Défi des Escaliers
Québec City, Canada • 20 Jun 2026
Event overview
The Défi des Escaliers de Québec is scheduled for Saturday, 20 June 2026 in Québec, QC. The event is presented by Je Cours Qc and Gestev and carries an ARGENT sanction from Athlétisme Québec. Race descriptions published for prior editions indicate the start and finish at Parc de l’Esplanade and routes that cross the stairways connecting the Basse-Ville and Haute-Ville of Québec.
Races and course details
- 19 km
- 14 km
- 9 km
- 4 km
- 2 km (youth)
Route information from the 2025 descriptions gives additional details by distance. The 19 km course included passage through nearly 40 staircases for a total of 2,468 steps and finished in the city centre. The 14 km course listed about 30 staircases totaling 2,404 steps. The 9 km distance combined road and stair sections with roughly 20 staircases and 1,367 steps; both running and walking options were offered. The 4 km course included 16 staircases and about 520 steps, also with running and walking options. The youth 2 km event was for children aged 5 to 12. Course maps, elevation profiles and detailed descriptions were provided for each distance in prior information. Visit the organization's website for the most recent information.