12 Outdoor Activities for Valentine’s Day
Valentine’s Day Activities for Alpine Skiing and Snowboarding
1. Le Massif de Charlevoix — The Kiss Cam
To add a touch of whimsy to your day of skiing, Le Massif de Charlevoix will be launching the kiss cam. On February 10, the giant screen at the base of the Massif Express gondola will be transformed into a kiss cam like those at sporting events.
The concept? Between 8:30 a.m. and 10:30 a.m., head to the love arch to capture a shot that will be shown on the giant screen throughout the day. Plus, for those who wish to share their love, messages can be emailed to valentin@lemassif.com so that they can be displayed on the same screen. Festive après-ski with the band BESTOV and resident DJs New Bleach will cap off the day of love and friendship.
Photo Credit: Jean-Sébastien Chartier-Plante
2. Mont Sutton – The Hearts Hunt
A fun family activity at Mont Sutton! The Mega Heart Hunt will take place on February 17 from 9:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. live on the resort's slopes. The goal of the activity is to find the most red hearts hidden on the trails and scan the QR codes for a chance to win a Valentine’s Day gift basket. The activity, held in collaboration with the En Cœur Foundation, raises funds for children with heart disease and increases awareness about cardiovascular health.
Photo Credit: Mont Sutton
3. Pour l’amour du ski Weekend — Sommet Saint-Sauveur
Celebrate your love of skiing from February 16 to 19 at Sommet Saint-Sauveur. Whether you’re going out as a family or a couple, the Sommet Saint-Sauveur is organizing free activities that will appeal to everyone.
The festivities kick off with a special morning for members on Friday, followed by a festive day for everyone with a torchlit ski run, a bar and an outdoor DJ as well as a snowcat show after the resort closes. On Monday, a family day with a treasure hunt will top off Valentine’s Day weekend.
Photo Credit: Les Sommets
Alpine Touring Activities for Valentine’s Day
4. Mont Tremblant — Touring and Scandinavian Spa Combo
Nestled in the heart of the Upper Laurentian mountains, the renowned Mont Tremblant ski resort offers a superb network of alpine touring trails. Whether you’re skinning the Nord-Sud or the Johannsen, the trails are both challenging and fun. Savour these long climbs and stop at viewpoints to get a bite to eat before continuing your expedition and enjoying a descent down Mont Tremblant’s slopes. Once the day is over, head to the Scandinave Spa to relax in the baths, saunas and outdoor facilities.
Photo Credit: Scandinave Spa Mont-Tremblant
5. Mont-Orford — The Ski Duo
Mont-Orford offers an outstanding playground for touring enthusiasts. In fact, it has the most developed alpine touring zone in the Eastern Townships. With eleven uphill trails, there’s more than enough territory for a day of exploring. In addition, the trails are open until 10:00 p.m. so you can enjoy an evening of touring by headlamp.
To continue your adventure in the Eastern Townships, you can also explore the resort by chairlift so you can rack up as many runs as possible during the day. And if you prefer cross-country skiing or snowshoeing, Mont-Orford is located in the Parc national du Mont-Orford, which offers many activities for outdoor enthusiasts.
Photo Credit: Mont-Orford
6. Mont Edouard — The Beauty of the Fjord and the Backcountry Area
Mont Edouard is one of Quebec’s true gems. With an abundant annual snowfall and few visitors, the place is perfect for a romantic getaway. The charming village of L’Anse-St-Jean offers small, friendly cafes and accommodation options for all budgets.
The Mont Edouard ski resort offers a vast patrolled backcountry skiing area, one of the largest in Quebec. With eight downhill sectors and twenty kilometres of trails, Mont Edouard’s backcountry has something for all levels. In addition, four huts are accessible to warm up during the day and can even be booked (very early in the season!) for overnight stays.
Photo Credit: Mont Edouard
Cross-Country Activities for Valentine’s Day
7. Station touristique Duchesnay — Breakfast & Cross-Country Ski Package
Are you a cross-country skiing enthusiast? The Station touristique Duchesnay offers an appealing package to make the most of a weekend getaway. It includes an overnight stay at the inn, a hearty breakfast and a pass to the Station touristique Duchesnay’s winter activities and facilities.
This Sépaq-affiliated cross-country ski area offers fifty kilometres of cross-country ski trails with four woodstove-heated huts. Plus, you’ll have access to an ice rink, more than twenty kilometres of snowshoe trails, snowtubing, a swimming pool and an outdoor jacuzzi. You get all this in an all-included package that lets you explore the beautiful area.
Photo Credit: Station touristique Duchesnay
8. La Mauricie National Park
La Mauricie National Park offers eighty kilometres of marked trails through the heart of the wilderness. Whether you’re classic cross-country skiing or skate skiing, La Mauricie National Park’s groomed trails are strewn with heated rest stops so you can take a break to rest and refuel. Offering loops or out-and-back routes, the trails range from beginner to expert. Meander through the forest and enjoy the Mauricie region’s landscapes in this grandiose national park.
Photo Credit: Mauricie National Park
9. Camping Sainte-Agathe — A Weekend of Discoveries
Accessible and well-maintained, the Camping Sainte-Agathe trail network is a well-kept secret of the Laurentians. With sixty kilometres of classic cross-country ski trails, the camping Sainte-Agathe network offers fifteen mechanically groomed trails ranging from easy to difficult. From the peaks to the shores of Petit Lac des Sables, there’s enough for a whole day or even a weekend of exploration. Plus, Camping Sainte-Agathe offers three warming huts and three warming pods. It’s a must-experience!
Photo Credit: Camping Sainte-Agathe
10. Camp Mercier – The Best Cross-Country Skiing Conditions
Camp Mercier has nothing left to prove: cross-country skiers go there knowing that they’re going to enjoy a top-notch trail network. Located in the Réserve faunique des Laurentides, Camp Mercier offers seventy kilometres of cross-country ski trails, including fifty for classic skiing and twenty for skate skiing.
Since the Réserve faunique des Laurentides is less than an hour from Quebec City, you can stay in the capital or book accommodations on the reserve. However, you’ll need to book well in advance to get your hands on one of the huts at Camp Mercier!
Photo Credit: Camp Mercier - Réserve faunique des Laurentides
Valentine’s Day Activities on Snowshoes
11. Parc National du Mont-Mégantic — Snowshoeing under the Stars
Why not enjoy some time outdoors under the stars for Valentine’s Day? Parc national du Mont-Mégantic offers an astronomy activity at the ASTROLAB and a torchlit snowshoe hike.
Known for its observatory, Parc national du Mont-Mégantic has two sectors, the Observatoire and Franceville, each of which features twenty kilometres of snowshoe trails. Explore the ridges and Mont Saint-Joseph by various routes. In addition, there are warming huts that can be booked for self-guided multi-day hikes. Create a memorable weekend for your significant other under the most beautiful starry skies.
Photo Credit: Parc national du Mont-Mégantic
12. Parc Éco Laurentides — Snowshoeing and Treehouses
A little-known 1770-hectare natural area, the Parc Éco Laurentides is well worth a visit. Located in Mont-Blanc, the park offers several outdoor activities, such as cross-country skiing and snowshoeing. In addition to snowshoeing trails through the deep woods, the park also offers lodging in the Refuges Perchés treehouses. The park’s different cozy huts are a dreamy place to spend Valentine’s Day weekend!
Photo Credit: Les Refuges Perchés
