Chemin Forestier de la Zec de la Rivière-Sainte-Anne — Portneuf Plateau Interior Circuit

Less than 80 kilometres northwest of Quebec City, the Zec de la Rivière-Sainte-Anne manages a serious chunk of Portneuf Plateau country that most people in the provincial capital don’t know exists. The forestry road network here follows the Rivière Sainte-Anne drainage upstream through a series of gorges and lake basins — the canyon section near Lac Châtillon is legitimately dramatic, with road cut into cliff-edge above the river, and it demands full attention. The circuit covers roughly 110 kilometres and passes Lac Bleu, Lac des Deux-Montagnes, and several unnamed ponds where moose sign is everywhere in September. Logging traffic is real on weekdays — pull wide and be patient.

Difficulty is moderate to difficult depending on recent precipitation. Clay and silt soils in the lower sections turn into serious wheel-spinning mud after rain; the upper granite plateau sections drain faster but offer ledge climbs and loose rock. A capable 4WD with high clearance handles this in dry conditions; add recovery gear and a compressor for shoulder season work. ZEC access requires a pass — purchase at the Sainte-Christine-d’Auvergne entrance or online. Best season is July through September; black flies are apocalyptic in late May and June, which is your fair warning. Fuel in Portneuf or Saint-Raymond before entry. It’s a proper overnight loop that rewards anyone willing to bypass the obvious tourist circuits around Quebec City.