National park · Canada
Forillon National ParkParc national du Canada Forillon
Give Forillon one full day by car: drive Route 132 to Cap-des-Rosiers, walk the 4 km Les Graves path out to Cap Gaspé, and be back at Grande-Grave before 16:00; add a second day only if you want the 37 km interior trek.Give Forillon one full day by car: drive Route 132 to Cap-des-Rosiers, walk the 4 km Les Graves path out to Cap Gaspé, and be back at Grande-Grave before 4:00 PM; add a second day only if you want the 37 km interior trek.Give Forillon one full day by car: drive Route 132 to Cap-des-Rosiers, walk the 2.5 mi Les Graves path out to Cap Gaspé, and be back at Grande-Grave before 16:00; add a second day only if you want the 23 mi interior trek.Give Forillon one full day by car: drive Route 132 to Cap-des-Rosiers, walk the 2.5 mi Les Graves path out to Cap Gaspé, and be back at Grande-Grave before 4:00 PM; add a second day only if you want the 23 mi interior trek.
Map to the park
Add your hotel to get directions from it. · stays in this browser; shared with the pocket card.
Area
242 km²93 sq mi
approximate
Established
1970
Best months
Jul–Sep
UNESCO
None
Rules in force · 8Crossing between the US, Canada and Mexico by land needs …Cannabis is legal in Canada and in many US states, but ta…
- North America ↗Crossing between the US, Canada and Mexico by land needs your passport even on a day trip; rental cars need the company's written permission to cross, and most US and Canadian rental insurance stops at the Mexican border.
- North America ↗Cannabis is legal in Canada and in many US states, but taking any amount across the US, Canadian or Mexican border is a federal crime — including edibles and vapes.
- North America ↗The busiest US and Canadian national parks need timed-entry, campsite or lodge reservations in summer; release dates are months ahead.
- Canada ↗Visa-exempt travellers flying to or through Canada usually need an eTA; check your passport on the official Government of Canada site (canada.ca) and apply only there.
- Canada ↗A Parks Canada pass is needed to stop in national parks such as Banff and Jasper; some spots (for example Moraine Lake) are reached only by shuttle or tour, so book ahead.
- Canada ↗Keep well away from bears, elk and moose; carry bear spray on Rockies trails and follow trail closures.
- Quebec ↗French is the sole official language; English works in Montréal, Québec City and Gatineau, less so in small towns.
- Quebec ↗Prices are shown before tax; expect roughly 15% added at the till.
At a glance
- Country
- Canada
- Area
- 242 km²93 sq mi
- About 242 km², including a short offshore strip that protects eelgrass beds.
- Established
- 1970
- Best months
- Jul–Sep
- Permits
- For some areas
- Base
- Gaspé
Forillon sits at the tip of the Gaspé Peninsula, where the Chic-Choc hills meet the Gulf of St. Lawrence. It is small — about 242 km² — but it packs in 70-plus km of trails, fossil cliffs, pebble beaches, a restored cod-fishing village at Grande-Grave, and the Cap Gaspé headland that ends the mainland portion of the International Appalachian Trail. Almost everything visitors do hugs the coast, so a car and one clear day cover the highlights. The interior ridge routes are a separate, harder trip.
Decide
Why go, which months, and what lives here when
At a glance
Status
- Special national site · 1970Parks Canada national park; the park's creation displaced about 100 families, and the government apologised in 2011.
Size and age
242 km²93 sq mi · national park since 1970
About 242 km², including a short offshore strip that protects eelgrass beds.
This page covers the park itself. Nearest base: Gaspé.
Why go
- Cap Gaspé: the rocky headland at the end of the peninsula, reached on foot from L'Anse-aux-Amérindiens.
- Grande-Grave, a restored 19th-century cod-fishing village with houses turned into small museums.
- Seabird cliffs near Cap Bon-Ami, with kittiwakes, razorbills and guillemots in summer.
- Whales — minke, humpback, fin — often visible from the shore and on boat trips out of Gaspé.
- Penouille Beach, a shallow, warmer sand spit on Gaspé Bay, good for a low-effort afternoon.
When to go
- JanAvoid
- FebAvoid
- MarAvoid
- AprAvoid
- MayCaution
- JunGo
- JulBest
- AugBest
- SepBest
- OctCaution
- NovAvoid
- DecAvoid
- JanServices closed; deep snow
- FebSnow, no facilities
- MarStill winter; park shut
- AprMud season; services closed
- MayQuiet, cold, some services opening
- JunFull services; whales arrive
- JulWarmest; busiest; book stays
- AugWarm sea, whales, crowds
- SepClear, quieter, services still open
- OctServices wind down mid-month
- NovClosed; snow starts
- DecClosed; heavy snow
Wildlife and nature calendar
| What | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Seabirds at Cap Bon-Ami (kittiwakes, razorbills, guillemots)May–Sep | no | no | no | no | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | no | no | no |
| Whales offshore (minke, humpback, fin)Jun–Oct | no | no | no | no | no | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | no | no |
| Seals and harbour porpoiseMay–Oct | no | no | no | no | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | no | no |
| Moose and black bear in the forestMay–Oct | no | no | no | no | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | no | no |
Arrive & move
Getting in, how the park is divided, and where things are
How to get there
From Gaspé
Route 132 west to La Penouille, then Boulevard de Grande-Grave to the Petit-Gaspé tollbooth.
