Self Guided Abitibi-Témiscamingue Baie-James Itinerary
Total Northern Quebec distance: 2,306 kilometres.
For complete details, check out tour article: Winter Without End.
Notes: Toll free phone numbers are included only when they connect directly to the hotel (as opposed to an off site reservation system). TQ = Trans Quebec; RT = Regional Trail; LT = Local Trail. Trails or services may change from the time of my tour; please reconfirm info by using the contacts provided before departing.
Abitibi-Témiscamingue Baie-James Snowmobile Tour Itinerary
1st Day
Trailer to Amos – Abitibi-Témiscamingue region (drive time from Toronto: 9 hours) Where We Stayed: Amosphere Resort. Direct trail access just north off TQ93. Fuel & convenience store about two klicks west of hotel just south of TQ93.
2nd Day
Amos to La Sarre(about 8 hrs.) Ride 330 km via TQ93 east to RT309 south to LT past La Motte and take RT307 south to TQ83 west to Rouyn-Noranda. Then TQ93 north to La Sarre (use Abitibi-Témiscamingue region map). Fuel Stops: Amos, Rouyn-Noranda, La Sarre. Where We Stayed: Motel Villa Mon Repos. To get there by sled, follow trail signs into town, then cross main street and railway tracks and continue along the far side of the tracks for about two hundred yards, (see hotel map sign along this route) then right to next street and left a few yards to first street to the right. Proceed two blocks to hotel. Street edges were snow and ice covered.
3rd Day
La Sarre to Matagami (about 6 hrs.) Ride 280 km (less than shown on map) via Local Trails or RT396 north to Villebois, then RT396 north (use Abitibi-Témiscamingue or Baie-James region map). Fuel Stops: Beaucanton (Villebois station was out of fuel), Tembec, Matagami. Where We Stayed: Hôtel-Motel Matagami. Direct trail access from RT396.
4th Day
Matagami to Chapais(about 7 hrs.) Ride 345 km (less than shown on map) via TQ93 north (use Baie-James region map). Fuel Stops: Lebel-sur-Quévillon, Miquelon, Chapais. Where We Stayed: Motel Le Routier. Direct trail access by exiting TQ93 on local trail to go to east end of town. Sled parking in front of rooms.
5th Day
Chapais to Chibougamau(about 8 hrs.) Ride 250 km via TQ93 north to LT north to Mistissini and back to Chibougamau, then ride local loop around town (use Baie-James region map). Trails were covered with new snow and drifts for us, so your ride will take less time when trails are freshly groomed all the way. Fuel Stops: Chibougamau, Mistissini, Chibougamau. Where We Stayed: Hôtel-Motel Nordic. Take LT from TQ93 and follow signs.
6th Day
Chibougamau to Lebel-sur-Quévillon (original destination, 270 km – about 6 hrs.). Final destination: Barraute (add about 3 hrs. and120 km). Total ride: 390 km via TQ93 south (use Abitibi-Témiscamingue and Baie-James region maps). Fuel Stops: Chapais, Miquelon, lebel-sur-Quévillon, Barraute. Where We Stayed: Élite Motel. Direct trail access south from TQ93. Fuel nearby.
7th Day
Barraute to Val-d’Or (This is about 50 km as the crow flies, so we took a roundabout route for about 9 hrs.) Ride 386 km via RT313 south to LT east to TQ83 south to RT386 east to LT north to TQ83 west through Senneterre and Louvicourt past Val-d’Or to RT309 south to LT to TQ83 west to hotel. Fuel Stops: Louvicourt (twice), Val- d’Or. Where We Stayed: Hôtel Forestel. Direct trail access off TQ83 at east end of town. Fuel closer to west end of town just off TQ83.
8th Day
Val-d’Or to Amos (This is about 85 km as the crow flies, so we took a roundabout route for about 7.5 hrs.) Ride 325 km via RT 313 north to TQ 93 west to RT 309 south to LT to La Motte and Preissac, then RT 307 south to TQ 83 east to RT 309 north to TQ 93 west to Amos. Fuel Stops: La Motte, Landrienne. Where We Stayed: Amosphere.
9th Day
Trailer home.
Abitibi-Témiscamingue Baie-James Who to Contact
Abitibi-Témiscamingue Tourism; Baie-James Tourism; Québec Tourism; Québec Federation of Snowmobile Clubs (FCMQ)
Abitibi-Témiscamingue Baie-James Maps Needed
Québec Snowmobile Trails (FCMQ map), Abitibi-Témiscamingue Region, Baie-James Region
Riders should reconfirm the routes and services mentioned in this article as they may have changed since publication.