Most of us know of certain places that, to our great delight, enable us to extend our snowmobiling seasons. Unless you live at altitude and have direct access to the trails, you’ll need to have the time and inclination to drive to get there, as well as a trailer.
What’s more, since we get rain during the holiday season, and every year, it’s obvious that if we want to snowmobile, we have to get around. So I want to share with you where I like to start and end my seasons, depending on snow accumulation and conditions.
Les Escoumins area
Although for us the round trip represents a 700 km truck trip, we’ve never been disappointed in going there to take advantage of the beautiful snow conditions and the quality of the trails. The Club sportif des bouleaux blancs is also very active on the Internet, making it easy for us to get up-to-date information. As well as being able to enjoy a hot meal, a new feature this year is the opportunity to fill up with petrol.
It’s possible to access Monts-Valin, refuel and enjoy a good meal. We all know that many snowmobilers like to visit Monts-Valin throughout the season. Personally, it’s a place I’ve avoided as much as possible for several years, except on our escapades from Les Escoumins, where we can take a morning ride to avoid the bulk of the traffic.
There’s also the option of heading east towards Forestville and Baie-Comeau. This allows us to cover good distances and enjoy a variety of trails with beautiful scenic spots.
Réserve faunique des Laurentides
Easily accessible from Route 175, parking is available at l’Étape and, more recently, at the nearby La Loutre campground. For many, this trip is also an opportunity to perpetuate tradition with a stop at l’Étape. After a few snow flurries, you can depart from Lac Beauport, Sainte-Brigitte-de-Laval, Saint-Férréol-des-Neiges or Côte-de-Beaupré.
On the east side, the trails of AMAP (Association des motoneigistes de l’Arrière-Pays). A proactive club that listens to its members and values communication. This is evident from their strong presence on social media and the many messages they send out. Surfacing starts early in the season and generally lasts until April. AMAP has also been an important partner of the Ride des manches courtes event for many years, and I’d like to thank them again for their involvement.
West side, towards Saint-Raymond. This is usually our first ride at the start of each season. We usually bring gas to extend our rides and avoid having to return to the stage for refueling, as it’s not uncommon for the 6 km stretch to reach the stage to be very bumpy due to high traffic. It’s also a good time to bring a lunch and warm up at the relais du lac Champlain or the relais Sainte-Anne. These places are popular with snowmobilers and give us a chance to socialize. In fact, we regularly meet people we know there. I’d also like to highlight the work done by the Saint-Raymond club, not only on the trails, but also for their communication on the Internet. It’s easy to find up-to-date information.
Heading north towards Hébertville, the Portes de l’enfer sector generally offers good snow accumulations. When the Mont-Apica relay is open, we have access to gas and food service. It’s a very popular stop for snowmobilers, who frequent it in large numbers. It can sometimes be difficult to get a place inside to eat.
The Charlevoix region
The beautiful Charlevoix region offers us several possible starting points. Our preferences are Saint-Urbain and the heights of Clermont, to take advantage of more favorable snow accumulation. The scenery is magnificent. Unfortunately, it’s sometimes difficult to find up-to-date trail information.
Some people like to take the opportunity to go to the casino. For snowmobilers whose other family members or friends don’t snowmobile, it’s also possible to ski nearby, which provides great flexibility for out-of-towners who travel and need a variety of activities.
Further north, we have access to the Saguenay region and particularly to L’Anse-Saint-Jean, where we have access to a restaurant and gas station. It’s an excellent choice of destination and we go there every year.
In conclusion, the main problem we encounter over the years is the sometimes limited and even impossible access to the surrounding towns and villages. The lack of snow at lower altitudes can make it difficult to get around to refuel or even to enjoy a meal in a relay or restaurant. So it’s important to plan ahead if you want to avoid certain inconveniences.
I’d like to remind you that it’s our duty to stay on federated trails and do our utmost to preserve rights of way. We must also respect the environment, including the presence of wild animals. Don’t forget that they are at home, we are the intruders and we must not chase them.
Have a great season, snowmobiling friends! Enjoy winter and the superb scenery it has to offer. Be careful and remember that snowmobiling is a privilege, not a right!