20–30 min
Open the page →
From Montréal
Autoroute 20 east, then Route 132 around the peninsula.
9–10 h
Open the page →
From Québec City
Autoroute 20 to Route 132, then east along the south shore.
7–8 h
Open the page →
From New Brunswick
Route 17 to Campbellton, cross into Quebec, then Route 132 east.
4–5 h from the bridge
Open the page →
From Gaspé airport
Rent a car at Michel-Pouliot airport; the main entrance is a short drive away.
20 min
Open the page →
From Long-distance bus (Orléans Express)
Buses pass through the park area but do not make scheduled stops inside the boundary. Drop-offs are discretionary roadside stops only, subject to driver approval and luggage restrictions.
Varies
Open the page →
Zones and sectors
| Zone | What is there | Access |
|---|---|---|
| La Penouille | Sand spit, salt marsh, shallow beach and a visitor centre. | Open with a park ticket. |
| Grande-Grave | Restored fishing village, wharf, Blanchette House and other heritage buildings. | Open in season; some buildings charge or close on set days. |
| Cap-des-Rosiers and Cap Bon-Ami | Northern cliffs, seabird colonies and the second tollbooth. | Tollbooth operates June–October only; closed outside this window. Stay back from cliff edges. |
| Cap Gaspé interior | The headland and the ridge trails of the park's backcountry. | On foot; backcountry rules apply. |
Sketch map
See & do
Caves, trails and wildlife, with how hard each is and whether it needs booking
Top experiences
Practical
Fees, permits, rules, where to sleep and what can go wrong
Entry fees and permits
| Item | Range | Per | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| Park entry, adult | CAD 10.5–12 | person | 2026 estimate; Parks Canada publishes the current rate each year (check). |
| Park entry, family or group | CAD 20–24 | group | 2026 estimate (check). |
| Discovery Pass (annual, all Parks Canada sites) | CAD 73–78 | person | 2026 estimate; pays off on a multi-park trip. |
| Grande-Grave wharf mooring | CAD 0.9 | foot per day | Rate depends on boat size (check). |
| RéGÎM bus, Gaspé to L'Anse-au-Griffon | CAD 3–4 | person | Cash fare or prepaid ticket. |
Ranges, not quotes: fees change without notice. Check with the park or your operator · checked Sep 2026.
Park entry permit or guide
Backcountry camping permit or guide
Fishing permit or guide
Park rules
- Wildlife
- Keep your distance from seals and whales; never feed or approach bears or moose.
- Cliff edges
- Stay behind barriers at Cap Bon-Ami and Cap Gaspé; the rock is loose and the drop is real.
- Fires
- Fires only in provided fire pits; check for fire bans before lighting anything.
- Dogs
- Keep dogs leashed and off the beaches and trails where signs prohibit them.
- Drones
- Not allowed without a Parks Canada permit (check).check
Where to stay
Near the park
Gaspé
The main base: motels, hotels and restaurants, 20–30 min from the gate.
In the park
Forillon campsites
Parks Canada campgrounds at Petit-Gaspé and Cap-des-Rosiers; book early for July and August.
In the park
Backcountry sites
A few interior sites along the ridge trails; permit required.
Safety
Cold water and strong currents medium
Bears and moose medium
Weather changes medium
Long interior trails high
Accessibility
- The visitor centres, Grande-Grave heritage buildings and Penouille Beach have parking close by and short, level walks.
- Cap Gaspé and the ridge trails are rough and steep; not suitable for limited mobility.
Visiting lightly
- Stay on marked trails; the cliff-top tundra plants are slow-growing relics and do not recover from trampling.
- Pack out everything, including food scraps, from the backcountry.
- Use the shuttle or the RéGÎM bus where it runs instead of adding a second car to the Grande-Grave road.
Questions people ask
How much does it cost to enter Forillon National Park?
Expect roughly $6–8 CAD per adult and about $16–20 CAD for a family or group per day (2026 estimate; Parks Canada sets the rate each year, so check before you go). An annual Discovery Pass costs about $70–75 CAD per person and covers other Parks Canada sites too.
What are the best hikes in Forillon National Park?
Les Graves out to Cap Gaspé is the signature walk: about 8 km each way along the shore from L'Anse-aux-Amérindiens, moderate, 3–4 hours return. La Chute is a short, easy waterfall loop. Les Lacs and Les Crêtes are the hard option — roughly 37 km of interior ridge and lake country needing a backcountry permit.
When is the best time to visit Forillon National Park?
July to September. Services run from about mid-June to mid-October, whales are offshore in summer, and September gives clear weather with fewer people. Winter brings heavy snow and closed facilities.
Do I need a car to visit Forillon?
It helps a lot. The park is strung along Route 132 and the Grande-Grave road, and the RéGÎM bus runs only one trip each way on weekdays. Without a car you are limited to the bus stops at La Penouille and Fort Peninsula.
Can I see whales from the shore?
Sometimes, especially from the cliffs in summer, but a boat trip out of Gaspé or Rivière-au-Renard is far more reliable. No operator can guarantee a sighting.
Is Forillon the same as the Gaspé Peninsula?
No. Forillon is a national park at the tip of the peninsula, inside the municipality of Gaspé. The peninsula itself is much larger and covered in the Land's End region guide.
Deep dive
Every source; fees and rules change, so check before you go