Destinations épiques de vélo de montagne

Epic Mountain Biking Destinations

La Cordée

September 12, 2025

4 minutes

He’s hooked on mountain biking. He’s ridden countless epic trails. To help you experience them too, he shares a few of his favorites — the very same ones that gave him nothing less than truly epic rides.

Not too far from the Greater Montreal area, you can ride at Mont Habitant, Sainte-Anne-des-Lacs, or Bromont. These spots are easy to reach, even after a workday. But when I have more free time, I like to venture beyond these classics to discover new hidden — or not-so-hidden — mountain biking destinations.

East Hereford

This lesser-known spot offers plenty of fun trails to explore. La Maîtrise, Chasse-galerie, 50 Pesos, and La Bobine are classic rides you shouldn’t miss.

You can also design your own route depending on how far you want to go. The best option is to check the trail map and suggested loops available at the welcome lodge.

Centre de vélo de montagne Saint-Félicien

Here’s another beautiful, lesser-known trail network. Several routes cross rocky outcrops, similar to those on the Les Crans trail.

The best time to visit is in September, when the air is crisp, the colors are stunning, and the blueberries around the lookout are absolutely delicious.

Vallée Bras-du-Nord

Our very own East Burke: a must-visit destination for mountain biking in Quebec, with a constantly evolving trail network. The trails are well designed and offer a wide range of difficulty levels. Some routes run along the river, while others take you across massive rocky outcrops.

The Shannahan sector is wilder, featuring cross-country trails. More technical, the Neilson trail is filled with bridges, and the climb along its access road is well worth the effort.

As for the Saint-Raymond sector, it offers two small peaks, one of which is part of the alpine ski center. The climbs are relatively quick, and the descents open up to varying levels of difficulty. Each run has its own special character, making them unique and enjoyable to discover.

Waterbury, Vermont

A beautiful spot that features eleven mountain biking trails. The terrain is varied — from hard-packed ground with pine needles to rocky, technical tracks. And above all, don’t miss riding the famous Rastaman trail!

For your post-ride, make sure to try the delicious veggie burger at the Reservoir — the perfect way to end the day.

Millstone Hill, Barre, Vermont

Built next to old granite quarries, Millstone Hill offers beautiful technical challenges and magnificent landscapes along the entire route. Long wooden walkways allow you to navigate impassable sections by bike. And when all the surrounding terrain is wet, that of Millstone Hill is often dry because it drains really well. In total, the network totals more than 50 km of trails dedicated to mountain biking.

Kingdom Trails, East Burke, Vermont

Over 160 km of trails generally accessible with a single-suspension mountain bike (front only), here's a great option for beginners. With each visit, you discover something new. Located in a picturesque valley, the place is full of breathtaking landscapes. Here, you realize that it's often the most remote and least known trails that are also the most entertaining. There are no bad trail choices in East Burke… each one deserves to be discovered at your own pace, in your own way. At the end of the day, you'll appreciate the friendly cafes and restaurants in the village of East Burke to refuel. Local beers, pastries, big delicious and personalized sandwiches, everything is there!

Highland Mountain Bike Park, New Hampshire

To wrap up, here’s possibly my favorite spot. Located about four hours from Montreal, this mountain is absolutely worth the trip! What makes it special are its chairlift, the machine-built trails like Cat’s Paw and Hellion, and the natural classics like ODB and Threshold. Every single trail is maintained to perfection, so as a rider you can dive right in with confidence and enjoy their unique features from the very first run.

Beginners and experts alike will find something to love here. There’s even a dedicated training area for practicing jumps before hitting the trails — a huge hit with kids as young as five! Definitely a place to discover.

And you, what are your epic destinations?