Outdoor Activities In Quebec – With so many fun outdoor winter activities in Quebec City, it’s no wonder visitors flock here every year when winter rolls around. Instead of trying to survive the cold weather, Quebecois embrace the pure joy and excitement that makes it one of our favorite ski resorts to chill.
You won’t find anyone wandering around, buried in misery in their park, trying to get to the next warm building as fast as possible. The people of Quebec do not hide or fear winter. They dance, play, drink and skate!
Outdoor Activities In Quebec
With a long history in sub-zero temperatures, they’ve got plenty of fun outdoor activities that will have you laughing and red-cheeked before you know it. I bet even after going through the tips below, even the coldest person will be tempted to take a winter trip to Quebec City. Just pack a warm jacket and get ready to embrace this dreamy snow paradise.
Outdoor Winter Activities. Montreal, Quebec, Canada Stock Photo
Fun fact: Snow canoeing is something completely unique to this particular section, not just Canada. The story takes place in the early days of Quebec City, when it was the only way to cross the St. Lawrence River.
You see, in the winter the river was so cold that the boats could not easily cross it. However, the river has not cooled enough to cross any ice bridge. To solve this particular problem, the Cubans came up with canoeing on ice, which involved rowing and running!
Today, it is a competitive sport of five members who row across the river. We joined two contestants, Caroline Boyaud and Laurent Ouellet from Canute and Glace, as we headed to Quebec City for this unique sport at 7:00 a.m.
Canot a Glace is a great way to try ice canoeing for the first time as it offers an introductory experience. Trust me, you want professionals to guide you. It is difficult to understand that at some point you have to get out of the canoe in the middle of the river. It actually goes against all of your natural survival instincts, so you need some ground practice beforehand!
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One of the most enjoyable things I’ve found about snow canoeing is that no two experiences are the same. The river conditions are constantly changing, so you never go the same way twice.
It is physically demanding, but the added bonus is that you will definitely not be cold! Canot a Glace also offers delicious pastries and hot chocolate made by the local Boulangerie Pâtisserie Le Croquembouche while you take a break on the ice floes.
There’s nothing quite like winter skating, and Quebec City is no exception. Some might say that skating is a Quebecois way of life. The city is friendly to all levels, from those who still hold their hips to those who can naturally glide while walking, and there are tons of hikes and trails to try.
If you’re looking for a more historic location, you can try Old Quebec as its backdrop, the Place de la Abraham, the famous site of the battle of the same name, or the Place d’Yeuville ice rink. Domaine Maizerets. , the 27-hectare park features everything from an arboretum to the 16th-century Château Ango des Meijerret.
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For the more daring, you can try snowboarding on the sidewalk. Yes, hint! Villages Open Spaces Valcartier offers a 1km trail with a variety of rides and attractions. Parc de la Jacques-Cartier National Park is famous for its 500m trail through the snow-covered landscape, and Pointe-aux-Livres is a 1.5km trail with great views of the upper town.
Double check each of these places to see if you can rent skis or if you need to bring your own.
Not ready to explore Quebec’s winter landscapes on a razor’s edge? fair enough. And what about snowshoes? While snowshoeing is not unique to Canada (some say it came to Central Asia as early as 6,000 years ago), the Native Americans of North America are believed to have had the most advanced footwear to date.
Traditional snowshoes are made from refined rawhide that distributes your weight and makes traveling through the snow easier. Today, of course, you can find them made of steel and aluminum.
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The origins of snowshoeing go back to the founding of various sports clubs in Quebec. The first was the Montreal Snowshoe Club, founded in 1840. At the end of the 19th century, snowshoe clubs were the second most popular type of sports club in the city!
That said, there are plenty of opportunities today to test yourself when you visit. And if you’re really feeling outdoorsy, you can combine skiing with winter camping.
For beginners, we recommend trying the trails in the Marais du Nord Marche. It’s fairly flat and offers views of Lake St. Charles, so it’s perfect for skiing.
Once you’re comfortable, set aside at least half a day to explore some of Quebec City’s most beautiful winter landscapes! Try the Sentier de Cap de Charlevoix, located between Beaupré beach and the Charlevoix region. This location means that it offers truly spectacular views of the St. Lawrence River and the Laurentian Mountains, and you can choose from trips of up to 6 days.
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Another location is Sainte-Brigette-de-Laval, which is 30 minutes from the city. There you can hike the Montagne à Deux Têtes trail, which gives you a view of the Montmorency River valley and, on a clear day, Quebec City. Remember to bring your own snowshoes!
Closest to Quebec City is the Station Touristique Duchesne, a member of the Sepac network. It has over 22.4 km of trails for different levels and many warming huts.
Don’t be fooled by adding super aggressive dogs to this winter activity. While you’ll certainly be doing most of the heavy lifting when it comes to dog sledding, you’ll have a fair amount of physical work on your part as a musher. In fact, the only place that can be released is the person sitting in the slip!
In recreational dog sledding, small sleds are usually pulled by a group of dogs, usually of the feral or malamute breed, and they ride you for life as they race down snowy trails! It has been around for thousands of years and was used by the natives of North America before the arrival of European explorers.
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Today, of course, dog sledding is one of the top winter activities in Quebec City, and there are many operators around. As a bonus for the perfect dog sled, most areas include a cute puppy to meet and greet!
Au Chalet en Bois Rond in Saint-Christine-d’Auvergne is about 45 minutes away and offers a 90-minute experience. Closest to town, Pourvoir du Lac-Beauport is a short 20-minute, 2-hour ride away, and Adventure Inukshoek has hiking and dog sledding options.
Les Secrets Nordiques has a wonderfully named dog village and you can do anything from a simple tour to a full day adventure. For a truly unique experience, check out Adventures Nord-Beek Stoneham and visit Jacques-Cartier National Park. In addition to dog sledding, you can also try unusual camping and helicopter travel.
Remember to dress warmly and don’t leave gloves on when you go. You have to stretch your hands to hold the sliding rail, so if you don’t have good gloves, your hands will suffer from the wind and you won’t be able to warm up without falling!
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Of all the winter activities in Quebec City, this is perhaps the most historic downtown. I find it surprising that for a town founded in the early 17th century, one of its oldest attractions (perhaps the oldest attraction) is a toboggan run!
Since 1884, this wooden slide has been displayed on the terrace of Dufresne under the control of Chateau Frontenac. He actually predates the palace by nine years!
You can ride a quad or single rider and challenge your friend in side-by-side rides. A unique feature of the Au 1884 slide is that it still uses traditional wood slides instead of the more modern, brightly colored plastic ones.
Brace yourself, this slide may be old, but it’s not slow. Some riders managed to reach a speed of 70 kilometers per hour!
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And there you have it! When the days are short, it only makes sense to make the fun as fun as possible, and Quebecois has done it with all the wonderful ways to enjoy being outside in the snowy weather.
They were able to turn the cold into ice like snow.