Gaspésie in Winter: A Great Outdoor Tour of the Stunning Peninsula

Where the high peaks dance with the Gulf of St. Lawrence on the scenic road, winter is still in full swing! What better way to make the most of it than with a winter road trip in Quebec. 855 km of welcoming villages, breathtaking parks and unique trails await!

Chase away the traveller blues, prepare your podcast list and head to Gaspésie this winter, a territory where sleepy coves offer you an incomparable stay, without the summer crowds!

Maritime Route Along the Saint-Laurent River

By the lighthouse trail or the whale route, you can reach Gaspésie in one day if you’re motivated, but why not cut the road in half by staying at the Auberge internationale de Rivière-du-Loup, a converted former manor in the heart of downtown?

During your stopover, Bic National Park offers a multitude of trails and the free sunsets at Parc de la Grève brilliantly end the day. After snowshoeing or cross-country skiing and really letting off steam, end your pit stop with a refreshing beer at the Tête d’Allumette microbrewery!

Gaspésie National Park and the Ski Shack

Head to the Chic-Chocs mountain range, a haven of outdoor adventures where more than 20 peaks exceed 1,000 meters in altitude. We’ve seen worse winter playgrounds, haven’t we?

If you’re in a van, you can spend the night at the Auberge festive Sea Shack from January to March, but they also rent a house there if you’re planning a trip with several friends!

However, the bucket list experience of winter in Gaspésie for ski enthusiasts is to entrust the organization of your stay to the Ski Shack, Sea Shack’s little wintery brother. Everything is designed to train you for the intense conditions of the Gaspésie backcountry (CSA1 and 2 courses, SIRIUS, etc.), provide you with the necessary avalanche equipment and mountain ski packages including 3 meals per day, snacks and even accommodation in the Sea Shack chalets!

Rather into snowshoeing, Nordic skiing or hiking? Sépaq has something to make you smile with all its trails. Among our favourites: Mont Ernest-Laforce, the Panaches trail, Lac aux Américains or a sporting challenge with a long 4 to 6-night cross-country skiing trip with stops at different shelters along the Mount Logan circuit!

Forillon National Park and the Auberge Griffon Aventure

Continue your winter tour of Gaspésie towards Forillon National Park. Chalets Les Chanterelles at Auberge Griffon Aventure are the perfect base for a ton of free outdoor outings! These affordable accommodations are furnished, equipped with a kitchenette and a sauna, perfect for warming up after all your winter activities.

The Appalachians show you so many spectacular colours just a few kilometres from Forillon National Park, a natural masterpiece to snowshoe, hop on your cross-country skis or take your dog for a walk!

The Famous Rocher Percé

It’s already time to head back southwest! You will then have plenty of time to observe the Percé Rock from the air. Cap Mont-Joli and the suspended platform of the Géoparc are among my favourite observation sites. Mont Blanc and Mont Sainte-Anne also multiply your opportunities to try fatbiking, hok skiing or even ski-snowshoeing!

Thanks to the low light pollution in the region, you might even be lucky enough to see the Northern Lights, but in any case, the starry sky will fill your evening outdoors after rewarding you with a sunset.

If you’re looking for an adrenaline rush, try an ice climbing initiation at Camp de Base before a break at the Pit Caribou pub, something to smile about all along the Matapédia Valley as you conclude your winter road trip in Gaspésie…