GET CLOSE TO NATURE IN QUÉBEC MARITIMEBas-Saint-Laurent, Gaspésie, Côte-Nord, Îles de la Madeleine
Event Calendar
Top 10 Gems
1. Chic-Chocs Mountain Lodge
Located in the Matane Wildlife Reserve in Gaspésie, the Chic-Chocs Mountain Lodge offers you a unique winter experience. Explore the reserve while backcountry skiing, alpine touring or meta skiing. You can also rent snowshoes or splitboards. While outside, keep your eyes peeled: this sector is home to 4.8 moose per square kilometre! With an annual snowfall of 7 metres (23 feet) and slopes with vertical drops exceeding 400 metres (1310 feet), the Chic-Choc Mountains are a winter paradise. The Lodge’s innkeeper/chef and his team will do everything to ensure your comfort and enjoyment while providing you with healthy and flavourful meals and snacks. The Lodge offers 18 comfortable rooms and an open lounge and dining room with a spectacular view of the Appalachians—a setting that encourages relaxation and interaction with other guests. Photo: Enviro Foto/Sépaq
2. Gaspésie National Park
With some of the best snow conditions in Québec, Gaspésie National Park is a great location for snowshoeing, snowboarding, telemark skiing, off-trail downhill skiing and cross-country skiing on groomed and marked trails. In this exceptional mountain environment, the renowned Gîte du Mont-Albert hotel welcomes you in a warm and picturesque setting. Nature lovers can also plan a ski trip for several days and stay overnight in huts. Photo: Steve Deschênes/Sépaq
3. Gîte du Mont-Albert
Located in Gaspésie National Park, the Gîte du Mont-Albert is a 4-star hotel renowned for its hospitality, fine cuisine and unique mountain setting. With 25 summits over 1000 metres (3300 feet), the high-altitude atmosphere of the Chic-Choc and McGerrigle mountains is sure to make a lasting impression. The Gîte du Mont-Albert offers 60 rooms and 23 cabins. At the hotel’s restaurant, the chef invites you to sample his creations: fine cuisine featuring regional delicacies served in a warm and relaxing atmosphere. For your alpine hikes, the kitchen team will make you customized boxed lunches. Photo: Mathieu Dupuis/Sépaq
4. Bic National Park
Located in the Bas-Saint-Laurent region, Bic National Park proudly showcases the capes, bays, coves, islands and mountains that have made it such a popular tourist destination. In the winter, outdoor lovers can enjoy snowshoeing on 25 km (16 mi.) of marked trails and admire spectacular views of the St. Lawrence Estuary. They can also strap on their skis and explore over 15 km (9 mi.) of ungroomed backcountry trails. For a unique experience, spend the night in a fully equipped yurt or stay in a hut or igloo! Photo: Mathieu Dupuis/Sépaq
5. Miguasha National Park
Located in the Gaspésie region, Miguasha National Park takes visitors back in time some 380 million years. Renowned worldwide and recognized as a UNESCO World Heritage Site, the park invites you to discover its museum exhibit. Unusually well-preserved fish and plant fossils are the hallmark of the Natural History Museum and the focal point of the permanent exhibit. Visit the L’Échoppe gift shop to find unusual gifts or souvenirs such as ammonite and amber jewellery, minerals and fossils. Photo: Steve Deschênes/Sépaq
6. Saguenay Fjord National Park
A witness to the movement of the icebergs that moulded this area’s stunning landscapes and mysterious fjord, Saguenay Fjord National Park, in Côte-Nord – Manicouagan, is made up of a series of bays, coves and breathtaking cliffs. Its winter scenery is truly spectacular! Enjoy backcountry skiing or snowshoeing on marked but ungroomed trails or try ice fishing. Every year from mid-January to mid-March, little fishing villages spring up on the ice of the Saguenay Fjord. In the winter, the park offers several lodging options: cabins, huts or rustic shelters. Photo: Mathieu Dupuis/Sépaq
7. Pohénégamook Santé Plein Air
Located in Bas-Saint-Laurent, Pohénégamook Santé Plein Air offers many winter activities. Enjoy 45 km (28 mi.) of groomed marked cross-country ski trails and 15 km (9 mi.) of snowshoeing trails, skate on the ice, play broomball or ringette, observe white-tailed deer or go dogsledding. On the frozen lake, let the wind pull you along while ski sailing. At the health spa, enjoy the indoor pool and Nordic baths. Many spa treatments are also available. Pohénégamook Santé Plein Air is accessible via snowmobile trails and offers various winter lodging options: inn, cottages, cabins, country homes and condos. Photo: Pohénégamook Santé Plein Air
8. Domaine Valga
