What to Do in Saguenay - Lac-St-Jean in Winter?
_____________________________
Chicoutimi Borough
Herboréal
This cool shop featuring regional products will enchant nature lovers. Herboréal offers a selection of boreal herbal teas, forest herbs and spices, medicinal plants and body products made from their own harvests. The mission of this traditional herbalist shop’s team of professional foragers is to showcase the Saguenay - Lac-St-Jean region while sustainably gathering ingredients.
PAŪS Spa
A trip to the spa for some pampering is always a splendid idea! After a weekend outdoors downhill or cross-country skiing, the PAŪS Spa offers modern facilities where you’re sure to unwind. Polar showers, dry saunas, hot pools, steam baths and relaxation areas are available to you in a charming setting perfect for relaxation. In addition, a team of therapists offers massage therapy and beauty treatments to round out your relaxation experience. Give yourself a break!
Parc de la Rivière-du-Moulin
Located close to downtown Saguenay, Parc de la Rivière-du-Moulin offers a wide range of winter activities for the whole family. The park has 31 kilometres of groomed cross-country ski trails, a skating rink and 17 kilometres of marked snowshoe trails. Plus, if you’re passing through and don’t have any gear, you can rent various types or sporting equipment at the park. Winter walking is another possibility for enjoying the great outdoors.
Jonquière Borough
Centre plein air le Norvégien
A prime destination for fat biking or cross-country skiing, the Centre plein air le Norvégien is a non-profit organization run by a team of volunteers who, as you would guess, are passionate about the outdoors. Its goal is to offer a four-season outdoor activity centre accessible to the whole family. On the menu, many kilometres of cross-country ski, snowshoe and fat bike trails. The challenging expert trails are sure to please experienced cross-country skiers. It’s an ideal place for a half-day outing.
Hopera Microbrasserie and pizzeria
A weekend without a stop at a Saguenay microbrewery isn’t a real getaway! The region is brimming with craft breweries, each more inviting than the last, but we’ve alighted on Hopera Microbrassserie et pizzeria. The microbrewery welcomes you into a warm atmosphere to taste a variety of beers on tap and a menu of homemade pizzas cooked in a wood-fired oven. It’s well worth a visit!
Hopera Microbrasserie and pizzeria
La Baie Borough
Fromagerie Boivin
Since 1939, Fromagerie Boivin has been producing fresh cheddar made daily to the delight of Saguenay residents—and many others in Quebec! In all its products, from cheese curds to sharp cheddar, the cheese factory uses only Quebec milk. Stop by the shop to experience all Fromagerie Boivin’s products and stock up on cheese snacks for the ride home.
La Boucanerie d’Henri
La Boucanerie d’Henri is renowned for their authentic, traditional method of smoking salmon. They use only farmed Atlantic salmon from suppliers in Eastern and Western Canada. Their products are delicious at breakfast, in salads and in the next sandwich you bring on an outdoor activity.
L’Anse-Saint-Jean
Parc national du Fjord du Saguenay
The fjord—what landscape is more breathtaking? In winter, three trails give pride of place to snowshoeing and cross-country skiing in the park. These intermediate trails all lead to beautiful viewpoints.
The Blanche-Éternité trail (16.4 km round trip) and Lac Allard trail (15 km round trip) start in Rivière-Éternité, while the L’Anse-de-Tabatière viewpoint trail (8.6 km round trip) starts in L’Anse-St-Jean. The Blanche-Éternité and Lac Allard trails lead to vast, awe-inspiring panoramas of the fjord. Keep in mind that in winter, there are no services, and entry fees must be paid online on the Sépaq website.
Parc national du Fjord du Saguenay
Auberge Le Camp de Base
Auberge Le Camp de Base offers friendly, comfortable accommodations just seven minutes from the Mont Edouard ski resort. The perfect place to stay for a few days in L’Anse-St-Jean, the inn features a communal kitchen to prepare meals, which is quite convenient and conducive to chatting with other guests. In addition, the inn’s convivial bar and restaurant has developed a menu with outstanding beers from the local microbrewery La Chasse-Pinte along with dishes showcasing local products. It’s the place to be for an authentic L’Anse Saint-Jean experience!
Mont Edouard
Mont Edouard is THE mountain to enjoy Saguenay powder. The ski resort features 44 runs, 4 lifts and a 450-metre vertical drop. Behind the resort, Mont Edouard’s backcountry area encompasses over 200 acres and eight peaks with developed, patrolled downhill sectors. Plus, four huts are available to warm up during your outing and can be booked if you want to spend a few days there. Simply a magical place!
For an Extended Stay in Saguenay - Lac-St-Jean
Distillerie du Fjord
A short detour to the Distillerie du Fjord is a must if you’re passing through the Monts-Valin. Active since 2016, this microdistillery is the brainchild of two brothers and their father, who joined forces and drew on their heritage to bring their distillery project into being.
Today, the microdistillery makes five spirits distributed throughout Quebec in SAQs and ready-to-drink products, available in their shop. In addition to the shop, the microdistillery opens its doors for guided tours of the facilities (by reservation only). Visitors learn about the distilling process and ingredients from the boreal forest and taste a sampling of products.
Parc national des Monts-Valin
Parc national des Monts-Valin is a mythical place in Saguenay - Lac-St-Jean. Who hasn’t heard of the Vallée des Fantômes (“Valley of Ghosts”), the winter trail accessible by cross-country skis or snowshoes that winds through snow-covered fir trees that look like ghosts? That route isn’t the only one available in the park in winter. The place is full of winter activities and rustic accommodations. There’s no shortage of options to enjoy the outdoors and spellbinding scenery.
Imago Village
A trip to Parc national des Monts-Valin and a night spent in a yurt in the charming Imago Village—what more could you ask for? Overlooking the Mont Victor-Tremblay Valley and close to the Le Valinouët ski resort, Imago Village offers modern, ready-to-camp accommodations that let you unwind and disconnect. There’s no lack of outdoor activities in the area: snowshoeing, cross-country skiing and alpine skiing are all options. In short, it’s a wonderful place to set up your base camp and enjoy the great outdoors in Saguenay - Lac-St-Jean.
