Plus’s & Minus’s of Snowmobiling Quebec…
Photo © by Craig Nicholson
Related: Top Quebec Tours
Here are some snowmobiling Quebec pros cons you should know. La Belle Province arguably has more to offer snowmobilers than any other snow trails destination, but here are some observations you should know about…
Snowmobiling Quebec Pros Cons:
Pro – Hospitality
On the plus side, Quebec likely has the most reliable and plentiful snow throughout most winters, and that’s hard to beat. With snowmobiling so ingrained in their culture, riders are always welcome and well taken care of by a tourism establishment that understands and promotes snowmobiling very well. Between gourmet cuisine and world-class lodgings, visiting riders are more consistently pampered in this province than anywhere else. Snowmobiling Quebec is also easily accessible from other provinces by major highways, by connected trails, and through many border crossings from the U.S.
Photo © by Craig Nicholson
Pro – Variety & Choice
Another pro is that acre for acre, Quebec surpasses other trail riding destinations with more of the most scenic, varied and exciting terrain anywhere. Its many highland areas are real snow makers that also provide unrivalled trail riding adventures and many bucket list destinations. Quebec also offers a remarkable choices of tourism regions for snowmobiles to explore.
Pro – Snow & Trails
In part because of its northerly latitude, Quebec wins on season length too. For example, the Saguenay region’s Monts Valin area normally has rideable snow as early as November and often into at least early May. Meanwhile, several others are also renown for their early and late season opportunities. Quebec snowmobile clubs also do a uniformly great job of maintaining and grooming a premier network of snowmobile trails that is second to none. Some other provinces have several exceptional trail riding areas, while Quebec has many.
Pro – ATV Trails
You’ll probably see lots of ATVs and Side by Sides trail riding in the winter. Fortunately, they have their own separate network of trails that in many places parallel the snowmobile trails. But the two types of trails do merge often and usually, briefly, to share the trail for things like bridge and road crossings. So keep a sharp eye out that you choose the snowmobile trail when the two split again yo go their separate ways.
Pro – Trail Enforcement
The speed limit on most Quebec trails is a very reasonable 70 km/ph. That drops to 30 riding thru many communities, so slow down. Trail enforcement is both active and prevalent by the QPP and FCMQ Trail Wardens. Fair warning: they will check for permits and paperwork,and have no tolerance for loud pipes or sleds without rear view mirrors.
Pro – Signage
FCMQ trails are generally really well signed and marked. Most intersections are marked with multiple signs pointing to various towns every which-way. That’s fine if one knows the area well enough to know what town is where relative to another. So study your map before setting out, because if you don’t read French easily, it can be difficult to distinguish one town name from another. A good reason to carry the FCMQ trail app with you!
Snowmobiling Quebec Pros Cons
Con – Cost
With so many pluses for snowmobiling Quebec, what are the downsides? Cost for one. You get what you pay for and Quebec is more expensive to ride. Fuel prices are more thanks to higher provincial taxes. Trail permits cost more – and don’t be fooled into thinking that the included liability insurance covers you if your address is out-of-province.
Con – Language
For some, going to a place with a different language is a neat experience. But for others another con can be language. Although most Francophones in the tourism business are usually at least a little bilingual, language can be an issue elsewhere. Especially in the predominantly French-speaking heartland regions. If you go snowmobiling Quebec expecting everyone to cater to you in English, you’re being unrealistic. That said, I’ve always been able to communicate with courtesy, patience and a smile.
Photo © by Craig Nicholson
Con – Security
Although no one likes to talk about it, vehicle and sled theft seem to be more of a problem in snowmobiling Quebec. At least for those dumb enough not to take precautions. I’ve heard enough horror stories to be wary. But so far – knock on wood – I’ve avoided any issues over countless visits. This is thanks to being cautious and secure about where and how I leave my vehicle, trailer or sleds unattended.
All of that said, the pros for snowmobiling Quebec far outweigh the cons, most of which can be mitigated by foreknowledge, adjusted expectations and simply being a little more flexible. Still, it’s good to know what to expect, be it pro or con.
Learn about Quebec snowmobiler rescue on FCMQ trails.
The tips and advice in this blog are the opinions of the author, may not work in every situation and are intended only for the convenience and interest of the reader, who has the personal responsibility to confirm the validity, accuracy and relevancy of this information prior to putting it to their own use.