The Rivière Saint-Charles flows through Quebec City, originating at Lac Saint-Charles and emptying into the St. Lawrence River at the Vieux-Port of Quebec. The paddleable stretch covers approximately 20 km of calm, slow-moving water, making it one of the more accessible urban paddling destinations in the province.

The river is well-suited to beginners and casual paddlers, with calm and easy water throughout the main paddling corridor. Multiple put-in points are available at parks along the riverbanks. Canots Légaré, located at 12766 boulevard Valcartier roughly 15 minutes from downtown Quebec City, operates as a primary rental and launch center offering canoes, kayaks, paddleboards, and rabaskas. The rental season runs from mid-May to mid-October, and advance booking is strongly recommended. Free parking is available on site.

The Parc linéaire de la rivière Saint-Charles, a 32 km linear park divided into 13 sectors, runs along both banks of the river from Lac Saint-Charles to the Vieux-Port. This corridor provides paddlers with access to the river at multiple points and offers the experience of passing under historic bridges and through urban neighborhoods including Vanier, Limoilou, Saint-Sauveur, and Saint-Roch. The Lieu historique national Cartier-Brébeuf is situated along the route. At the mouth of the river, Beauport Bay opens onto views of the St. Lawrence River and the Quebec City skyline.

One noted put-in area near a waterfall close to the Canots Légaré base offers access to the upper portion of the paddling corridor, with the option to paddle upstream toward Lac Saint-Charles. The river can become quite crowded on hot summer days, particularly at popular access points. The overall character of the paddling experience is urban and recreational, threading through the fabric of a historic city rather than through wilderness.