This text is part of the special book Plaisirs
Three cycling routes to see, at the pace of the bike, all that fall has to offer: vineyards, Halloween atmosphere and pigmented maples.
The cycling season does not end with summer. Some purists even say that fall is the best season to practice it. Many routes across Quebec place cyclists in the front row of landscapes ablaze with fall colors. As long as you choose the right equipment to protect yourself from the cold and the occasional rain, pedaling in this season is full of wonderful discoveries and, above all, incomparable light. Here are three noteworthy cycling routes to multiply the superb views and find excuses to stop along the way.
Eastern Townships: the Wine Route
This region saw the birth of viticulture in Quebec in the 1980s. Today, it is its heart with 22 vineyards scattered in its undulating landscapes, dotted with charming villages. Cycling region par excellence, the Eastern Townships offer multiple routes to combine cycling with the discovery of vineyards. Go to the Brome-Missisquoi sector to take the famous Wine Route, in particular La Doyenne des vignes, a circuit that connects Frelighsburg to Farnham via Stanbridge East and Dunham. This 76 km loop of intermediate level invites the cyclist to discover five vineyards in bucolic landscapes, including Val Caudalies (also a cider house) and the Pigeon Hill vineyard, certified organic. You can just as well plan your outing over two days and opt for Welcome cyclists accommodation and a break at a gourmet table; the region has no shortage of them.
Practical information : other circuits are offered in the area, including the Heritage circuit, a 42 km loop that reveals the American influence observed in the architecture.
Montérégie: the pumpkin circuit
Another wine region, the Montérégie has an undeniable charm in the fall, especially for its hills, popular with hikers. Choose a beautiful fall day and head towards Kirkland, to start this itinerary on Chemin Sainte-Marie, which gives access to Île Perrot, in the county of Vaudreuil-Soulanges. The tour of the island is done on tracks and cycle lanes along a route of about thirty kilometers. The viewpoints are frequent on the lakes of Deux-Montagnes and Saint-Louis, as well as on the large heritage residences. At the Quinn farm, you can pick your own Halloween pumpkin (bring bicycle bags!) in the heart of a charming agricultural atmosphere. The orchard shop offers many finds, including fruit pies and succulent pickles. Same thing at the Labonté orchard, where you pick apples before making delicious finds at the boutique selling homemade products. This bike ride is accessible to all, perfect for families. The Halloween atmosphere is guaranteed.
Practical information : in Saint-Zotique, take a break at CitrouilleVille, the “village of pumpkins”. On site: U-pick, maze in a cornfield and Halloween atmosphere.
Centre-du-Québec: Maple Roads
Red, yellow, golden or purplish: you can’t get enough of the spectacle of maple leaves in autumn. Head for Plessisville, the “maple capital”, to take this 71 km intermediate level route that joins Saint-Ferdinand via Lyster, Inverness and Sainte-Sophie-d’Halifax. Between plains, pastures and foothills of the Appalachians, this circuit shows a hilly landscape streaked with a mosaic of dazzling colors. Along the way, we will enjoy admiring the Scottish and Irish heritage that dots this area. Apart from two small sections on a cycle path, the route is on the shoulder of the asphalt road. To taste local products, stop at the Bois-Francs orchard in Plessisville, or at the Ferme d’Évelyne in Princeville.
Practical information : treat yourself to the small onions at the Manoir du lac William, in Saint-Ferdinand, with a package offering room and board (gastronomic) and access to the spa.
What to know before hitting the road
This special content was produced by the Special Publications team of the To have to, pertaining to marketing. The drafting of To have to did not take part.