Jacques-Cartier National Park

Parc national de la Jacques-Cartier
IUCN category II (national park)
View of the Jacques-Cartier River valley
Location of Jacques-Cartier National Park in Quebec
Location	La Jacques-Cartier and La Côte-de-Beaupré RCMs, Quebec, Canada
Nearest city	Quebec City
Coordinates	47°20′00″N 71°21′00″W / 47.33333°N 71.35000°W / 47.33333; -71.35000Coordinates: 47°20′00″N 71°21′00″W / 47.33333°N 71.35000°W / 47.33333; -71.35000
Area	670 km²
Established	November 25, 1981
Governing body	Sépaq

Jacques-Cartier National Park (French: Parc national de la Jacques-Cartier) is a provincial park located 50 kilometres (31 mi) north of Quebec City. The park aims to protect wildlife in the Laurentian massif. It lies within the Eastern forest-boreal transition ecoregion.

The Montagnais and the Huron peoples used to inhabit lands that currently make up Jacques-Cartier National Park. During the 17th century, Hurons worked as guides for Jesuits who wanted to travel between Quebec City and Lac Saint-Jean without using the St. Lawrence River.

Starting in the mid-19th century, the area was a major producer of lumber. Due to pressure from the American conservationist movement, the Laurentian Wildlife Reserve, whose lands the park was formed from, was created in 1895. The end of World War II, as well as improved road networks, brought in an considerable increase in the number of visitors to the area. In 1972, Hydro-Québec proposed building a dam on the Jacques-Cartier river, which would have resulted in flooding the valley. Due to public pressure, the project was abandoned in 1975. That same year also saw the end of the lumber industry in the region. In 1981, Jacques-Cartier National Park was created from the southernmost lands of the Laurentian Wildlife Reserve.

Jacques-Cartier National Park is located in the Laurentian Mountains along the Jacques-Cartier River valley, to the west of Quebec Route 175. Jacques-Cartier is a 30 minutes drive from Québec City.Grands-Jardins National Park is located to the northeast of the park, while the Laurentian Wildlife Reserve is located to the north. The park is also located near the Canadian Forces military base CFB Valcartier.