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Route 172: Saguenay Fjord North Shore, Saguenay Fjord, Quebec
Photo: Laïla Girard · CC BY-SA 4.0

Drives Quebec Quebec City, Charlevoix, the Saguenay and the Gaspé

Route 172: Saguenay Fjord North Shore

Saguenay Fjord, Quebec · Saint-Fulgence → Tadoussac

Leisurely64 mi1 hr 10 min4,200 ft climbHigh point ≈ 1,000 ftOne way
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The drive

Route 172 follows the north side of the Saguenay Fjord, and this drive runs from Saint-Fulgence east to Tadoussac at Route 138. The road passes Sainte-Rose-du-Nord and Sacré-Coeur on the way.

The route is 63.9 miles and takes about 1 hr 10 min. It is Leisurely, with mostly gentle curves, and climbs about 4,200 feet to a high point of 1,000 feet. Wikipedia describes the full Route 172 as running between Saint-Nazaire at Route 169 and Tadoussac.

Along the way

  1. Saint-Fulgence
  2. Sacré-Coeur
  3. Tadoussac (Route 138)
Elevation
4,200 ft of climbing · high point ≈ 1,000 ft
Saint-FulgenceTadoussac
Curves
Mostly gentle curves
Saint-FulgenceTadoussac
GentleHairpins

Good to know

  • Sainte-Rose-du-Nord is on a side road, not on the drive.
  • The stretch between Sainte-Rose-du-Nord and Sacré-Coeur is isolated, narrow and winding.
  • The Tadoussac ferry is not part of this drive; it ends on Route 172 before Route 138.

Open all year, weather permitting. Roads close for snow, fire, storms and repairs: before you set off, check Québec 511.

Questions about this drive

How long does Route 172 along the Saguenay Fjord take?

Route 172 from Saint-Fulgence to Tadoussac is 63.9 miles and takes about 1 hr 10 min.

Where does Route 172 end?

Route 172 ends in Tadoussac, at Route 138.

What you get in the app

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Distance, time, elevation, curves and intensity are from Carve's route. Checked 2026-10-28.

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Map of Route 172: Saguenay Fjord North Shore, from Saint-Fulgence to Tadoussac