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Cross-Country Skiing and
Snowshoeing at Mont-Tremblant
Cross Country Center - (Ski de fond
Mont-Tremblant) - 539 Chemin Saint-Bernard, Mont-
Tremblant, Quebec J8E1B1
Mont-Tremblant
has been built by Intrawest Resorts into a European-style village that
provides the complete resort experience. The Quebecois culture and French
language is a treat for Americans and other travelers but almost all
employees that work in the retail stores, restaurants and pubs also
speak English. It is a great place for romance but also a Disney-like
experience for families. At the base of the nearby alpine ski resort
the village can be enchanting, exciting, or just plain fun depending
upon your point of view.
More than 260 km of cross-country trails are scattered in the region, most of which are found at Mont-Tremblant Cross Country Ski Center (819-425-5588, www.skidefondmont-tremblant.com) and the national park, Parc du Mont-Tremblant (819-688-2281). Trails wind through maple and birch forests and provide views of wildlife and lakes.
To get away from all civilization,
except for a few strategically located heated huts, head to the Parc
du Mont-Tremblant and plan to make a day of it (or two days if winter
camping and “an intense encounter with our Quebec winter,”
as they put it, appeals to you).
This vast reserve offers two reception
centers, complete with ski and snowshoe rentals and 137 km of marked
and groomed trails. Pack a lunch and ski out to one of the heated huts;
trail loops of varying degrees of difficulty and length may be chosen.
If you’re lucky, trail guides will stop by a hut to tell you more
about the history and the wildlife of the region.
The Cross-Country Center (Ski de fond Mont-Tremblant) at Domaine Saint-Bernard is owned by the Mont-Tremblant Municipality. It offers a network of 70 km of groomed trails for classic skiing and 49 km are for skate skiing. The undulating trails are known for their magnificent vistas, but, alas for the novice skier, the majority of these vantage points are located on diamond and double-diamond trails. The breakdown of trail difficulty is 35% easy, 40 more difficult and 25% most difficult. The trails have been recently upgraded rolling along the Devil's River, and through forests and meadows.
Trail
fees for xc skiing at Ski de fond Mont-Tremblant are $14.50 Cdn per
day for adults and $7 Cdn for people 7-17. Kids that are 6 or under
ski for free. Snowshoeing adults pay $8 for a trail fee and those aged
7-17 pay $4. Families with two kids can get trail passes to ski as a
group for $40 or snowshoe for $22.
XC ski equipment rentals have 4 hour or all day rates. The 4 hour rate is $17 for those that are 13 or older and $7 for ages 12 and under. Skating equipment is $20 for older and $10 for the younger group. Full day xc ski equipment rentals are $21 for aged 13 and over and $10 for aged 12 and under, while the skating equipment is priced $24 and $13, respectively. A 4 hour snowshoe rental is $13 for ages 13 and above while the younger snowshoers pay $6. The full day rental snowshoes are $17 for ages 13 and older and $8 for ages 12 and under.
Lessons are $23 for an hour in a group
lesson held at 10 AM. Individual private lessons are $40 Cdn for one
hour for one person, $50/hour for 2 skiers, $60/hour for 3, $80/hour
for 4-6 skiers. Video analysis is available by request in the private
lessons.
Choose
in-village or inn-to-inn trails in the Mont Tremblant region, a wilderness
trek in the nearby Parc du Mont-Tremblant, or experience the longest
linear park in North America, the 200-kilometer "Le P’tit
Train du Nord," that runs from Saint-Jerome through Mont Tremblant
to Mont-Laurier. St. Jerome to Ste-Agathe is for cross-country skiing,
and Ste-Agathe to Mt. Laurier is for snowmobiling.
Popular choices for the average cross country skier, who will still get his or her share of magnificent views and occasional sightings of wildlife, include the winding Domaine Saint-Bernard, the Jack Rabbit and skiing on the Gray Rocks golf course. A portion of Le P’tit Train du Nord linear park is also incorporated into these trails.
Directions to Mont-Tremblant Cross-Country Center take Highway 327 via Chemin Saint-Bernard between Montee Ryan and Gray Rocks Hotel. Landmark at Le Grand Lodge Mont-Tremblant on the corner of Highway 327. CCSAA member