Winter is the time to bundle up and try a new outdoor activity. For a weekend or longer, stop by the Auberge du Draveur and explore the most beautiful marked trails in the Vallée-de-la-Gatineau. Travel past lakes, through majestic forests and along the shoreline of the impressive Baskatong Reservoir, and take a break at the Club les Ours Blancs snowmobile club lodge. Back at the chalet, enjoy a Canadian-style meal, relax in the hot tub and plan your next trip. The next day, dig into a hearty breakfast at the Resto pub Le Rabaska and you’re ready for adventure!  Domaine Pine Grove is another popular destination for admiring the scenic beauty of the Baskatong Reservoir. This time, have fun in the powder! Have a blast skimming over the snow-covered fields, and stop at the many rest areas. Visit nearby Windigo Falls and the famous Devil’s Mountain. Combine your experience with an ice fishing and snowshoe trapping package. 

Relax over a craft beer from Les Brasseurs de Montebello, a fine cheese from the Fromagerie Montebello or a bite to eat at the Resto pub Le Zouk. In Saint-André-Avellin, sample the menu at the Café du Bistrot or stock up on local beers at Le Brasse-Camarade specialty village store.  Surrounded by trails, the Auberge Couleurs de France is a rallying point for snowmobilers. Stay in a beautiful log cabin with panoramic views of Petit Lac Preston, and enjoy gourmet French cuisine at the inn’s restaurant. Hire a snowmobile for a half- or full-day excursion, or take a tour with an experienced guide and ride to enchanting spots in the countryside. Combine your snowmobiling adventure with a winter package that includes a dogsled ride, a visit to Parc Omega and more. It’s the perfect place to make the most of winter! 

Do you wish winter lasted 12 months a year? Hop aboard your snowmobile, cover kilometres of hilly trails, and admire the pristine lakes and forests. The Outaouais snowmobile trail map is a useful tool.  In the Pontiac, take two interprovincial bridges! Cross from Ontario to Quebec without getting off your snowmobile, and admire the scenery on both sides of the river. Trans-Québec Trail 13 will take you over the Fort-Coulonge covered bridge, and from Trans-Québec Trail 43 you can access the world’s longest snowmobile bridge! Ride 487 metres across the Ottawa River on this former railway bridge. On your travels, take a break to see the Coulonge River canyon. Stay at the Hôtel Pine lodge or the Escapade Huskimo inn and embarking on the Grande Virée du Nord’s Trail 53. And you’re off on a 561-km journey! 

From Shawville to Maniwaki, drive 224 km on Trail 311 and turn left onto Trail 13. You’ll pass several beautiful lakes, including Blue Sea Lake. Along this section, expect hills as far as the eye can see! At the Village Majopial resort, have a meal at L’Huile d’Olive restaurant, whose menu features fresh local produce, and stay overnight at the Minitik Inn. At Maniwaki, you can join Trail 53 for a spin through the Hautes-Laurentides sector. This 342-km loop will leave you speechless! Travel through an ancient boreal forest in Kiamika Regional Park and find a true sense of peace. Want to share this uplifting experience? Your friends can try snowmobiling by renting a vehicle from Équipements Maniwaki. In the evening, meet at the Château Logue for a chat in the hotel bar. 

Your next destination: the Rois du nord (“kings of the north”) route! Your 155-km trip starts on the shore of Lac Simon. Visit the Centre touristique du Lac-Simon, where you can stay in a rustic cabin, book an ice-fishing package or rent cross-country skis. In the charming village of Duhamel, spend a night close to the trails at Loft Gem. Observe the many deer in the area as you prepare to head into the Papineau-Labelle Wildlife Reserve. As you drive through the wilderness, you’ll feel completely isolated from the rest of the world! 

Has this short guide encouraged you to follow your passion? Have you fallen in love with snowmobile excursions? For snowmobile sales and service, 819 Motosports is a good local option. + The provincial Fédération des clubs de motoneigistes has developed the iMotoneige app to help you find your way around the trails.