Best Winter Photography Locations in the Magdalen Islands

One of our favourite memories from our trip to the Magdalen Islands in the winter was the photography. The islands practically capture themselves. There’s a remarkable vibrant and clear quality to the light in the winter and when paired with the landscape, magic is created in front of your eyes.

Thinking back on the planning of the trip though, it was not so obvious where we needed to be to capture these amazing photos. With a lack of information on winter, we relied on asking the local Madelinot. Now that we’re back, I can share with you the best winter photography locations in the Magdalen Islands along with all the details of the exact locations, timing, drone rules, and parking.

Favourite Magdalen Islands Winter Photography Locations

We’ve covered in depth all of the best things to do in the Magdalen Islands in the winter but one thing that didn’t cover were the exact locations that we travelled to in order to capture the incredible scenes that we witnessed on the islands.

This guide covers some of the best winter photography locations in the Magdalen Islands to help you plan your trip whether you love finding the most scenic spots or you’re a photographer, drone pilot, videographer or content creator.

1. Dune du Sud

Right at the famed Dune du Sud beach in the Magdalen Islands is a magical view of colourful cottages and red cliffs on the flip side.

One thing you learn quickly about Îles de la Madeleine is that Google Maps isn’t a great resource for the best scenic points and you also can’t find the best photography spots online. One of the challenges is that some just don’t really have an official name like this one.

This postcard view starts right at the southern edge of Dune du Sud Beach. After parking in the area, look for a rocky outcropping (rock barrier) that juts out into the water. In the winter, this is normally covered by snow but it’s wide enough where it feels quite safe.

From this vantage point, you get a better view of the warm glow of sunrise reflecting on the water, jagged cliffs, crayon coloured cottages, and the hill…