A wondrous winter wonderland, Québec is. Miles of snowy trails for hiking and skiing, skies full of stars and colorful auroras, cozy lodges and rustic huts await. A giant outdoor playground, indeed.
Parc national de la Gaspésie, in Eastern Québec, home to 25 mountains over 3,300 feet high, with spectacular views from every vantage point. The Mont-Albert sector, in the majestic Chic-Choc Mountains, receives more than 9.8 feet of snow annually on average, plenty for winter activities all season.
Snowshoeing on trails ranging from one to 11 miles, plus nordic skiing on a variety of short and long trails, some with warming huts and shelters for spending the night. Backcountry skiing, telemarking, snowboarding, or splitboarding in four ski areas featuring snowfields and glades. Winter camping, rustic huts, and cozy cabins, as well as accommodations in Gîte du Mont-Albert, a magnificent lodge in the heart of the park.
Explore the Laurentian region's lakes, forests, and mountain valleys the traditional way: on a multi-day Nordic skiing tour, traveling from village to village. Les Routes Blanches features three main routes that range from 6 to 12 miles per day. Guide services can connect charming accommodation, arranging meals and luggage transport along the way.
Immerse yourself in the winter season at Air-Eau-Bois resort, providing a versatile adventure base on the banks of the Poisson-Blanc Reservoir (about an hour north of Gatineau-Ottawa). Lodging options vary from winter campsites and rustic cottages to cozy micro-refuges and larger chalets. Enjoy the surrounding forest on backcountry trails for cross-country skiing, snowshoeing, or hok skis, then return to resort fun with the on-site skating rink and tube slide.
Traversée de Charlevoix covers 79 miles of mountainous wilderness in the heart of the Charlevoix biosphere region. A three-to-eight-day self-guided nordic or backcountry skiing tour through the boreal forest while admiring sweeping panoramas that are unique to Québec. Days covering nine to 12 miles with 10,800 feet of total elevation gain. Accommodation is in picturesque log cabins with the option of having food transported at chalets during your stay.
Aventure Rose-des-Vents, a friendly, unpretentious youth hostel in the Saguenay–Lac-Saint-Jean region, offers guided nordic skiing. This immersive experience is a chance to discover the best-kept secrets of the north shore of the Saguenay as you ski through some of the most beautiful fir and yellow birch forests in Québec.
Parc National de la Mauricie, the only national park between Montréal and Québec City, with 150 lakes on more than 200 square miles of protected land. Onsite accommodation in oTENTik tents keeps you immersed in nature with a touch of comfort. The tents feature woodstoves inside and outside, barbecue grills, beds, dishes, and everything you need for a comfortable stay.
Mont-Mégantic National Park offers more than 37 miles of alpine trails with sweeping views. The 6.6-mile hike to the top of Mont Mégantic follows the road to the ASTROLab observatory at the 3,645-foot summit. Since the road is closed in the winter, the only way up is to snowshoe. You can rent snowshoes at the park entrance.
Hébergement aux Cinq Sens, located on ancestral Native land, offers year-round accommodation in traditional Mongolian yurts, each named after a sense (see, touch, smell, taste, and hear). Several other outdoor activities are available in the Eastern Townships region.
In Saguenay–Lac-Saint-Jean, winter is more than a season: it’s an invitation to explore a rich, biodiverse region. Monts-Valin National Park’s Vallée des Fantômes offers unique even paranormal adventures, notably 50-plus miles of marked backcountry snowshoeing trails.
Parc national d’Aiguebelle, in Québec's Abitibi-Témiscamingue region, offers access to nearly every winter sport in the book. As the locals say, tout au même endroit (it’s all in one place). The park is also known for views, moose sightings, traces of the last ice age, lava flows, and rocks that are 2.7 billion years old.
But ice climbing is undoubtedly the most unique activity you can enjoy here. Ice-climbing routes in the park are certified by the Québec Mountain and Climbing Federation. Experienced climbers who already have gear and know-how can explore on their own, but the park is also a great place to learn the sport: introductory climbing packages are available through Camp de Base Abitibi.
Head north for a backcountry skiing adventure off the beaten path in Parc National Tursujuq, the largest national park in Québec. On a guided adventure, you’ll explore the eastern coast of Hudson Bay, winding between cuesta mountains, over plateaus and giant frozen lakes, and through breathtaking landscapes on skis, with the occasional help of snowshoes and snowmobiles.
Discover a vast territory that was occupied by nomadic peoples for more than 3,000 years. Here, you’ll get to know the Inuit in their homeland in the nearby tight-knit Indigenous community of Umiujaq. One of the most unique parts of the trip is the immersion in Inuit culture. Visitors get the chance to share the Inuit way of life and learn about ancestral traditions and knowledge.
Bonjour Québec's mission is to promote the destination. We are proud to highlight this magnificent land, its creative culture, and authentic experiences, and to encourage people from near or far to discover Québec as never before. It’s a place you will fall in love with at first sight or change your mind by saying you have to come back again.
Written by: Enlightenstein | The Citizen Edition
“A path clear now”