Les meilleurs endroits pour le ski de randonnée au Québec

The best places for ski touring in Quebec

La Cordée

September 5, 2025

6 minutes

Ski touring allows you to escape the crowds of ski lifts and enjoy nature in peace. You can enjoy natural landscapes inaccessible by ski lift.

Discover ski touring destinations throughout Quebec, both for regulars looking for new mountains to explore and for alpine skiers looking for new challenges.

Quebec

Formerly a ski resort, The Grande Coulée sector of Parc des Appalaches now offers 5 trails, from beginner to expert level, which have been slightly adapted for backcountry skiing. To reach the ascent trail, park your car at the Appalaches Lodge Spa resort and take the 1.2 km approach trail which will take you to the bottom of the mountain. You will then reach the ascent trail which will take you to the summit at an altitude of 830 m. Halfway up the mountain, you can enjoy your snack in a small shelter located at the bottom of the beginner sector. The magical landscape of powder and birch trees in this little corner of paradise sometimes even gives the impression of skiing in Japan!

In Charlevoix, the Mont Grand-Fonds alpine ski resort offers two ascent trails that lead to the Gravel Lake viewpoint. For those wishing to try this winter sport, you can take the Le Trappeur ascent trail, which is 3.8 km long. For experienced skiers, you can try the La Paddy trail, which is 2.2 km long. Once at the summit, you will have access to the Versant du Lynx which allows you to ski through 8 ha of undergrowth. Otherwise, you always have the option of going back down the groomed slopes of the ski resort.

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Mauricie

St-Alex-Ski is a backcountry ski mountain located in the municipality of Saint-Alexis-des-Monts. This project was conceived by a local group of passionate skiers and snowboarders who wanted to showcase the potential of the region's mountains. It was with the collaboration of the municipality, a local committee, and the FQME that the St-Alex-Ski project finally came to fruition. The mountain offers a vertical drop of approximately 200 m with an ascent trail lasting about 30 minutes, and 5 off-piste trails designed for intermediate to expert levels. Although this mountain is not for beginners, experienced backcountry skiers will be able to enjoy the superb quality of snow that the region has to offer.

Laurentians

Former alpine ski mountain, Mont Alta reopened its slopes to backcountry skiers in 2014. Located in Val-David, the mountain offers 27 intermediate to extreme trails that are accessible by climbing skins only. The Mont Alta project aims to offer a 100% self-sufficient and affordable backcountry skiing experience, with a minimum of services in order to preserve the natural environment. To access the mountain, you must obtain a season pass. If you wish to discover the mountain for just one day, it is possible to do so during demo days. If you're used to skiing with your canine companion, that's great because dogs are welcome on the mountain.

Touski is a new outdoor space located in Val-des-Lacs that offers, among other things, backcountry ski trails. This community project created by outdoor enthusiasts is expanding. On the 200 available acres, you can enjoy about forty acres designed for backcountry skiing with intermediate to expert level trails. To access the trails, you can obtain a half-day access, or a member access for the entire season. For the more adventurous, there is even a snow park with several modules.

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Saguenay-Lac-St-Jean

The Mont Édouard station is the 5th highest skiable summit in Quebec. To reach the ascent trail, you must take the station's ski lift, then descend via a groomed slope to one-third of the mountain. From this point, you will have access to 7 backcountry skiing sectors of different levels. The sector closest to the station, Sacré-Cœur, is accessible by a 40-minute climb. It's the ideal terrain for beginners who want to try backcountry skiing. For adventurers, you can go backcountry skiing from hut to hut across the 200 acres of developed land. Four huts are available for you to spend the night and extend your enjoyment in the snow.