A snowmobile ride on the Gaspésie trails will allow you to discover the unique panoramas and viewpoints that are the flagship of this region. They await you almost everywhere along the hiking trails.
With more than 3,000 kilometers of very snowy slopes groomed and marked very early in the season, you’ll have plenty to enjoy. They give you access to spectacular sea and mountain views.
The abundant snow accumulations allow the club’s volunteers to offer exceptional routes much more quickly than anywhere else in Quebec. The season also ends later in Gaspésie.
The 17 clubs in the region can expect a snow cover of between 4 and 8 meters. On average, the region experiences eight snowstorms each winter, with one snowstorm leaving a pile of between 50 and 100 centimeters.
The Trans Québec 5 hiking trail, which, with its 1,156 km, circumnavigates the Gaspésie, allows you to discover the great variety of landscapes, with the sea or the Chic Chocs Mountains as a backdrop. Even in winter, the Rocher Percé remains a must-see, as do the peaks of Mont Saint-Joseph in Carleton-sur-Mer and Mont Saint-Pierre in the town of the same name.
In both cases you will discover breathtaking panoramas. Along the coast you can admire lighthouses and while driving through the forest you can admire the famous Gaspé moose.
CIRCUITS
At the beginning of the 2000s, the Circuit Motoneige Gaspésie project allowed the tracking and signage of seven circuits with a length between 212 and 1156 km in the territory of the Gaspé Peninsula.
Depending on how much time you have, you can choose between the long tour, but also shorter circular routes such as the one to La Cache or the crossing of the Chic-Chocs and the Matane nature reserve.
Wind turbines are part of the decoration in the Matane sector. Photo provided by Tourisme Gaspésie and Chok Images
As an example, we can imagine the “Le Saint-Laurent” circular route via La Martre, Mont Saint-Pierre and Grande-Vallée. You’ll then have views of the Gulf stretching as far as the eye can see and the massive Chic Chocs Mountains, the highest peaks in southern Quebec. One kilometer from trail #5, Mont Saint-Pierre offers four fenced lookouts on the edges of the cliff.
From the top of Mont Saint-Pierre you have a breathtaking view of the mountains and the Gulf of Saint-Laurent. Photo provided by Tourisme Gaspésie and Alexa Fay
As a second example of a circular route we can imagine that of Chic-Chocs, from Cap-Chat via La Cache to Murdochville. High-quality accommodation, unique mountain landscapes, lots of snow and moose country, everything is there for you.
In the Matapedia Valley you can see the famous Spirits of Redemption at the top of Mount Saint-Pierre. These trees covered in thick frost really make you feel like you are in the middle of a ghost forest.
These are just a few examples of what to expect.
SERVICES
Snowmobilers are welcome in Gaspésie. A warm welcome and varied accommodation await you on the various routes. Gas stations and restaurants are often accessible near the hiking trails.
Here are some examples of available accommodations.
Domaine Renard in Percé, accessible by snowmobile, offers you the opportunity to stay overnight in one of the six domes very close to Rocher Percé. They also offer panoramic views of Bonaventure Island and Cape d’Espoir.
Le Pare et Mer de Mont-Louis offers you the opportunity to sleep and enjoy the services with its dormitory with a capacity for eight people.
Gaspésie Base Camp in Percé is an all-in-one destination with the option to stay in an inn or chalet and receive catering services. There is even the option to do guided outdoor activities there.
We can also mention the La Ruche project, which offers a country table with the atmosphere of an intimate and charming refreshment bar. It is located in the middle of the forest in Baie-des-Sables and is accessible via snowmobile trails.
These are just some of the services offered in the area.
If you’re tempted by a Gaspé adventure, it’s best to visit the website to find out more Tourisme-gaspesie.com/motoneige.