Estuary, dunes and viewpoints at Moulin à Baude

To reach the Dunes car park from the centre of Tadoussac, take Rue des Pionniers (towards the golf course) and follow this road until it makes an almost right-angle turn. Do not turn, but continue straight ahead to reach the car park at the end.

(S/E) Take the path at the back of the car park. Pass on the right-hand side of the Maison des Dunes, leaving the two paths on your right. Cross over the Rivière du Moulin à Baude, following the Sentier de l'Estuaire. It climbs through the woods to the Tadoussac Dunes viewpoint.

(1) After admiring the view, turn back and descend until you cross the river again. At the first intersection, turn left. Follow the path and turn left again to proceed carefully to the end of this dead-end path and reach a viewpoint: access was impossible due to a staircase under construction when we visited.

(2) Turn back and take the path on the left. Ignore the path on the right and continue straight ahead. Continue straight ahead to the end to reach a second viewpoint (!).

(3) Go back a little and take the path on the left to reach the beach.

(4) Walk along the riverbank to the Saguenay rocks.

(5) Pass this mini peninsula and continue along the beach to reach a platform of gneiss (rock with alternating light and dark bands).

(6) From there, take the small path that runs along the coast to the next small beach.

(7) Climb the dune on the right: good luck! At the top, a flat stretch of sand awaits you; go to the right to find a path that leads into the trees and continue in the same direction to return to the Dunes car park (S/E).

A panoramic staircase was under construction during our visit, preventing access to point (1).

At point (7), take your time climbing back up the dune.