henri Menier in the 1890s have multiplied to a very large population, and they are seen almost everywhere on the island, often along the roads. Drive slowly, especially at dawn and dusk, and watch for deer crossing. Autumn hunting seasons are popular.
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Log in to add photosPhoto: Nichole Ouellette/ouellette001.com Camera location50° 10′ 52.3″ N, 61° 49′ 15.7″ W View…, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY 4.0
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Photo: Nichole Ouellette/ouellette001.com, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY 4.0
Photo: Nichole Ouellette/ouellette001.com, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY 4.0
Photo: NASA, Wikimedia Commons, Public domain
Photo: NASA, Wikimedia Commons, Public domain
Photo: NASA, Wikimedia Commons, Public domain
Photo: Thosetimes, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0
Photo: NASA, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0
