During the school break, it happens that there are warm spells, which can prevent sliding or cross-country skiing. To have the best possible snow conditions, it is better to go to a mountainous region.
Sliding in Piedmont
Quite unique, the Glissades du Domaine des Pays d’en Haut is distinguished by the variety of rides on snow, in addition to the tubes. We go at high speed aboard a bobsleigh or a large raft of rafting. There’s also the Vortex360, spinning on itself and taking up to six people on board.
The slides are arranged on three sunny slopes, with slopes of all levels. The little ones have tracks just for them in the Olympiad, Champion or Podium zones.
Number of tracks: 61. Ski lifts. Helmet: provided for bobsleigh and Vortex360, recommended for others. Suggested: ski goggles. Open: until March 4, from 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. and March 5 from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Four hour block: $31 for ages 5 to 12, $34 for ages 13 and up.
►www.glissade.ca
Domaine Saint-Bernard
Photo provided by Tourisme Mont-Tremblant
At Domaine Saint-Bernard, we stop long enough to attract tits with sunflower seeds.
It’s an unknown corner of Mont-Tremblant for many people. And it’s not too expensive. You have access to a vast network of trails for cross-country skiing and snowshoeing.
Ideal with children, small walking paths on snow (Manicou and Les Melèzes) and snowshoeing lead to the Herman-Deshaies shelter. Be sure to bring a bag of sunflower seeds to lure chickadees and nuthatches into your hands. With children, it’s magic.
Trails: cross-country skiing (32 km, connected to the 80 km network of Mont-Tremblant), snowshoeing (22 km) and walking on snow (4 km). For rent: cross-country ski equipment, snowshoes and crampons (for adults). Hill to slide. Permission to access: $15 per adult, $13 per student, free for 18 and under.
►www.domainesaintbernard.org
Campsite Sainte-Agathe-des-Monts
Photo provided by André Chevrier
Family cross-country skiing at Camping Sainte-Agathe-des-Monts.
It is also designated as an outdoor center. Rightly so, given its access to a network of cross-country ski and snowshoe trails. This is without counting all its small chalets which I will tell you about.
In Sainte-Agathe-des-Monts, the altitude of more than 360 meters favors snow conditions.
Trails: snowshoeing (30 km), cross-country skiing (60 km), For rent: snowshoes, crampons, cross-country ski equipment. Access rights: $19 per adult for cross-country skiing and $11 for snowshoeing. Free for ages 16 and under as well as the equipment.
►www.campingsainteagathe.com
OTHER OUTING IDEAS
Torchlight walk
In Magog, the hiking trails on snow in the Marais de la Rivière-aux-Cerises will be illuminated by a hundred torches on certain evenings during the school break. Crampons suggested. February 25 and March 2-4.
►www.maraisauxcerises.com
Boivin Lake Chickadees
At the Lac Boivin Nature Interpretation Center in Granby, it’s easy to lure chickadees and nuthatches into our hands with sunflower seeds. Just take the snow-cleared La Prucheraie trail.
►www.cinlb.org
►Alain Demers is the author of the book Rediscover Quebec: 101 destinationspublished by Éditions du Journal.