The sea, forest and mountain landscapes of Eastern Québec take on a whole new dimension when you admire them from the vantage point of a bike. A perfect way to travel for anyone looking for freedom, exploration and physical challenges, cycling can be enjoyed year-round in the maritime regions of Québec. Here are some of the cycling options in our regions, whether you prefer bicycle touring, road cycling, mountain biking or fatbiking.

Bicycle touring

Are you considering a bicycle tour for a couple of days or several weeks? The Route Verte bike route offers a multitude of itinerary options throughout the four maritime regions of Québec. In Côte-Nord, the trail follows disused road sections as well as bike paths and the shoulder of Route 138. On the south shore of the St. Lawrence, the Route Verte follows Route 132 and will takes you along the Basque coastline, through the Matapédia Valley as well as through many picturesque villages in Bas-Saint-Laurent and Gaspésie. The ferries that link the two shores of the St. Lawrence give you even more options for your itinerary. In addition, some of the lodging establishments along the Route Verte have been certified Bienvenue cyclistes! by Vélo Québec, which means they provide services specifically for touring cyclists.

Also part of the Route Verte network, the Petit Témis Interprovincial Linear Park is a bikeway along an old railway between Rivière-du-Loup and Edmundston, New Brunswick, which will take you through the beautiful Témiscouata area and along the majestic lake of the same name. Some primitive campsites are set up directly along the linear park. You can even reach Parc national du Lac-Témiscouata—and enjoy the park’s beautiful paved roads and bike paths—by taking the water shuttle linking the park and Cabano or the ferry linking Saint-Juste-du-Lac and Notre-Dame-du-Lac.

Road cycling

The Route Verte cycling network extends to the Îles de la Madeleine, running along Route 199, which links the archipelago’s main islands. Other bike trails are also available throughout this region, giving you access to a host of discoveries! Explore this unique archipelago at your own pace as you cycle through one of the only spruce forests on the Islands, admire spectacular views of the sea, watch breathtaking sunsets and discover the Islands’ legendary beaches.  

The hilly roads of Bas-Saint-Laurent present a very interesting challenge to cycling enthusiasts. The “Top  6  Bike Routes in Bas-Saint-Laurent” blog post is a great starting point for planning your bike trip to this region. In addition, the Route des Monts Notre-Dame, a 160-km (100-mi.) road stretching between Sainte-Luce and Dégelis, offers amazing scenery and demanding climbs. Consider yourself warned!

In Gaspésie, Forillon National Park offers options for road cyclists of all levels. Routes 132 and 197 in and around the park form a loop of roughly 70 km (40 mi.) with several nice long climbs, for a vertical gain of just over 1000 metres (3280 feet).  

Mountain biking

Forillon National Park also has lots to offer to mountain bike enthusiasts. The Les Lacs trail, rated difficult, is a must for experienced mountain bikers. The park also offers several gravel trails that are perfectly suited for hybrid bikes, including the La Vallée and Le Portage trails, which cross the park between L’Anse-au-Griffon and Penouille.

In Murdochville, Chic-Chac offers 15 km of trails suitable for various levels that will please the whole family. With names inspired by Roman Gaul, these trails on Mt. York have many surprises in store for you in a wilderness setting. The “Mission Cleopatra” trail #3 even includes two challenging bridge modules.

Located at the heart of the Gaspé Peninsula, the Auberge de montagne des Chic-Chocs gives you access to some 200 km (125  mi.) of forest roads and trails in a beautiful mountainous environment. Strenuous and hilly, these routes are better suited for intermediate to advanced mountain bikers in search of adventure.

In Côte-Nord, the Centre de Plein Air du Lac des Rapides is the starting point of a vast network of mountain bike trails that take you through a typical Côte-Nord forest.

Fatbiking

Fatbiking is quickly gaining popularity in our regions. Parc national du Bic offers 15 km (9 mi.) of dedicated fatbiking trails. You can even rent a fatbike on site to try out this fun activity, which is bound to give you a different outlook on Québec winters. If you happen to be in Forestville (Côte-Nord) in February, note that the Boréal Loppet has added fatbike races to its popular cross-country skiing event.

In addition to the above, many municipalities throughout our regions offer their own bike path networks. So while you’re on vacation here, make sure you plan to go biking on our roads, bike paths and mountain bike trails!