The lower part of this small valley is served by Avenue Royale and the route 138 which runs along the north shore of the St. Lawrence River.

Forestry, in particular the exploitation of sugar factories, constitutes the main economic activity in this valley; agriculture (lower part) second.

The water level of the river varies with the seasons and the precipitation; the spring flood occurs in March or April.

The Petit Pré river originates in Lake La Retenue in the hinterland of Côte-de-Beaupré; a dam is built at its mouth.

This toponym has a descriptive origin, because natural meadows supplying shore hay generally encouraged the formation of the first stands on the Côte-de-Beaupré.