Are you wondering where to go for cross-country skiing in Lanaudière? Put on your skis, adjust your seal skins and discover our selection of the best places to practice this winter activity in nature.
Majestic peaks, exhilarating descents and snowy landscapes await you in the north of the region. Whether you are a regular touring enthusiast or want to try it for the first time, Lanaudière offers you the perfect playground for unforgettable adventures.
1. GRANDE-OURSE SECTOR – OUAREAU FOREST REGIONAL PARK | CHERTSEY
The very first FQME certified ski touring site in Lanaudière, it’s happening here! Located in the Grande-Ourse sector of the Ouareau Forest Regional Park, this jewel offers you a beautiful alpine experience just over an hour from Montreal.
Two intermediate trails wind through the underbrush on a 150 m difference in altitude. You reach the summit with an approach trail of 1.5 km, and at the end of the climb, a heated refuge awaits you for a well-deserved break. This site is perfect for beginners or to refine your technique in a natural and structured environment. Easily accessible via route 125, it’s a smart choice for a quick... but memorable getaway.
2. BLACK MOUNTAIN | SAINT-DONAT
It’s a classic in Lanaudière... and with good reason! La Montagne Noire, which rises to 875 meters, is one of the most accessible and well maintained sites in the region to practice ski touring. Its wide trail easily takes you to the summit, and the generous glades allow you a smooth descent, without steep slope. Thanks to its altitude, the snow is abundant there, creating ideal conditions during a good part of the winter.
Access is free and, to extend your experience, you can even book the Mésangeai refuge and spend the night in the mountains. A complete immersion in nature! Right next to it, the inter-center trail connects the Black, White and Gray mountains. It is one of the most popular courses for long distance enthusiasts in Quebec.
3. WHITE MOUNTAIN | SAINT-DONAT
Often overshadowed by its better-known neighbor, the White Mountain nevertheless deserves all your attention. With its 883 meters of altitude, it is one of the highest peaks in the region. The trail that leads there stretches for about 5 km, offering you a beautiful gradual ascent and three absolutely splendid views of the surrounding lakes and forests.
This course is dedicated to ski touring and nordic skiing in winter. On the way down, you can choose to return to the parking lot at Lac du Rocher, or to dash to the refuge of l'Appel to continue your adventure.
4. GREY MOUNTAIN | SAINT-DONAT
Less crowded, but equally impressive, the Grey Mountain is a great choice if you are looking for a quieter ski touring experience away from the crowds. The La Grise trail, about 5.5 km long, offers a gradual ascent through the forest to the top, where there is a superb view of the site of an old fire tower.
The course is dedicated to ski touring and nordic skiing in winter, making it an ideal option for a contemplative outing, punctuated by the silence of the snowy forest. Once at the top, you can either go back down by the same trail or continue your route to the Le Nordet refuge to extend the pleasure.
5. KILKENNY REGIONAL PARK | SAINT-CALIXTE
Still little known, the Kilkenny Regional Park is a great discovery for ski touring enthusiasts looking for new lands to explore. Located in Saint-Calixte, this vast natural territory combines mature forests, varied reliefs and a wild atmosphere. This is the first opening winter of this new regional park.
Three versatile trails lend themselves very well to the practice of ski touring in winter:
- La Buse: about 5 km round trip, with a gradual climb ideal for an accessible outing.
- La Belette: a more sustained course of about 8.5 km round trip, perfect if you want to extend the distance a bit.
- The Lynx: 7.1 km round trip, offering a nice balance between effort and pleasure on the descent.
These trails allow you to explore a still quiet area, where nature takes all the space. A place to keep in your list if you like to vary the decorations and get out of the more known paths.
6. IN THE SKI RESORTS OF THE REGION
Good news: all the ski resorts in Lanaudière also allow the practice of ski touring, on dedicated or marked routes. It’s a nice way to combine autonomous climbing and well-worked descents.
Ski Garceau | SAINT-DONAT
Want to combine autonomous ascent and off-piste descent? The XP Zone of Ski Garceau is perfect for that. By climbing the Piste des Sommets, you access two off-piste tracks: Sortilège and Kamikaze. This unpatrolled sector is reserved for ski touring enthusiasts, but don’t forget: a ticket or season pass for alpine hiking is required for the ascent and to descend through the official slopes.
Ski Montcalm | RAWDON
With its three slopes and marked trails, Ski Montcalm offers an accessible and varied experience. The ski touring routes allow you to reach the summit while enjoying wooded sections and pleasant off-piste areas. It is a beautiful discovery for many adapts of this sport.
Ski La Réserve | SAINT-DONAT
Le Versant Nature, without a ski lift, is a perfect playground for powder lovers. Access is via a 2.8 km forest trail from the main chalet. A sporty ascent followed by a descent in the heart of nature, especially magical after a good ride.
station touristique Val Saint-Côme
The resort offers an ascension trail via track 343, accessible near the Auberge Val Saint-Côme. After starting to climb on the runway edge, you quickly enter the forest to reach the top of the 1000 feet. The descent by la Périlleuse, narrow and winding, is particularly appreciated.
