Skiing is among many activities for winter visitors
Tourisme Charlevoix is reaching out to people who appreciate Old Man Winter’s arrival. The Quebec region, found north of Quebec City, says it has plenty of opportunities that can be enjoyed by winter enthusiasts, among them both alpine and cross-country skiing. Tourisme Charlevoix’s Mylène Simard notes her region is home to Le Massif ski resort, which has the greatest descent of any resort east of the Rockies.
“The vertical drop is the maximum vertical you can ski without taking another lift or walking up the hill,” she notes. “So, you can go from the top to bottom on 770 metres.”
The resort has 53 trails and snowmaking equipment, which helps lengthen the season.
“You can find two downhill ski centres: Le Massif de Charlevoix, near Baie-Saint-Paul and Mont Grand-Fonds, near La Malbaie,” Simard adds of Charlevoix. “In term of cross-country skiing we do have very nice places as well such, as Le Sentier des Caps de Charlevoix, Les Sources Joyeuses, Mont Grand-Fonds and a lot of municipal smaller places as well as La Traversée de Charlevoix which is a multiple days expedition that cross our mountains on a 105-kilometre journey of Nordic cross-country skiing. Our two national parks also offer Nordic cross-country skiing.”
But Simard adds that visitors can opt for numerous winter activities, among them ice fishing, dog sledding, sledding, ice skating, via ferrata and zip lining, winter sea kayaking, ski joring, snowmobiling, skiing — with ski choices being downhill skiing, backcountry skiing, cross-country skiing and Nordic cross-country skiing — snowshoeing, fat biking and others.
Charlevoix averages 500 centimetres of snow a winter and more in the mountainous parts, where the annual snowfall is close to 700 centimetres.
Simard says potential visitors shouldn’t be wary of winter Charlevoix temperatures, which usually range from around -5◦C to -15◦C. “Our winters are not very humid, there are a lot of beautiful sunny days, ” she reports. “A sunny -15◦C or -20◦C is way much better than a humid and grey -5◦C.”
Simard says Charlevoix has a thriving culinary scene, with dining options including the Summit Chalet, found atop Le Massif.
Also found is Spa Nordique Le Germain, which offers the likes of hot and cold outdoor pools, a Finnish sauna, eucalyptus steam baths and a “snow fountain.”
Meanwhile, Simard says she’s living proof that Charlevoix winters are enjoyable.
“Winter is definitely my favourite season!,” she states.
