Saint-Joseph-de-la-Rive's ancient and modern history are closely tied to Charlevoix's own topography. To the west, the Laurentian plateau corresponds to a hinterland, far away from the river, and separated from it by the coastal plains. In Charlevoix, the plateau mountains, while gaining in height and relief, come so close to the river that, in some areas, the piedmont bathes in it without any other transition. Saint-Joseph-de-la-Rive lies at the bottom of the piedmont and only occupies a narrow terace between the escarpment and the river. This particular location will have repercussions, not only on the natural surrounding landscape but also on the area's vocation, on certain architectural elements and, although to a lesser degree, on the local climate.
Furthermore, Saint-Joseph's cape at Saint-Joseph-de-la-Rive, a spearheaded piece of land that juts through the sandbank which is relatively wide at that location, considerably reduces the distance between the mainland and the deep waters and thus facilitates the docking of boats. The Saint-Joseph's cape produces two bays : the water meadow to the west and the Les Eboulements bay to the east. The latter, which constitutes a well sheltered reinforcement against the chilly winds, plays host to the heart of the village. Finally, the Boudreault river flows into the river at the hollow part of the bay. Despite it's weak flow, the river's important change of level has played a major role in the population growth of Saint-Joseph-de-la-Rive.
