Lévis-Quebec Snowmobile Shuttle Permanently Closed, So Now What?
The Lévis-Quebec snowmobile shuttle was at the southwest end of the Grand St. Lawrence Snowmobile Tour where the red point marker shows on this loop map.
Related: Grand St. Lawrence Snowmobile Tour Article & Itinerary
Wouldn’t you know it? The Grand St. Lawrence Snowmobile Tour debuted as an integrated loop last year. It featured a Lévis-Quebec snowmobile shuttle to cross the St. Lawrence River on the first day or riding. But after 20 years of operation, the shuttle shut down permanently in 2025.
So where does that leave snowmobilers planning to do this tour? How’s a do-it-yourself trailer crossing of the river at this location sound? It may actually be a faster, easier and cheaper way to start your clockwise loop ride. Why to do it clockwise is described in my tour article & itinerary.
The cancellation of this Lévis-Quebec snowmobile shuttle calls for a do-it-yourself workaround.
How The Old Lévis-Quebec Snowmobile Shuttle Operated on Grand St. Lawrence Snowmobile Tour
You had to reserve the old shuttle in advance. It only transported a maximum of 4 sleds per trip after riders overnighted at the loop’s staging accommodation (Hotel & Suites Normandin Lévis). This shuttle cost $32/sled ($128/full load). It took about an hour to cross the river and unload sleds west of Quebec City. Assuming the shuttle was available when you wanted to go.
To do so, you had to unload your sleds from your own trailers at the Hotel & Suites Normandin Lévis before the shuttle arrived. What’s more, any group with more than 4 sleds had to do two shuttle runs. This added both extra cost and about 90 minutes more. Total 2-shuttle time: at least 2 1/2 hrs before all sleds and riders were ready to hit the trail on the westside of Quebec. Regardless of how many sleds you’re transporting, at least you’re doing so covered by your own insurance. Better than unknown coverage that the old shuttle may or may not have had.
Do-It-Yourself Lévis-Quebec Snowmobile Shuttle Crossing Workaround #1
The drive from Hotel & Suites Normandin Lévis to the DoubleTree Hilton Quebec City is about 20 minutes, by expressway all the way!
Without the shuttle, your group can now stay overnight at the Hotel & Suites Normandin Lévis. Then cross the river with everyone and every truck & trailer in your group at the same time of your choosing. The DoubleTree by Hilton Quebec Resort on the east side of the city is a better unloading destination than the old shuttle used. So, I’d recommend trailering to it. This hotel also has lots of space to park and unload and direct access to Trans Quebec Trail 3 east. Best of all, its easterly location cuts 40 kilometres of city trail riding off your day.
The only catch is that you can’t leave your empty trucks and trailers at the DoubleTree unless you’ve stayed there the previous night. So, at least one driver for each tow vehicle in your group has to drive your empty trailers back to Hotel & Suites Normandin Lévis. Where your previous night’s stay comes with permission to park while you’re away touring. Then your drivers can Uber it back to the DoubleTree by Hilton. Meanwhile, the rest of your group awaits their return in the warmth of the DoubleTree coffee shop.
Sleds unloaded at the DoubleTree Hilton and ready for direct access to TQ 3.
Do-It-Yourself Workaround #2
Pretty much the same as Option 1. But stay and park at the DoubleTree by Hilton Quebec Resort on your first night, then stage from there for your clockwise loop ride. When you finish your loop back in Lévis, stay at the Hotel & Suites Normandin on your last night. From there, send your drivers by Uber to the DoubleTree to pick up your trucks and empty trailers. Then load up your sleds in Lévis for the drive home.
My Last Word On Where To Start Grand St. Lawrence Snowmobile Tour
There’s one fly in the ointment from the shuttle cancellation. Snowmobilers coming from the Atlantic Provinces or New England States might want to start their Grand St. Lawrence Snowmobile Tour from points east like Matane. If you do that now, your trucks and trailers won’t be available for your own do-it-yourself crossing at Lévis/Quebec. So, how will you cross the river? Also remember that riding this tour clockwise from Lévis is the best way to accommodate the Baie-Comeau/Matane ferry crossing schedule.