Where to go fat biking in the Outaouais

Published on December 21 2023

Fat biking (also called snow biking or winter biking) is growing and attracting more enthusiasts every year! Fortunately, the Outaouais region has an interesting selection of places where you can practise this increasingly popular sport. Here are our top 6 places to visit for a great fatbike ride.

Le Harfang Fat Bike & Snowshoes


Located on an enchanting 325-acre site that’s also home to Le Sorcier Golf Club, Le Harfang (the name means “snowy owl”) is a huge and delightful winter playground! Its 22 kilometres of groomed trails are perfect for anyone who wants to learn how to fat bike. Although most of the trails are beginner or intermediate level, there are a few kilometres of challenging trails for more experienced bikers. As most of us don’t own a fat bike, Le Harfang also rents fat bikes equipped with studded tires.

To see more of this beautiful place, you can also venture out on a 2-km snowshoe trail through a picturesque maple grove!

Where

967 Montée Dalton, Gatineau

When

Monday to Wednesday: 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. | Thursday & Friday: 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. | Saturday & Sunday: 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Cost

Age 9–15: $9 | Age 16+: $15 | Family: $42

Good to know

Advance reservations are required for fat bike or snowshoe rentals. Dogs on leash are welcome on the snowshoe trails.

Learn more

Domaine Kanawe


The snow has finally arrived! Hop on your fatbike to discover miles of trails at Domaine Kanawe. Along the way, have fun rolling and jumping around this beautiful conservation park. Participate in introductory and refresher events. What are you waiting for to hit the trails?

Where

40 Sabourin Rd., Cantley (Québec), Canada

Good to know

There’s a bike centre where you can rent equipment

For more details

Montebello Mountain Bike

Located halfway between Montréal and Gatineau, Montebello Mountain Bike offers a brand new network of 25 kilometres of groomed trails on the seigneurial lands of patriot Louis-Joseph Papineau. It’s a great place to enjoy winter while exploring a magnificent historic site! On your two wheels, admire the Ottawa River and a forest of stately pines. No equipment? No problem! Just stop by the rental centre.

While you’re in the area, why not book a stay at Fairmont Le Château Montebello and discover this unique resort hotel?

Where

392 Notre-Dame Street, Montebello

When

Daily from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Cost

Age 10 to 17: $8.75 | Adult: $14.50 | Family: $33.50

Good to know

The reception desk, equipment rental centre and free parking are located at Fairmont Le Château Montebello.

Learn more

Parc des Montagnes Noires de Ripon


Load your fat bike into (or onto) the car and head for Ripon! At the Parc des Montagnes Noires de Ripon, you can ride through a forest of pine and maple trees on 8 different routes totalling 13 kilometres of groomed and shared fat bike and cross-country ski trails. Along your way, three rustic shelters will allow you to take a well-deserved break and warm up by a wood stove.

Even if fat biking is your first and only love, the Parc des Montagnes Noires de Ripon is a must-see winter destination for families, with unusual activities such as Austrian sledging, Hok skiing and snow tubing!

Where

39 De la Montagne-Noire Road, Ripon

When

Sunday to Thursday: 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. | Friday & Saturday: 9 a.m. to 8 p.m.

Cost

Day pass: Toddler: Free | Child: $4.35 | Adult: $8.70 | Family: $21.74

Good to know

Fatbike rental is available on site, by the company Traction-Nation.

Learn more

Gatineau Park

We’d be remiss if we didn’t include Gatineau Park on this list! With an area of 361 km2, needless to say there’s plenty of room for fat biking. The park has over 60 kilometres of trails ranging from easy to very difficult.

Beginners will enjoy trails 29, 66 and 67, which offer over 5 kilometres of easy biking in Gatineau. For more experienced cyclists, trails 72 and 58 in the Wakefield sector, which are classified as very difficult, and the loop of trail 79 in the Old Chelsea sector offer a worthy challenge!

Where

33 Scott Road, Chelsea

When

Open 24/7 all year round

Cost

Day pass: Adult: $12 | Teen (age 13 to 17), senior (age 60+), student: $9

Learn more

Vélo Mont Ste-Marie

At the foot of Mont Ste-Marie ski resort, Vélo Mont Ste-Marie maintains a vast network of fat bike trails. Several kilometres are available and are resurfaced every week. Check the trail conditions before you go.

For a full day in the great outdoors, start out by fat biking in the morning and spend the afternoon downhill skiing at Mont Ste-Marie. Admire the magnificent snowy panorama from the highest vertical in the region!

Where

76 De la Montagne Road, Lac-Sainte-Marie

When

Variable

Cost

Day pass: $20 | Family: $50

Good to know

Visit the website to find out the trail conditions and which trails are open beforehand.

Learn more

With so many options for fat biking in the Outaouais, we hope to see you on the trails this winter!

+

Do you prefer to stay in the city for outdoor fun? Discover the urban outdoor activities available in Gatineau.

Share
Facebook Twitter Email