The whole province of Qu茅bec is magical in winter, and the region鈥攁 swath of rugged mountains, boreal forests, and rivers and lakes north of Qu茅bec City鈥攊s no exception. And with an average of more than 20 weeks of snow every winter and the highest concentration of in the province, winter is one of the best times of year to visit. Lac-Saint-Jean, a 27-mile-wide inland freshwater sea, and Saguenay Fjord, the southernmost fjord in North America, are two of its better-known unique natural features. But they鈥檙e just the start, and the region is home to everything from backcountry snowshoeing to hut-to-hut touring鈥攁ll of it easily accessible from its modern and inviting cities. Here are some of our favorite outings in one of Qu茅bec鈥檚 best winter-adventure destinations.
Try Every Kind of Skiing at 惭辞苍迟-脡诲辞耻补谤诲
has it all鈥攁 beautiful cross-country trail system, 1,500 vertical feet of lift-accessed resort skiing, and newly developed alpine touring areas. The mountain鈥檚 five-mile cross-country trail system, accessible right from the parking lot, has both classic and skate-skiing trails, so you can take your pick: blood-pumping skate-ski workout or mellower tour. Up at the base area, you鈥檒l find resort skiing as it was meant to be: no lift lines, uncrowded runs, and access to some of the best corduroy on the East Coast. Advanced skiers, make sure you take a lap down double-black-diamond La Desjardins, Qu茅bec鈥檚 only certified super-G course.
If it鈥檚 untracked powder and more exercise you鈥檙e after, check out 惭辞苍迟-脡诲辞耻补谤诲鈥檚 new alpine touring areas. 鈥淥ur backcountry zones offer the best skiing at 惭辞苍迟-脡诲辞耻补谤诲, because they鈥檙e on the highest slopes and get the most snow,鈥 says local guide Louis Poirat. If you don鈥檛 have your own gear, rent some touring equipment from the mountain鈥檚 rental shop and sign up for one of the guided packages (starting at $89 per person) to explore the area鈥檚 115 acres of backcountry terrain. For experienced backcountry skiers, unguided passes ($29) are available, too.
Ski Hut-to-Hut on Canada鈥檚 Version of the Haute Route
There鈥檚 nothing better than several days away from civilization with a group of good friends and nothing to do but ski, eat, make big toasty fires, and play board games. That鈥檚 the idea behind hut-to-hut skiing, and why 惭辞苍迟-脡诲辞耻补谤诲 maintains three rustic but well-appointed huts along its Haute Route. The cabins, which are open to the public as warming stations during the day, can be reserved for private overnight adventures and are strategically positioned for out-the-door touring. Each cabin sleeps four to six people and features a wood-burning fireplace, fresh water, an outhouse, and a cooking stove. Book all three on consecutive nights to complete the entire 惭辞苍迟-脡诲辞耻补谤诲 Haute Route.
Kayak Between Ice Floes in a Saguenay鈥檚 Namesake Fjord
The Rivi猫re Saguenay is frozen from shore to shore for most of the winter. But when an icebreaking ship steams through Parc National du Fjord-du-Saguenay in mid-March, signaling the onset of spring, it opens up a new dimension of late-winter exploration: sea kayaking among the ice floes. Check with the park on the exact timing of the icebreaking mission, then plan your trip accordingly, as this truly unique experience, which is quality-safety certified by聽,聽can be done for only a few weeks each year. Hire a guide from one of the area鈥檚 operators,聽 or Fjord en Kayak, and set out to glide around, over, and through the shattered sheets of floating ice. As the sun begins to set and the temps begin to plummet, your guide will lead you quickly back to shore to escape another impending freeze. When the mission is over, a three-course meal at Chalets Sur le Fjord鈥檚 waterside restaurant,聽located in the village of , is the perfect way to cap off an incredible day while watching the sunset.
Catch a Unique Winter Sporting Event
Not surprisingly, with so much to do and so many enthusiast locals, the region is also home to some pretty cool events. In mid-February, there鈥檚 the annual fat-bike race across Lac-Saint-Jean, called the Travers茅e du Lac-Saint-Jean 脿 V茅lo, where upwards of 200 cyclists brave snowdrifts, whiteouts, and below-freezing temperatures to complete the 20-mile crossing. Over at 惭辞苍迟-脡诲辞耻补谤诲, ski racers regularly compete on the mountain鈥檚 renowned super-G course, which drops nearly 1,300 vertical feet from top to bottom. In 2019, 惭辞苍迟-脡诲辞耻补谤诲 even hosted the National Alpine Championships, drawing 200 of Canada鈥檚 most elite skiers. Rounding out the region鈥檚 competitive spirit is Tchitogama30, a brand-new international dog-sledding race slated to take place February 7鈥9, 2020.
Among the snowiest places in the world, receives a ton聽of fresh powdery snow each winter and has a high concentration of 黑料吃瓜网 Travel outfitters. The iconic 鈥榁alley of Phantoms鈥 and ice kayaking in the southernmost fjord in North America are things to add to your vacation bucket list.