If you are an outdoor enthusiast like us and love the beautiful winter wonderland landscapes that are created during our cold Quebec winters, then we have some excellent hiking trails to recommend. Hiking is definitely not an activity that should be practiced exclusively in the summer or fall. In fact, we find it can be even more enjoyable in winter. All you need is to dress appropriately given the colder conditions (i.e. layers) and occasionally wear proper footwear in icier conditions (i.e. ice crampons). Below we present 6 of the best Quebec hiking trails you just might want to discover this winter. We believe them to be very accessible trails to most individuals and they were chosen because of their great effort-to-reward ratio.
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You might also be interested in these pages:
Best Winter Hiking Trails in Charlevoix region
Best Winter Hiking Trails in Sutton (Eastern townships)
Best Winter Hiking Trails in Mont Mégantic National Park
1- Mont Mégantic Trail (Mont Mégantic National Park)
The Mont Mégantic Trail is one of the most popular trails of the national park that bears its name, Mont-Mégantic National Park. The park itself is located in southeastern Québec, roughly 2h30 east of Montreal, whereas the trail is located in the eastern portion of the park, known as the Observatory Sector. It’s known for its beautiful winter scenery, snow-covered pines, frozen forests, and the impressive astronomical observatory that awaits you at the summit.
Trail Details and Map
Distance: 11.7 km
Route Type: Partial Loop
Elevation gain: 525 m
Average duration: 3h30-4h
AllTrails rating: (4.6, 616 ratings (2024))
Trailhead: Right behind the visitor center
For more information on this trail, check out our Mont Mégantic Trail Winter Hiking Guide.
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 it 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.
2 – Round Top and Lac Spruce Trail (PENS – Sutton)
The Round Top trail is popular for a reason – it gets A LOT of snow creating magical snow-covered forests and it leads to the highest peak of the massif, the Round Top, which culminates at 968 meters, where it offers panoramic views of the St. Lawrence plain, the Monteregiennes and Lake Champlain. The final sections can be very icy, particularly those that involve the steps, so proper winter footwear (winter crampons are preferable) is highly recommended. Along the way to the top, you can stop by two beautiful frozen lakes: the smaller Lac Vogel and the larger Lac Spruce.
The trail is part of the Parc d’Environnement Naturel de Sutton (P.E.N.S), which is located 118 km southeast of Montreal (roughly a 90-minute drive) in the Eastern Townships region of Québec. The PENS is roughly 5km east of the village of Sutton and is only 10km from the Canadian-American border (Burlington (Vermont) is also roughly a 90-minute drive away).
Trail Details and Map
Distance: 7.1 km
Route Type: Partial Out & back, Partial Loop
Elevation gain: 430 m (cumulative elevation gain: 440 m)
Start point: PENS car park
AllTrails rating: (4.6, 2626 ratings (2024))
Access fee: 8$ (2024) – Booking ahead online is recommended.
For more information on this trail, check out our Winter Hiking Guide for the Sutton Round Top trail.
3 – Mont Lac des Cygnes Trail (Grands Jardins National Park– Charlevoix)
The Mont Lac des Cygnes trail is part of the stunning Parc National des Grands-Jardins, located a 90-minute drive northeast of Quebec City (and approximately 25 minutes north of Baie-Saint-Paul. The trail takes you up to a high summit with 360-degree views of the surrounding mountains and the glacier-carved valleys. You’ll go through various forested sections, with a pit stop by the beautiful frozen Lake George, before emerging onto a large bare summit.
Trail Details and Map
Distance: 8.9 km
Route Type: Out & back
Elevation gain: 421 m (cumulative elevation gain: 434 m)
Start point: Trailhead & Visitor Center (30-minute drive from Baie-Saint-Paul)
AllTrails rating: (4.8, 1324 ratings (2024))
Access fee: 9,55 $ (2024) – You can prepay online here.
