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Have you been yearning to visit Québec but haven’t figured out where to stay when you get there? Here’s how to plan the best snowmobile tour you’ll ever take:

THE PROVINCE OF QUÉBEC IS THE IDEAL DESTINATION FOR SNOWMOBILING

There are plenty of reasons this is true, not the least of which are the regions and accommodations we’ve listed here! Besides, Québec has put together a set of tools you can use to plan your trip and make the whole thing super-easy!

STEP#1 The very first thing you should do is go to this website: snowmobileinquebec.com. Here, you’ll find the information you need about each of the regions in Québec – what to see, places to stay, places to eat, where to find rental snowmobiles, snowmobile service outlets and way, way more! Use this info to choose which area you want to go to.

STEP#2 Next, if you want to take a paper map with you on your trip – or just use it to chart your route when you’re planning at home, there are regional maps you can request in the mail from local tourism associations or what’s even easier is that you can go online and download a digital map. Just click on the region illustrated at snowmobileinquebec.com you want to visit and print it out. You can also order maps and other information direct from the Québec Tourism Association snowmobileinquebec.com

STEP#3 Download iMotoneige.com onto your smartphone and then go to the interactive maps available there. These very detailed maps include snowmobile routes and hundreds of on-trail services like lodging, restaurants, parking, repair services and attractions you can take advantage of.

STEP#4 Before you leave home, don’t forget to buy your Québec Trail Permit! Every permit is sold online, so you can already have it displayed on your snowmobile before you leave home.
Buy your permit at: fcmq.qc.ca/en/trail-permit/line-trail-permits
This is a safe and secure website.

STEP#5 Did you know Québec’s provincial snowmobile federation, the FCMQ, has an official Certificate of Secure Hotels which means those qualifying hotels must have security features for snowmobiles such as: A locked garage, locked enclosures and free security chains for the use of guests, video surveillance systems or security guard service?

Here’s a list of lodgings, accommodations and restaurants that are well known to snowmobilers and fully equipped to Québec’s standards to look after you and your snowmobiling family and friends.

IF YOU’RE PLANNING A VISIT TO EEYOU ISTCHEE BAIE-JAMES…

So I as we rode on that Border Trail between Maine and New Brunswick, I had visions of being pounced on by both U.S. and Canadian Customs & Immigration officers waiting in the woods.

That’s because Maine’s Trail 81, the “Border Trail”, travels through the forest directly along the International boundary between our two nations.

If you’re heading north, you’re mostly on the Canadian side of these three-foot high border markers, but you’re on the American side when travelling south. Fortunately, other than a few cameras, no one was lurking in the trees to stop us.

BANNER SNOW

Just as well, because last winter, snowmobilers flocked to Aroostook County Maine thanks to more than 12 feet of snow that fell – and stayed – from November to April. Our Supertrax crew heard rumours in January that this popular snowmobile New England destination was already on track for a banner season, so we planned a visit in March to enjoy their long riding season for ourselves. We certainly weren’t disappointed!

I’d also heard about the nearby Montagne du Diable, Devil’s Mountain. So when the time came last winter for a Supertrax destination article about staging day rides from a Quebec location, Mont-Laurier was a top choice.

The Town of Mont-Laurier (pop. 13,799) is located centrally in the Province of Quebec in what’s known as the Upper Laurentians. The Laurentian Mountain range extends from the Adirondacks in New York State and runs north of and parallel to the St. Lawrence River.

For those trailering in, Mont-Laurier is only 187 miles from Massena, NY and 238 miles from Burlington VT. It’s also 160 miles (250 km) northwest of Montreal and 134 miles (216 km) north of Ottawa, most of it uphill.

ABOUT THE TRAILS

Northern New Brunswick is typically blessed with the most snow in the Maritimes. Here, many miles of local and connector trails intersperse with over 1,000 miles (1,600 km) of trans-provincial trails – more than enough to keep riders grinning from ear to ear on hundreds of old logging roads crisscross the region.

GETTING AROUND

Many of these man-made corridors are groomed as part of the New Brunswick Federation of Snowmobile Clubs’ (NBFSC) maintained trail system. Others are simply available for riders to explore off the beaten track.

Trail navigation is good. In fact, New Brunswick has the best trail signage system I’ve seen. On trail maps and signs, blue and 2-digit numbers denote provincial trails. Local and connector trails are green marked with three digits. All of this makes for generally excellent riding and it’s easy getting from one place to another.

However, one sign was conspicuous by its absence. There was no posted provincial speed limit. That’s because there isn’t one for snowmobiles on most trails, except for slow zones posted by some municipalities.

With so many outstanding trail choices, it’s hard to know where to get started and even tougher to know when to quit. Best of all, most of their trails either avoid water crossings or are bridged, so spring riding in the northern New Brunswick interior continues even when ice goes bad elsewhere.

Everything You Need to Know About Planning Your Snowmobile Trip

Now that you’ve made the decision to visit Québec this winter, get ready for the ride of your life! Québec does winter like no one else and there are over 33,000 kms (20,500 miles) of gorgeous groomed trails running past some of the best winter scenery on earth, all of it waiting for you to discover.

​Once you’ve downloaded the app, iMotoneige onto your smartphone, there are a few things you need to know to maximize your trip. Here’s a checklist of things you should be aware of:

1. Make sure you’ve received your FCMQ trail permit either in advance by mail (you can order it securely online) or before leaving your staging area by snowmobile (the inn or hotel where you’ve left your motor vehicle, trailer etc.). Be sure to carry both the sticker and your proof of purchase of the permit with you at all times. The sticker should be permanently mounted on the hood or windshield of your snowmobile.

