Between nature and heritage:
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Three routes, three unique adventures
Choose your nordic expedition
We create stories that get talked about
Before skiing Les Routes Blanches, I couldn't imagine for a single second that it was still possible to ski the old-fashioned way, from village to village, in the vast Laurentian wilderness, in the Pays-d'en-Haut.
It's truly extraordinary!
For three days we forgot the rest of the world, concentrating on the snow, the trail, the forest, the deer tracks, the squawking nuthatches, the pecking woodpeckers.
We skied in single file through the woods, then spread out across the lakes, where snow flurries spiraled skyward.
The yin and yang of being both in the wild and yet close to all modern comforts embodies the appeal of the Routes Blanches.
J'ai finalement compris le ski de fond. Non pas comme un sport, mais comme un moyen de voyager, de découvrir un paysage et, dans les Laurentides, de se plonger dans l'Histoire.
In the footsteps of the pioneers of nordic skiing
More than 140 km of trails
for 8 days of unforgettable adventure
Just one hour from Montreal, and less than seven hours from Toronto and New York, discover a unique experience inspired by the era of the Snow Train.
Equipped with your Nordic skis, explore Quebec’s backcountry and let yourself be guided by the cross-country skiing culture of the Laurentians.
Choose your adventure: in a hostel, a lodge, a hotel or ready-to-camp to experience winter in an authentic and memorable way.
Initiation
Discover the Nordic experience in the Laurentians
Learn the basics of cross-country skiing with our three introductory levels.
Accompanied by a certified adventure tourism guide, immerse yourself in a unique off-piste experience in the heart of the snowy landscapes of the Laurentians.
Snow train route
Come experience the Eastern Trail without venturing into the backcountry!
This 2-day trip takes place entirely on groomed slopes and is suitable for inexperienced skiers and young families. Self-guided only.
Jackrabbit Johannsen
Herman Smith Johannsen, of Norwegian descent, was nicknamed Jackrabbit by the First Nations because he tirelessly roamed the trails. He was one of the first to introduce Nordic skiing to America and is also known as the “centennial skier.”
The Gillespie Brothers
To help their children get to school, members of this Swedish family cleared the Gillespie off-piste cross-country ski trail between Val-David and Ste-Agathe-des-Monts. This legendary trail, whose marker is the Swedish flag, quickly became a veritable ski highway.
Émile Cochand
Swiss-born ski champion Émile Cochand moved to the Laurentians, bringing a hundred pairs of Nordic skis to open the first ski school in America.
Bernard de Pierre
The first Route Blanche was created in the 90s by a Swiss man in love with Quebec, Bernard de Pierre, to showcase the beauty of these winter landscapes between Val-David and Mont-Tremblant and to share all the pleasure they offer to those who take the time to explore them.
