Plan your Snowmobile Ride

Updated on August 29, 2024

Sophie Gagnon Bergeron

As soon as the snow is deep enough—generally from December to mid-March or later—the Québec City, Charlevoix, and Saguenay–Lac-Saint-Jean areas turn into a snowmobiler’s paradise, with enough immaculate trails (over 5,000 km!) to keep everyone happy.

Here’s what you need to know to plan a successful snowmobiling expedition, either on your own or with a guide.

Guided Snowmobile Tours

BRP ski-doo

Snowmobiling with a guide makes it easy to explore the very best terrain. Many companies offer tour packages with everything you need: the machine, the outfit, the trail fee, insurance, and your guide. You can try it out for a few hours or ride through mountains, forests, and fields for days.

Guided Tours Starting from Québec City

Nord Expé : Their goal is to make you live the best snowmobile adventure, that is why Nord Expé put emphasis on the customs packages. Let yourself be guided for a snowmobile adventure in Charlevoix, with friends or family, in the wild and mountainous landscapes of Charlevoix. Make sure you have an exceptional experience without worrying about the route to discover breathtaking views. Snowmobile excursion guided by professional guides starting from Fairmont Le Manoir Richelieu.
Au Chalet en Bois Rond : This charming resort village has a number of outdoor activities on offer, including a guided half-day ride.
Aventure Inukshuk : Based out of Station touristique Duchesnay, this operator does multihours guided tours.
Voyage Motoneige Québec : This operator is just 15 minutes from Québec’s city centre and does guided rides combined with other activities.

Guided Tours Starting from Charlevoix

Nord Expé : Get ready for the ride of a lifetime on some of the most gorgeous trails in Charlevoix. Numerous route options available.
Top Location Charlevoix : Located at the entrance to the most scenic trail network in the province. With the mountains and the St. Lawrence River, it’s guaranteed to be a memorable ride. Explore the most scenic trails in Charlevoix on high-performance machines, with stunning views on and off the trails. You can even go on a guided fur-trapping tour and have lunch at the trapping camp.

Guided Tours Starting from Saguenay-Lac-Saint-Jean

Équinox Aventure (Lac-Saint-Jean area): Explore Lac-Saint-Jean and the lake islands. You’ll get an introduction to snowmobiling, learn how to ride safely, and learn how to ride off trail.
Évasion sport Laterrière (Saguenay area): Your trusted snowmobile shop. This family-owned business has been renting snowmobiles and running guided tours for over 25 years.
GV Loisirs Inc (Monts-Valin / Saguenay area): GV Loisirs stands out for its diversified and complete range of services. Fancy a trail or off-piste hike in the Monts-Valin region? Set off on an unparalleled adventure. Our experienced team will help you discover the "unexplored" of Monts-Valin! Based directly at Auberge du km 31 on Monts-Valin for trail and off-trail snowmobile rentals. Clothing rental and a guide service are also available.
Saguenay Aventures (Fjord area): Explore a lesser-known part of the province with experienced guides know all the Fjord area’s best trails and hidden gems. You can take a guided tour from Auberge du Dimanche in Rivière-Éternité.
Pourvoirie du Cap au Leste (Saguenay / Monts-Valin area): Enjoy one of the best views of the Fjord from Pourvoirie du Cap au Leste and get out into a winter wonderland. A number of multi-activity packages are available.

Resources for Snowmobilers

Stadacona Aventures

Whether you’re renting or coming equipped with your own snowmobiles, the following tools will help you plan your ride:

Interactive Trail Map

This digital map from Québec’s snowmobiling association gives you a great view of the entire FCMQ trail network and all the different routes you can take, so you can map out your ride ahead of time. You can calculate distances, get trail conditions, and see the services, rest areas, and places to stay all along your route.

The Snowmobile Application (iMotoneige)

The iMotoneige app gives you access to tons of crucial information during your ride, including your current position, routes, trail conditions, and descriptions of services and attractions along the trail. If you have data on your phone, you’ll also be able to see when the trails were last groomed, how deep the snowpack is, and what the weather’s doing.

Download the application on Google Play
Download the application on the App Store
(links to come)

Paper Maps

For those who prefer printed maps, it is also possible to get some:

Québec City and Area: Download the map
Charlevoix : Download the map
Saguenay-Lac-Saint-Jean: Download the map

Québec Snowmobile Pass

You must buy a permit to be on snowmobile trials in Québec. The permit gives you access to 33,000 km of trails maintained by snowmobile clubs throughout the province and is valid for one, three, or seven days. You can also buy a permit for the entire season. Liability insurance is included. Click here to buy your permit online.

Snowmobile Rentals

Snowmobile rental companies will equip you with everything you need for your expedition and can also give you valuable advice. The following companies rent snowmobiles that you can take out on your own: