Charlevoix region a majestic winter wonderland
With its two ski hills (Le Massif in Petite-Rivière-Saint François and Mont Grand Fonds in La Malbaie), two provincial parks (Parc national des Hautes-Gorges-dela-Rivière-Malbaie and Parc national des Grands-Jardins) and Flavour Trail that includes 24 local producers, 20 restaurants and five farms across the region, it’s no wonder that snowy Charlevoix has become the ultimate winter escape for Canadians.
Located six hours by car from Ottawa and also easily accessible by plane, train or bus, it’s considered the country’s first resort area and has played host to pleasure seekers since the late 1800s, when wealthy travellers visited its snowy shores bordering the St. Lawrence River for many of the same things that continue to draw people to this day, namely: incredible snowy vistas and authentic, gourmet eats.
Downhill ski enthusiasts have two snowy-capped mountains to choose from: Mont Grand-Fonds in the eastern side of the region, which opens Dec. 15 and is ideally suited for families, and Le Massif de Charlevoix in the west, which has the highest vertical drop east of the Rockies and opens Dec. 1.
Both mountains feature ideal conditions that include an abundance of natural snow, unparalleled landscapes and ultimate après-ski lodges, ticking all the right boxes for amateur skiers and aficionados alike.
Le Massif is blessed with 52 trails, glades sprawling over 307.6 acres, and has an annual average snowfall of approximately 645 centimetres, while Mont Grand Fonds’s snowfall amounts to around 500 centimetres annually, has 20 trails, and an acrobatic snow park.
Thanks to a $1.3-million provincial investment, the Parc national des Hautes Gorges-de-la-Rivière-Malbaie is now open year-round, with five new rustic Écho cabins in Le Cran sector, which is renowned for its Riverain trails and sweeping views of the Vallée de la Rivière Malbaie. The cabins fit four comfortably and come with a wood stove in which to light a cosy, crackling fire come nighttime. “The fact that the Parc national des Hautes-Gorges-dela-Rivière-Malbaie is open year-round is huge news for us because it’s one of the most spectacular parks in the entire network and province of Quebec,” said Simon Boivin, spokesperson for the Société des établissements de plein air du Québec (Sépaq).
“It’s incredibly breathtaking and for the first time ever, people will get to appreciate its majestic winter landscape.”
Named after a series of valleys that cut deep into the mountain range, the Hautes Gorges-de-la-Rivière-Malbaie originated some 400 million years ago along with the rest of Charlevoix, when a 54-kilometre-wide meteorite created what was finally designated a World Biosphere Reserve by UNESCO in 1989.
With winter coming, there’s never been a better time to discover the variety of outdoor activities that can be experienced throughout the region’s national parks and ski resorts, including snowshoeing, cross-country and Hok skiing, which is a combination of both.
Fat bikes — which are exactly what they sound like — can be rented in several locations, and for skilled ice climbers there are many areas along the Rivière Malbaie that most definitely aren’t for the faint of heart. There are also a number of skating rinks that dot the region for those who prefer more romantic pursuits.
Thanks to its delicious Flavour Trail known as La Route des Saveurs that stretches from La Malbaie to the Petite-Rivière-Saint François, Charlevoix is the destination of choice for foodies. The agro-tourism tour is an incredible opportunity to sample everything that local farms, chefs and producers have on offer as well as gourmet restaurants like Le Mouton Noir, which is famous for its pork-shoulder dish flavoured with maple and coriander, in Baie-StPaul, and the Auberge des 3 Canards, in La Malbaie, which is best known for its foie gras.
Charlevoix’s new seal of certification ensures its dedication to a range of food products that’s as easily traceable, authentic and flavourful as it is organic, very much like the region itself is.
From yurts and chalets to hotel-spas and beyond, Charlevoix is dotted with a variety of accommodations where weary travellers can rest their heads and unwind at the end of a winter’s day. Wherever they choose to stay, there’s no doubt their dreams will be filled with visions of snow-filled mountains and flavour-filled plates.
For more information about Charlevoix, visit tourisme-charlevoix.com.