For more information on this trail, check out our Winter Hiking Guide for the Mont-Lac-des-Cygnes trail.
4 – Mont du Dome Trail (ZEC des martres – Charlevoix)
Le Mont du Dome trail, also often referred to as the Path of the Dome, is just a few kilometres north of the previous trail (Mont Lac des Cygnes Trail), though it is not part of the Grands-Jardins National Park and it presents different challenges than the latter. Whereas the final portion of the Mont Lac des Cygnes Trail is the most difficult one, here it is the initial ascent is that is very steep and the use of ice crampons or hiking poles is highly recommended. We also recommend ascending the straight section of the loop and then coming back down the curved section of the loop (i.e. clockwise) – see map below). Doing so will avoid having to descend the steepest portion of the trail, which be quite challenging in slippery/icy conditions. Once the ascent section of the loop is completed, the rest of the trail is fairly straightforward. Most people complete the trail in 3h-3h30.
Trail Details and Map
Distance: 8.4 km
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$.
For more information on this trail, check out our Winter Hiking Guide for the Mont du Dome trail.
4 – Les Coulées Trail (Parc National de Jacques-Cartier – Québec City area)
The Les Coulées trail is our favourite from the Parc National de Jacques-Cartier, a provincial park 45 minutes north of Québec City, one where you get most of your work done (i.e. the ascent) in the first quarter of the trail, after which you are either walking on a gently descending slope or a relatively flat path. In the second half of the trail you will find yourself enjoying beautiful riverside views of the valley floor, as the path first follows the Sautauriski River and then the Jacques-Cartier River. Most people complete this trail in 3h-3h30. Dogs are welcome but must be on a leash.
Trail Details and Map
Distance: 11.3 km
Route Type: Loop
Elevation gain: 225 m (cumulative elevation gain: 442m)
Start point: Discovery and Visitor Center
AllTrails rating: (4.3, 814 ratings (2024))
Access fee: 9,55 $ (2024) – You can prepay online here.
6 – Mont Chocolat Trail (Parc Régional du Massif-du-Sud – Chaudière-Appalaches)
This trail is located in the Massif South Park, located 1h20 minutes southeast of Québec City. The first section of this trail (roughly the first 2km) is relatively straightforward as you will take a path that follows (and crosses on a few occasions via footbridges) a meandering river. The second leg of the trail turns away from the river and will essentially follow a V-shaped path on your way up to the summit of Mont Chocolat. From the Belvedere at the top, you can either retrace your steps back to return to the trailhead or continue forward to complete a loop that will take you back to a point on the trail a few hundred meters from where it branched off from the river. Most people complete this trail in 2h30-3h. Dogs are not permitted on this trail.
Trail Details and Map
Distance: 7.7 km
Route Type: Out & Back, Loop section on summit
Elevation gain: 270 m (cumulative elevation gain: 314m)
Start point: Park Visitor Center
AllTrails rating: (4.5, 575 ratings (2024))
Access fee: 9$ (2024) – You can prepay online here.
When to go Winter Hiking?
To experience a proper winter hike and beautiful white landscapes, it’s generally best to plan your visit between mid-December and mid-March. That being said, there are year-to-year differences and regional 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.
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 most of the park visitor centers for $8-$10 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. Most parks and national parks detail recent snowfall and the trail conditions (densely packed snow or fresh powdered snow) on their respective websites. Most visitor centers 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.
You might also be interested in these pages:
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
SafetyWing is a travel insurance company that offers comprehensive coverage for travellers. Includes Medical Insurance and Travel Insurance. Primarily geared towards long-term travellers, digital nomads, and expats.
e-Sim cards
Airalo is the world’s first and largest eSIM store with eSIM plans for 200+ countries and regions worldwide. With Airalo eSIMs, travellers can get connected the moment they land at their destination and avoid nasty data roaming charges
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 Guide on some of the Best Quebec winter hiking trails and that it will help you discover new hiking destinations across the province.
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