The Mont du Dome trail, whose summit of the same name peaks at 960m, is one of our favorite trails in the Charlevoix region of Quebec. It’s a fun trail to do, particularly in winter, providing you with stunning views of the surrounding mountains and the glacier-carved valleys below without having to exert yourself too much – though there are some steeper sections with some light scrambling required, the overall elevation gain and the distance covered are very manageable. Its close proximity to other trails in the nearby Parc National des Grands-Jardins makes it a great alternative option for those planning to visit the area as it is generally much less busy. Below we present our Winter Hiking Guide for the Mont du Dome, which we hope will help you get the most out of your hiking adventure.
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You might also be interested in these Guides:
Best Winter Hiking Trails in Charlevoix region
Best Winter Hiking Trails in Sutton (Eastern townships)
Best Winter Hiking Trails in Mont Mégantic National Park
Orientation – Where is the Mont du Dome trail?
The Mont du Dome is located in the beautiful Charlevoix of Québec, roughly a 30-minute drive from the town of Baie-Saint-Paul (or 1h30 from Québec City). Although the trail parking lot is just 2km past the Parc National des Grands-Jardins visitor center, it is not part of the National Park. Rather, it is part of a conservation area known as the Zec des Martres.
Because the trail is part of the Zec des Martres conservation area, registration is mandatory before undertaking the hiking trail. You can either register at the reception area located 12 km south of the trail parking lot, or you can self-register at the trailhead, where you can also find a donation box (suggested contribution is 5$).
You should also know that the parking lot (which is next to the trailhead) isn’t particularly large and parking along the side is not permitted, therefore we recommend an early arrival if possible (or to start in the mid-afternoon once the midday hikers have started to leave).
It’s also preferable to avoid the trail during moose hunting season (late September to early October). Though there is no hunting directly where the Dome trail passes, it is very important not to venture off the trail and wearing an orange vest and cap is mandatory. But if you come during winter like we did, there is absolutely nothing to worry about.
Dogs on leashes are welcome on the trail.
When to Go?
To experience a proper winter hike and beautiful white landscapes, it’s best to plan your visit between mid-December and mid-March. That being said, there are year-to-year differences regarding the early and late winter snow conditions. If you would like to visit early or late in the winter season, it’s best to check the park conditions first. To get a good idea of the current conditions, you can check out those posted by the nearby Grands-Jardins National Park.
Hiking and Safety Tips
It is highly recommended to wear crampons/traction cleats under your shoes or boots when hiking this trail. You can rent some from the nearby Grands-Jardins National Park visitor center (a 2-minute drive down the road) for $8 or buy your own on Amazon for $20-$25.
The exception to that rule is in the event of large amounts of recent snowfall, in which case you might be better off using snowshoes than hiking with boots and cleats. The national park details the recent snowfall stats and the trail conditions (densely packed snow or fresh powdered snow). The visitor center also rents out snowshoes if need be.
Also, always bear in mind that no matter how cold it is at the base of the mountain, it’s going to be even colder at the summit (and windier), so remember to dress appropriately. It’s generally recommended to wear fewer layers to start with since you will warm up as you start to hike. But it’s a great idea to pack some extra warm gear for when you stop or reach the summit.
Winter Hiking Packing List
Crampons / Ice Cleats – These are a must-have to help you with those steep ascents/descents or navigate icy trail conditions.
External Battery – Cold weather significantly affects cell phone battery drainage. Best to be prepared with an external power source to recharge your phone if needed.
Hiking poles – These can be particularly useful in winter, especially when not wearing any crampons or ice cleats.
Hand warmers – if you are like us and often remove your gloves to take pictures, having little hotties around care be hand life savers in freezing weather.
All Trails subscription – comes in really handy for areas with little or no cell reception, as the annual subscription allows you to download trail maps for offline use.
Mont du Dôme Trail Details and Map
Distance: 8.4 km (Mont du Dome & Mont Saint-Michel summits); 7 km if Mont du Dome only.
Route Type: Partial Out & back, Partial Loop
Elevation gain: 320 m (cumulative elevation gain: 461 m)
Start point: Car Park (a 30-minute drive from Baie-Saint-Paul)
AllTrails rating: (4.6, 934 ratings (2024))
Access fee: suggested donation of 5$.
Not an AllTrails member yet? We highly recommend signing up for either their free or paid membership plans. The free plan allows you to find new trails and plan routes but can only be used while hiking if you have access to mobile data. The paid membership plan (AllTrails+) allows you to download trail maps for offline use and provides live progress updates and off-route notifications.
If you are still uncertain – you should know that the All Trails mobile application was voted the 2023 iPhone App of the Year by Apple.
Mont du Dôme Trail Description
You’ll notice from the map above, that the proposed AllTrails path leads you to two separate summits, Mont du Dôme (the western branch from the loop and Mont Saint-Michel (the eastern branch from the loop). Because fewer people go to the Mont Saint-Michel summit, in winter snowshoes are generally required. We didn’t have any with us during our hike, so we opted to just do the loop combined with the trail branch leading up to the Mont du Dôme summit. This resulted in slightly less elevation gain and a 7km trail length instead of the 8.4km as listed above.
From the trailhead, the climb is initially gradual and smooth. At about the 0.5 km mark, you will come across an intersection, where you will have the option of going left or right. Going right is much longer than going left (2.5km vs. 1km), but the climb is far less steep.
If you intend on doing the loop, it is generally recommended to start with the steep section to the left of the intersection (clockwise). This is because in summer you have to scramble over some large boulders, which is easier to do when ascending, and in winter the slippery (and potentially icy) terrain makes it much more treacherous to come down. Alternatively, you can both ascend and descend via the same path to the right of the initial intersection, which will make for an easier climb and descent, but will add an extra 1.5km to your journey.
If you did indeed take the left path, you will soon come across a wooden cabin (which can be booked here) with nice views into the valley.
Regardless of which direction you take, near the western trail branch towards the Mont du Dôme summit, you’ll come across the beautiful Lac du Gros Ruisseau. From this point onward, the trail starts to flatten out. While there are still some slight elevation gains, you definitely got most of the ascent out of the way by now.
Continuing onward towards the summit, the winter alpine scenery continuously becomes even more magical with an endless series of snow-covered pines. You’ll definitely start to feel as though you have entered a winter wonderland as you walk through the narrow trail.
Eventually, the trees start to make way for the rocky summit, at which point you can enjoy the stunning scenery that surrounds you, from the beautiful glacier-carved valley below to the distant town of Baie-Saint-Paul and the St. Lawrence estuary. There’s lots of room to walk around and explore the summit, so don’t stop at the first you come across with an open view.
Once you have taken the time to enjoy the summit, you can return the same way you came up, but the descent will be very steep in tricky. We recommend you complete the loop on your way back down as it’s both an easier walk and you will get to enjoy different scenery on the way down.
What else is there to do in the area?
If you are looking for more great hikes, be sure to look into the trails of the Parc National des Grands Jardins, in particular the Mont-du-Lac-des-Cygnes trail. Alternatively, some other great trails are a bit further out, mostly around the charming town of Baie-Saint-Paul, which itself is definitely a must when in the area.
Where to Stay in the Area?
If you would like to spend a night (or more) to have the chance to enjoy several trails in the area, there are a few great accommodation options in and around the town of Baie-Saint-Paul. We particularly enjoyed our stay in the Deluxe Queen Suite at the Gîte TerreCiel, situated in the heart of the old village, close to many restaurants and only a short 30-minute drive away from the hiking trails listed above.
Alternatively, the nearby Grands-Jardins National Park has several cabins that can be rented and are located a short walk from the visitor center. However, these tend to get booked several months in advance, particularly for weekend stays.
You might also be interested in these Guides:
Best Winter Hiking Trails in Charlevoix region
Best Winter Hiking Trails in Sutton (Eastern townships)
Best Winter Hiking Trails in Mont Mégantic National Park
Photography Gear
If you like our photography, you might be interested in some of the gear we use to shoot our travel and hiking destinations.
Camera Body – Nikon Z 6ii Fx-series Mirrorless Body
Main Lens – NIKON 24-120mm F/4G ED VR AF-S
Zoom Lens – Sigma 745-306 150-600mm f/5-6.3
Polarizing filters – Urth Circular Polarizing (CPL)
Camera Tripod – K&F Concept 64-inch Camera Tripod
Mini-tripod – Lammcou Flexible Camera Tripod
Camera/hiking backpack – Vanguard Alta Rise 48 Backpack
Universal Travel Adapter – VYLEE Universal International Power Travel Plug
Other Travel Essentials
Travel Insurance
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e-Sim cards
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eSIMS are a sustainable alternative to single-use SIM cards – they are 100% digital, require less energy to produce and be re-used rather than disposed of.
Car Rentals
Discover Cars is our go-to website for car rentals. We almost always find our preferred rate there.
Transfer from Airport
Welcome Pickups is our favourite private transfer service, which you can pre-book at a fixed price. Currently available in 220 cities all over the world (mostly in Europe, but with several major cities in Asia, the Middle East and the US).
Kiwitaxi is another private transfer service – we haven’t tried it yet, but it’s currently available in a few more countries (102 as of 2024).
Hotels and Accommodations (coming soon)
Photography Prints
If you found this blog useful, you can help support our blog by purchasing low-cost digital prints. Printed physical prints are also available for purchase.
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Well, that wraps it up! We hope you enjoyed our Winter Hiking Guide for the Mont du Dome and that it will prove useful for planning your trip to the beautiful Charlevoix region of Québec.
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