2. Always carry your snowmobile’s provincial or state registration certificate with you and have an up-to-date license sticker clearly displayed on your snowmobile.

3. Have your driver’s license accessible at all times. You may be asked to display it at road crossings or when traveling to restaurants, gas stations or accommodations on road right-of-ways.

4. Make sure you can prove you have $500,000 minimum liability insurance coverage.

5. If you’re driving a rental snowmobile, always carry a copy of the rental contract with you on your trip.

6. If you are a rider 16 or 17 years of age, you’ll need to carry a “Competence and Knowledge Certificate” with you at all times. This document certifies the rider has completed a snowmobile driver-training course. However, it is not necessary if the rider has a valid state or provincial drivers license.

Incredibly, an organized system of snow highways hadn’t been dreamed by anyone else but Québec up to that time.

When you visit the province today it doesn’t take long to see that the same kind of passion burns brightly. Riding Québec trails is still a world-class experience, truly second to no other! Ask any experienced touring snowmobiler and they’ll profess: When it comes to snowmobiling, Québec is the best place on earth!

Why? The province is blessed with incredible volumes of snow from early season until spring! There are more than 33,000 km (20,500 miles) of groomed trails here and trail adventures for every type of rider.

There are amazing landscapes and famous landmarks such as Percé Rock, the Chic-Choc Mountains, snowmobiling on Saguenay-Lac-Saint-Jean, covered bridges and much, much more.

HERE’S A LIST OF OUR FAVOURITE REGIONS TO VISIT

Chaudière-Appalaches & Centre-du-Québec

Québec snowmobilers are always impressed with and surprised by both these regions’ luxurious destinations and world-class accommodation.

A distinctive particularity of these two regions is the possibility to loop back or create a “daisy” trail without having to ride the same trails over again. Two noteworthy trails are “In Between” and “Mont Midi”. All trails are meticulously maintained and all routes and signage are clearly designated.

As soon as snowmobilers cross the border and head north, east or west, within a surprisingly short distance they begin to see the difference in snow accumulation. We like to tell first-time travelers: “Just watch the fence posts beside the road.” You’ll see the fallen snow levels climbing higher on those posts at times of the year other regions are struggling just trying to get their trails open.

Student requests, a shared love of snowmobiling and a desire to reinforce safe sledding, led teachers Jason Beer and Marianna Rallis to work hard to make this club a reality.

The journey started just over a year ago with a proposal to the Simcoe County District School Board. Despite the fact that there were no clubs of this kind in province of Ontario, Principal Jane Seymour, Corporate Risk Officer Erin Schwarz and the Superintendents and Director of the Board gave the club a green light.

After a thorough safety meeting held at the school and conducted by the OPP, the dates were set and sledders prayed for snow. While the OFSC trail groomers worked hard to open the trails, other community partners such as Royal Distributing, St. Onge Recreation, St. John Ambulance and the Sno Voyageurs reached out to the Wildcats and offered tremendous support by way of donations.

Unfortunately January’s lengthy thaw saw the first trail ride cancelled. However, the snow returned and the trails reopened with near perfect conditions.

As the 16 sledders departed they toured along the B112B trail to Hawkestone and headed north along trails 203, B and B205C to Waubaushene where they stopped for lunch. After fueling up they continued north and west along trails C and 309 ending up just north of Elmvale.

From there the club headed south along the C, B and B103 trails to the SCDSB office in Midhurst where they thanked Erin Swartz and took at picture with her and Mayor Harry Hughes of Oro-Medonte, a long time educator and major supporter of community sport and recreation. Afterward, the sledders toured back to their original meeting place in Shanty Bay.

Overall, the first outing was a great success and we look forward to more riding in the near future, weather permitting. The Wildcats would like to extend a huge thank you to everyone who made this club a reality.

When it comes to trail riding, many of the most popular areas are within a snowball’s throw on either side of our shared international border. That makes them easily accessible to any American or Canadian snowmobilers in search of cross border sledding adventures.

For Ontario riders, prime stateside choices from east to west include New York’s Tug Hill or Old Forge, Michigan’s Upper Peninsula and Northern Minnesota. U.S. snowmobilers coming to corresponding areas of Ontario can be on the snow in Eastern Ontario, The Grey Bruce, Algoma Country or Northwestern Ontario in no time.

AmericanS choose Ontario snowmobiling for many good reasons. This English-speaking province has a world class trail system operated by the Ontario Federation of Snowmobile Clubs (OFSC).

There’s generally way less traffic on its almost 19,000 miles of trails. Signage, mapping and services are plentiful. U.S. riders can save about 25% on everything thanks to the high value of their dollar and if you visit Ontario on the Try Our Trails weekend of February 3 & 4, you can pre-register online for a no-cost, two-day permit (and to extend your stay, supplement it with an inexpensive two-day permit).

Getting back and forth either way by road across the international border at designated checkpoints is straightforward if you’re properly prepared. For identification, adults need a passport and kids need birth certificates. You’ll also need your driver’s license, plus registration and proof of insurance for your tow vehicle and trailer.

Sled owners need registration and proof of insurance including third party liability coverage. It’s also good to have a specific destination (maybe even an advance reservation) and know how long you intend to stay.

That being said, here are four popular Ontario snowmobiling destinations that are handy for American riders trailering into Canada…