10 Off the Beaten Path Winter Adventures

Local tourism companies Tuque & bicycle expériences and Echo Sports Tours both offer fatbiking tours of Québec City for beginners. The routes are almost exclusively on flat terrain, making this an easy, unintimidating experience for all.

Ice Canoeing Experience gives visitors a chance to go canoeing on the icy St. Lawrence River. The company’s all-inclusive introductory package teaches beginners the basics of this unique sport, takes them to a lookout with a one-of-a-kind view of Québec City, and rounds it all off with a warm and cozy rest in a dry sauna—a blissful way to relax!

Parc naturel régional de Portneuf is an impressive winter hiking destination, with a nice variety of trails leading to stunning viewpoints. We’re big fans of the spectacular ice-covered cliffs in the gorges sector.

There’s nothing more magical than skating through the woods on a snowy winter’s day. Don’t believe us? Try the 2.5 km forest skating path at Parc de glisse du Grand-Héron in Sainte-Catherine-de-la-Jacques-Cartier and stay for the many other outdoor activities.

In Shannon, the ice path at the Chalet des sports is lit up at night. There’s also an outdoor fireplace and a crazy carpet slide, for what’s sure to be a memorable evening!

At the Huron-Wendat Museum in Wendake, visitors can rent locally made snowshoes and go walking along the Saint-Charles River. A walk in the linear park that borders the river can last anywhere from 20 minutes to four hours—it’s just a question of mood and stamina! While in Wendake, be sure to catch Onhwa’ Lumina, an illuminated forest exhibition that pays tribute to the great Huron-Wendat Nation.

Centre récréotouristique des Hautes Terres is one of the best-kept secrets for snow tubing in the Québec City area. Located on a hill in the forest, the outdoor recreation centre offers families an affordable option for high-octane fun.

While there, visitors can enjoy a bite—and a commanding view of the surrounding mountains—at Sommet Bistro Pub.

With 12 kilometres of forest trails and highly affordable equipment rentals, Centre nature Saint-Basile is a great place to try fatbiking. There’s even a picturesque cabin halfway along the trails for anyone who needs a rest.

Canyoning-Québec takes visitors on a wild and dizzying winter adventure in beautiful Côte-de-Beaupré, where a team of professionals leads participants down a frozen 41-metre (134.5-foot) cliff at Jean-Larose Falls. Participants must be at least 14 years old for this unforgettable experience.

This high-adrenaline activity in Vallée Bras-du-Nord is a cross between hiking and rock climbing. Not for the faint of heart (or anyone under 10 years old), it’s a chance to traverse a cliff along a steel cable secured to a rockface with the help of an experienced guide. The payoff is a thrilling view of the surrounding forest and mountains from the cliff.

Jacques-Cartier National Park is a choice destination for backcountry skiing. To help people get familiar with the equipment and technique involved, local adventure tourism company Quatre Natures offers a backcountry package for beginners, showing newcomers to the sport how to ascend a pristine slope so they can enjoy the thrill of skiing back down.