Anticosti Island

Anticosti Island is a large island in the Gulf of Saint Lawrence off the north shore of the province of Quebec, Canada, notable for its size and largely undeveloped natural landscapes. It covers roughly 7,800 to 8,000 square kilometres and is dominated by forest, river valleys and rocky coastline.

The island’s shoreline has extensive cliffs and exposed sedimentary rock where fossils and well-preserved stratigraphic sequences are visible; wide river valleys and boreal forest are typical inland features. Wildlife viewing and remote outdoor recreation are primary attractions, and the island is known for large populations of introduced white-tailed deer that now dominate much of the ecosystem.

Ownership and development traces to the late 19th century when the Menier family established Port-Menier as a company town; the settlement remains the island’s main hub for supplies and accommodation. Seasonal transport is centred on a ferry and small regional flights linking the island to mainland Quebec.

Anticosti sits at the mouth of the Saint Lawrence River in eastern Canada, in the administrative region of Côte-Nord (Quebec). It lies northeast of the Gaspé Peninsula and southeast of Newfoundland and is administered from the province of Quebec.

• Access: The island is sparsely populated with one primary settlement and is accessed mainly by seasonal ferry services and flights from the Quebec mainland.

What to See#

• Port-Menier: Port-Menier on the island’s west end is the main settlement and service centre, established commercially in 1895 by the Menier family and retaining seasonal transport links by ferry and air.
• Coastal cliffs and fossil sites: Long coastal cliffs and river valleys around the island contain abundant fossil-bearing rock strata and visible sedimentary layers from Paleozoic and Mesozoic periods.

Anticosti Island is served only by air and sea to its main settlement, Port‑Menier. The island’s airport (Port‑Menier) has scheduled/charter flights from mainland Quebec (seasonal services from cities such as Québec City in summer), and there is typically a seasonal ferry service from Rimouski or other Gulf of Saint Lawrence ports that carries passengers and vehicles to Port‑Menier.

On arrival at Port‑Menier you are on the island; distances from the pier/airfield to trails and coastal sites are short and usually reached by car or local transfer-there are no mainland roads connecting to Anticosti.

• Reach Anticosti Island via the scheduled ferry or by air into Port-Menier and book transport and accommodation there well in advance-services on the island are limited and sell out in summer.
• Base yourself in Port-Menier for supplies and guided excursions; most trails and wildlife-viewing access radiate from that settlement rather than evenly across the island.
• Plan wildlife- and birdwatching outings with a guide or local operator-Anticosti is famous for its large white-tailed deer population and remote coastline, and experienced local guidance improves sightings and safety.