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Photo credit: Groupe Le Massif
What activities are there to do in Petite-Rivière-Saint-François during wintertime?
Le Massif ski resort is, without a doubt, the best-known place to have fun during the winter, but know that there are other less-known activities also worth discovering!
One thing for sure is that if you like outdoor activities, you will find joy and happiness in Petite-Rivière-Saint-François.
Snowshoeing, snowmobiling, dog sledding, sledding, ice skating, cross-country skiing, alpine skiing and snowboarding, and the list of things to do and places to discover is almost endless.
So, here’s our list of the best things you can do during the winter in this small village overflowing with nature.
Book a cottage for rent in Petite-Rivière-Saint-François now to enjoy these activities!
Photo credit: Sentier des Caps
The Sentier des Caps is a multi-use network of trails designed for snowshoeing and cross-country skiing in winter that adapts to hiking during the summer.
The network consists of seven trails located in Saint-Tite-des-Caps and three other trails located alongside Le Massif (without including the various trail variants available).
Straddled on a horse, one can discover the villages of Petite-Rivière-Saint-François and Saint-Tite-des-Caps, where many of the trails offer unique panoramic views of the St. Lawrence.
The length of the trails ranges from 4 to 13 kilometres. Designed to provide different effort levels, a large majority of hikers will find a trail suited to them at the Sentier des Caps.
Book a cottage for rent at the Massif de Charlevoix.
Photo credit: Alain Blanchette
Among the services it offers, Le Massif ski resort provides a sled run that is exclusively dedicated to sledding, also known as sledging or tobogganing.
The sledding available at Le Massif consists of a simple wooden sled, also known as a sledge or toboggan, which allows for easy handling and requires little technique.
Moreover, to ensure the safety of those visiting the mountain, the sled run is marked, forbidden to skiers, and is benefitted by daily mechanical grooming.
An activity that can be considered more fun than sporty, sledding, as practised at Le Massif, allows you to partake in the pleasure of various activities that take place in the snow.
The mid-point chalet will allow you to warm up and enjoy a warm beverage before enjoying the fun where you left off on the sled.
Photo credit: Groupe Le Massif
Le Massif de Charlevoix is the most important ski resort of Charlevoix and the mountain with the highest vertical drop in Eastern Canada and east of the Canadian Rockies.
Located in Petite-Rivière-Saint-François, Le Massif offers several ski slopes that give skiers the real-life sensation of diving down into the St. Lawrence.
Alpine skiing is the main attraction of the resort, but it’s far from the only one.
Cross-country skiing, backcountry skiing, snowshoeing, day and night sledding, helicopter tours, and dog sledding are all possible, not to mention the cultural, musical and various other events that take place at the resort.
Le Massif ski resort is close to Quebec City and has become the preferred snow destination for many Quebecers over the years.
Le Massif is undoubtedly a destination of the Charlevoix region in winter that is to be experienced!
The Petite-Rivière-Saint-François skating rink offers two ice rinks: one for free skating and a second for playing hockey.
Managed by the municipality, the ice rinks can be reserved for group or private events, such as family, corporate, or other types of events.
With the ice rink’s location in the village at the foot of the mountain, you will be close to the St. Lawrence as you stride on the ice with your skates.
So be sure not to forget your pair of ice skates—as well as your stick and pucks—should you book one of our cottages in Petite-Rivière.
Photo credit: Canopé Média
In the Charlevoix region, several hundred kilometres of trails are specially marked for snowmobiling.
If you want to rent a snowmobile near Petite-Rivière, it’s possible to do so in Baie-Saint-Paul thanks to a company called Aventure Laurentienne.
Specializing in snowmobiling, the services offered by Aventure Laurentienne range from snowmobile rental to organizing trail discovery activities in the area, whether for a 2-hour ride or a tailor-made expedition with an expert guide spread over 5 days.
Aventure Laurentienne offers several snowmobile tours that permit visitors to explore the region, including the chance to explore the walking trails near Petite-Rivière-Saint-François and the ability to practise sports or partake in the gourmet thematic.
Photo credit: La Reine et le Millionnaire
Dog sledding is a rather fun way to discover the wild, luxurious forests of Charlevoix. With the help of your canine friends, you can let yourself be lulled by the sled on a path where only the barking of dogs interrupts the silence of the snowy landscapes.
To carry out this great activity, contact the “La Reine et le Millionnaire” kennel.
Depending on your physical condition and the amount of time you have, the organization offers walks ranging from one-hour hikes to expert-guided expeditions spread over several days.
If you have the capacity and desire, you can take the reins of the hitch and lead it to its destination.
Photo credit: Québec Le Mag
The Train de Charlevoix is the successor to the Tortillard de Charlevoix.
For the past 10 years, this tourist train has been connecting the 125-km distance between La Malbaie and Quebec City.
At a steady rate of three train routes per day (timetable subject to change), the two German railcars that comprise the Charlevoix tourist train provide a reliable form of transport to passengers.
The Petite-Rivière stop allows one to easily reach Le Massif while enjoying the coast’s breathtaking scenery.
The railway follows the St. Lawrence River’s shoreline, and certain parts of the route give passengers the surreal feeling of levitating between mountain and sea.
Currently, the train ceases operations in mid-October; however, with the arrival of Club Med at the slopes’ base, the train is expected to begin offering its services for several weeks during wintertime.
Check out our other articles on the best things to do in the Charlevoix region!