Montmorency Falls in Winter: The Sugarloaf, the Cable Car and What Closes

Montmorency Falls is open all winter, but the services are not: the cable car and La Manufacture run from 19 December 2026 to 3 January 2027 and again from 6 February to 31 March 2027, and close from 2 November to 18 December and from 4 January to 5 February, when the site stays open with no services and no access fee (Sépaq). In very cold weather the spray freezes at the foot into the famous Sugarloaf, in Sépaq’s words a very impressive natural ice cone. A coach tour saves you the winter drive: Concord Tours’ day from Montréal runs through the winter, with the falls, Old Québec and the Hôtel de Glace as a paid option from December to March; the calendar below shows its dates.

The winter calendar

On a phone, swipe the table sideways.

Dates and hours from Sépaq’s schedule page for the park, read on 30 October 2026. The Manoir Montmorency is open 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. through the winter (closed 25 December), with limited food.

The round trip on the cable car costs C$14.95 for an adult before tax in 2026-2027, the same as in summer, and adult daily access drops to C$10.42 from 2 November (Sépaq). The low-season fee is charged only on days the cable car and La Manufacture operate (19 December to 3 January, 6 February to 31 March); on no-service days there is no fee. Sépaq’s winter page says a ride is possible “at certain times during winter”, with the frozen falls on one side and Île d’Orléans and the ice moving on the river with the tides on the other.

What you can see and do

The Sugarloaf. In very cold weather the fine spray from the falls freezes at their foot into the Pain de Sucre, or Sugarloaf, a natural ice cone. Walking on it is strictly forbidden.

Walks. You can walk the site at any time, on foot or on snowshoes depending on the snow. The Promenade de la Falaise, the boardwalk along the cliff from the Manoir to the suspension bridge, is cleared of snow; you can cross the bridge and follow the river on the Résurgences trail. A part of the west side at the foot of the falls is open in winter.

What closes. For safety, the east side at the foot of the falls, the Promenade de la Chute and the panoramic staircase are closed all winter (Sépaq).

Ice climbing. Climbers use the frozen cliff on the west side of the falls. Registration with Sépaq is mandatory before climbing, and introductory courses are run by the École d’escalade l’Ascensation (418-647-4422). A thaw can close the wall on given days; the Manoir’s reception (418-663-3330) has the day’s status.

Parking. The parking lots at the Manoir and at the station stay open, and the main access paths are cleared (Sépaq).

Tours in winter

Concord Tours’ coach day from Montréal runs in winter: the falls first, with the park entry and a one-way cable car ride on the days it runs, then a guided walk and free time in Old Québec, with the Hôtel de Glace, the ice hotel, as a paid option from December to March. The calendar above shows its dates. Gray Line’s day from Montréal visits the falls too, for a 20-minute stop; Montmorency Falls from Montréal compares the two.

From Old Québec, Unitours’ half-day with Île d’Orléans and the basilica includes the park entry and gives the falls about 45 minutes. Its winter departures were not confirmed when we read it on 30 October 2026, so check its own calendar for your dates.

The Québec Winter Carnival runs from 5 to 14 February 2027 (Carnaval de Québec); the cable car reopens on its second day. Snow has a sweeter use in Québec too: maple taffy poured on snow, explained in Québécois food explained.

Which one should you book?

Pick by how you want to reach the falls in winter:

Prices, ratings and review counts from GetYourGuide (checked October 2026); operators use seasonal pricing, so treat them as the shape of the market, not a quote.

Winter dates, hours, rates, closures, the Sugarloaf, ice climbing and parking from Sépaq’s pages for the park, read on 30 October 2026. The carnival dates from the Carnaval de Québec. Tour inclusions and prices from the GetYourGuide listings, read in US dollars on 30 October 2026.