Where Can You Cross-Country Ski in Quebec?
1. Where to go cross-country skiing in the Outaouais?
Gatineau Park
Gatineau Park is a gem of the Outaouais region. With many summer and winter activities, the park has one of the largest cross-country ski trail networks in North America. The trails stretch over more than 200 kilometres for classic and skate cross-country skiing. And there is something for all levels of skiers.
There are several different areas served by fifteen parking lots. Gatineau Park features beautiful scenery and well-maintained trails. It’s a splendid getaway to add to your list.
Classic: Yes
Skate: Yes
Backcountry: Yes
Fee: Yes
Are you more of the downhill skiing type? Check out seven places to go downhill skiing in Quebec.
2. Where to go cross-country skiing in Mauricie?
La Mauricie National Park
There’s a reason La Mauricie National Park is well known to cross-country skiers. With a magnificent snowy landscapes and excellent trails, La Mauricie National Park offers an 70 km groomed and maintained network for classic and skate cross-country skiing.
Plus, cabins where you can get warmed up and take a break are available on the various routes. La Mauricie National Park’s cross-country ski network offers various itineraries of different levels, from beginner to advanced.
Classic: Yes
Skate: Yes
Backcountry: No
Fee: Yes
3. Where to go cross-country skiing near Quebec City?
Sentiers du Moulin
Renowned for its outstanding mountain bike trails in summer, Sentiers du Moulin keeps the ball rolling in winter. Skiers appreciate the groomed trails at Sentiers du Moulin because they are so family-friendly thanks to easy and short loops.
Sentiers du Moulin offers more than 38 km of classic cross-country skiing and 15 km of skate skiing. Making your outings even more enjoyable, the network has five warming huts in key locations so that cross-country skiers can rest and enjoy their sandwiches. It’s a beautiful place to explore.
Classic: Yes
Skate: Yes
Backcountry: No
Fee: Yes
Camp Mercier
Set in a boreal forest at an altitude of 700 to 900 metres on the Lac Jacques-Cartier Massif, Camp Mercier enjoys a snowy climate and boasts the longest cross-country ski season in Quebec. Here, skiers glide through a magical landscape of frozen lakes and snow-draped conifers.
With 50 km of classic trails and 20 km of skate trails, there are plenty of loop options. Families enjoy short, easy routes, while seasoned skiers take on epic, mountainous itineraries that sometimes extend into the Forêt Montmorency. On the coldest days, visitors can warm up and enjoy a snack beside the woodstove in one of six cozy warming huts.
Classic: Yes
Skate: Yes
Backcountry: No
Fees: Yes
4. Where to go cross-country skiing in the Eastern Townships?
Parc national du Mont-Orford
Parc national du Mont-Orford is renowned for its cross-country skiing. The park boasts a network with thirteen trails, including 50 km for classic and 26 km for skate skiing. Everyone will find a challenge and wondrous scenery.
The marked, groomed trails offer different levels, from beginner to expert. Most itineraries begin at the Le Cerisier Discovery and Visitors Centre, which offers gear rental. In addition, some routes are recommended for families.
Classic: Yes
Skate: Yes
Backcountry: No
Fee: Yes
5. Where to go cross-country skiing in the Laurentians?
Sainte-Adèle, Lake Lucerne sector
The Laurentians region is a true paradise for backcountry cross-country skiing. The region has a long, well-known history of cross-country skiing even older than that of its downhill skiing. And it’s all thanks to a valiant cross-country skier and pioneer, Herman Smith-Johannsen, aka the Jackrabbit. The region is now crisscrossed with backcountry cross-country ski trails that travel from one municipality to another.
Which brings us to the municipality of Sainte-Adèle. The Lake Lucerne backcountry cross-country ski sector, managed by the organization Plein Air Sainte-Adèle (PASA), is very much worth exploring. With many unmarked trails, the network connects with Val-David and even Sainte-Agathe. The area features various loops of different skill levels. Since the trails aren’t groomed or mechanically maintained, you need backcountry cross-country skis, in other words skis with metal edges.
To learn more about backcountry cross-country skis, read our article How to Choose Backcountry Cross-Country Skis?.
Classic: No
Skate: No
Backcountry: Yes
Fee: There is fee, which involves buying a PASA pass to support the organization and the trails’ long-term sustainability
Parc national du Mont-Tremblant
Cross-country skiers at Parc national du Mont-Tremblant travel through old forests, broad mountains, and white lakes. This wonderful playground features 55 km of classic trails with routes for all skier levels.
Those looking to venture deeper into the backcountry of southern Quebec’s biggest park can explore the 80 km of ungroomed trails. With a bit of luck, they might spot tracks or even hear the distant howls of the Eastern wolf—a rare, elusive subspecies. Five huts are available for overnight or multi-day trips, offering an immersive wilderness experience.
Classic: Yes
Skate: No
Backcountry: Yes
Fees: Yes
6. Where to go cross-country skiing in Gaspésie?
Parc national de la Gaspésie
Parc national de la Gaspésie is worth visiting in any season. If you’re a fan of cross-country skiing—classic or backcountry—the park has trails for all tastes. For classic skiing, the Gîte du Mont-Albert sector features three routes that are groomed daily, including two loops and an out and back.
If you’re a seasoned backcountry cross-country skier, the park is a real treasure trove for Nordic skiing. There are many recommended short or long excursions. For short trips, eight marked routes allow you to travel through the mountainous park.
Are you into multiple-day outings? The seventeen huts built throughout the area enable skiing long distances. Predetermined itineraries are recommended to make your preparations easier. However, you can create your own routes by contacting the park directly.
Classic: Yes
Skate: No
Backcountry: Yes
Fee: Yes