Located in an exceptional old-growth sugar maple stand in the Bas-Saint-Laurent region, Domaine Valga offers several activities. Snowshoeing enthusiasts can take advantage of a 4.5-km (3-mi.) groomed trail through the forest while nature lovers observe wildlife. Discover the thrill of the aerial park (called “Forêt de Maître Corbeau”), which offers 94 treetop challenges at varying heights. Accessible via snowmobile trail #579, Domaine Valga offers you the opportunity to stay in Eastern Québec’s largest log inn or in one of its two fully furnished cottages. Photo: Domaine Valga
9. Ferme 5 Étoiles Family Vacation Site
Located 15 minutes from Tadoussac in Côte-Nord – Manicouagan, Ferme 5 Étoiles offers many activities. Observe animals in their natural environment, soak up the magic of winter during a snowshoeing expedition, enjoy guided snowmobile rides through the snowy scenery around the Saguenay Fjord, drive your own dogsled team, drill a hole in the ice and catch wild brook trout for dinner or enjoy yourself on our 6 km (4 mi.) of groomed cross-country ski trails with breathtaking views of the fjord. Choose from the many lodging options: B&B, motel, condos, cottages, heritage home, trapper’s camp, yurts, winter camping or teepees. Photo: Marc Loiselle/Ferme 5 Étoiles
10. Snowmobiling
Québec maritime offers 6000 km (3700 mi.) of marked and groomed snowmobile trails through forests and along the sea, where you can admire the icy waters of the St. Lawrence. Some trails even allow you to explore scenery that is inaccessible at any other time of the year. For an exciting experience, don’t miss the opportunity to board a ferry with your snowmobile and admire a unique view of the ice floes in the St. Lawrence. At the end of the day, spend the night in one of the many hotels, inns and motels near the trail and savour a meal featuring regional products. In some places, you can even enjoy an outdoor spa or relaxing massage! Photo: Robert Baronet/Le Québec maritime
Photo gallery
Places to stay
Bic National Park
Bic National Park offers you a memorable experience: spend a night in one of our eight yurts. They are more comfortable than standard tents and their round shape encourages rest and relaxation. You can also observe the stars through the keystone window! Igloos, winter camping and huts are also available for visitors looking for a unique experience. Photo: Mathieu Dupuis/Sépaq
Pohénégamook Santé Plein Air
Offering exceptional outdoor getaways, this four-season resort centre is ideal for rest and relaxation. Various lodging options are available: rooms in the inn, cottages, cabins, country homes and condo hotels, which combine comfort and luxury. A multitude of activities are offered—at the health spa, be sure to take advantage of the indoor pool and Nordic baths. Photo: Pohénégamook Santé Plein Air
Domaine Valga
Domaine Valga offers the opportunity to stay in Eastern Québec’s largest log inn. The inn has six rooms with Internet access, as well as a dining room, reception hall, meeting room for 20 to 30 people and a lounge with television. Two fully furnished cottages accommodating up to 10 people are also available. Several activities are offered on site, including snowmobiling and aerial trails. Photo: Domaine Valga
Village Grande Nature Chic-Chocs
Located 19 km (12 mi.) south of Cap-Chat and about 400 metres (1300 feet) above sea level, Village Grande Nature Chic-Chocs is surrounded by the Chic-Choc Mountains. This enchanting site offers an inn with 15 rooms, 3 Scandinavian-style cottages and 6 Canadian cottages. Nature lovers and outdoor enthusiasts will be thrilled by the stunning scenery in this area. Photo: Éric Marchand/Le Québec maritime
Gîte du Mont-Albert
The Gîte du Mont-Albert is a 4-star hotel renowned for its hospitality, fine cuisine and unique mountain setting. Treat yourself to the comforts of a room with a breathtaking view of Mt. Albert or enjoy the intimate cosiness of one of the picturesque cabins located nearby. The hotel’s exceptional natural setting will make your stay here truly unforgettable! The Gîte du Mont-Albert offers 60 rooms and 23 cabins. Photo: Mathieu Dupuis/Sépaq
Chic-Chocs Mountain Lodge
With its eco-friendly design, the Chic-Chocs Mountain Lodge offers comfortable accommodations in an untamed natural setting. Enjoy one of 18 cosy rooms overlooking the Appalachians, delicious meals prepared by the innkeeper/chef and a relaxing sauna and outdoor spa. Located 615 metres (2000 feet) above sea level, this magical site offers a wide range of activities: alpine touring, skiing, snowshoeing and much more. Photo: Oeil pour Oeil/Sépaq
Station Touristique Pin Rouge
The Pin Rouge mountain resort is located in the Chaleur Bay region near New Richmond, on the south shore of the Gaspé Peninsula. Recently built at the foot of the Pin Rouge Mountain, this lovely pedestrian village offers quality accommodations in 32 chalets as well as a host of activities for the whole family: sliding, snowmobiling, ice skating, dogsledding and more! Photo: Station Touristique Pin Rouge
Parc Régional de Val-d’Irène
Val-d’Irène offers 24 studio-style rooms, all of which have recently been renovated or redecorated. Some rooms are equipped with a kitchenette. This park also offers four-season activities including 26 slopes on two mountainsides for downhill skiing and snowboarding as well as 15 km (9 mi.) of cross-country ski trails. Photo: Parc Régional de Val-d’Irène
Ferme 5 Étoiles Family Vacation Site
Ferme 5 Étoiles offers a multitude of lodging options: B&B, motel, condos, cottages, heritage home, trapper’s camp (Canadian Cabin), yurts, campsites and teepees. Spend the night at a site that is home to many different animals: moose, wolves, buffalo, deer, etc. Explore this vast natural setting through a variety of nature and adventure activities. Photo: Marc Loiselle/Ferme 5 Étoiles
Things to do
National Parks
Ten national parks await nature lovers in Québec maritime. These parks are home to some of the highest mountains in the province of Québec, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, wildlife of all kinds, lots of activities and breathtaking scenery. Get your fill of nature here! Photo: Jean-Pierre Huard/Sépaq
Museums
Learn about the rich history of Québec maritime by visiting its many museums and historic sites. Whether focusing on art or ethnology, specific themes or history in general, the permanent and temporary exhibits found in these sites will put you in touch with our past, our present and the culture of the areas you visit. Photo: Musée de la Gaspésie
Snowmobiling
Québec maritime offers 6000 km (3700 mi.) of marked and groomed snowmobile trails dotted with rest areas and various services. Touring this region by snowmobile is particularly exciting as you can cross the St. Lawrence by ferry and ride across the Manicouagan River on North America’s longest snowmobile bridge. Take in scenery that is inaccessible at any other time of the year as you enjoy a unique winter experience! Photo: Marc Loiselle/Le Québec maritime
Skiing, Snowboarding and Tubing
Enjoy skiing, snowboarding and tubing in national parks and ski resorts throughout Québec maritime. For cross-country skiing, backcountry skiing, alpine touring, snowboarding or telemark skiing, nothing beats the snow conditions in the Chic-Choc Mountains. Test your mettle on or off trail, on groomed or ungroomed trails, during short or long excursions. You can also rent skis and snowboarding equipment in several locations. Photo: Mathieu Dupuis/Sépaq
Snowshoeing and Hiking
In Québec maritime, you can snowshoe alongside the St. Lawrence or the Saguenay Fjord as well as in the mountains or forest. Whether you choose to explore the marked trails in national parks or resorts, snowshoeing is an excellent opportunity to encounter wildlife around a bend in the trail. With or without a guide, take off for an hour or a week with your backpack. Some companies provide baggage transportation. Photo: Mathieu Dupuis/Sépaq
Dogsledding
Dogsledding will give you a feel for what it was like to be a coureur de bois (fur trapper of old). Sitting comfortably in a sled, sometimes all you will hear is the panting of the huskies that are pulling you with ease across enormous plains of windswept snow or along trails bordered by snowy trees. Photo: Yvan Couillard/Le Québec maritime
Ice Fishing
Who says you need to wait for warmer weather to fish? Several bays and lakes in Québec maritime freeze hard enough for excellent ice fishing. Come and try out this traditional activity in a heated fishing hut on the ice and meet other enthusiasts who will share their fishing tales with you! Photo: Yvan Couillard/Le Québec maritime
Baby Seal Watching
Every year in late February, early March, tens of thousands of harp seals make their way to the ice surrounding the Îles de la Madeleine to give birth to their pups. Take part in a seal-watching excursion, a truly unique experience! Photo: Jean-Pierre Sylvestre/Le Québec maritime
Wildlife Observation
Numerous animal species can be observed in Québec maritime in the winter. For example, this region is home to the only herd of caribou south of the St. Lawrence, an impressive concentration of moose, white-tailed deer and black bears. A stay in Québec maritime will provide many opportunities for animal sightings in superb wildlife observation sites. Photo: Pierre Pouliot/Sépaq
Winter Wind Sports
In the winter, frozen lakes and fast ice offer wind sports enthusiasts an even bigger playground for outdoor fun. Enjoy hours of kite skiing on these surfaces with the help of the wind. Strap on your skis and experience the thrill of being pulled across the snow-covered ice by a huge kite! Photo: Vert et Mer