5 Ideal Sites for Family Getaways in Gaspésie

Here are five sites offering both accommodations and winter activities that are perfect for a family vacation in Gaspésie!

Located at the foot of the Chic-Choc Mountains, the Village Grande Nature Chic-Chocs resort offers tons of outdoor activities to keep you busy for days: snowshoeing, cross-country skiing, snowmobiling, Nordic skiing and fatbiking. Several types of accommodations are also available. The lodge offers 16 rooms and a dining room open for breakfast, lunch and dinner. The resort also offers six Canadian cabins accommodating 4 to 6 people each, as well as three Scandinavian cabins (log cabins) accommodating 4 to 8 people each. Two of the log cabins have hot tubs where you can enjoy the benefits of Nordic baths.

Photo: Village Grande Nature Chic-Chocs

Offering excellent snow conditions all winter long with over 3 m of snowfall per year (in the Mont-Albert sector), Parc national de la Gaspésie is a vast natural playground. Good news for parents: admission to the park and equipment rentals are free for children under 18.

The park offers three mechanically groomed cross-country ski trails as well as 12 snowshoe trails that vary in length from 1.7 km to 18 km (in the Discovery and Visitors Centre sector and on the grounds of the Réserve faunique des Chic-Chocs). The La Chute-Sainte-Anne (30 min) and Belvédère de la Lucarne (1h) hiking trails are perfect for young families. You can also try Hok skiing: Hok skis are versatile skis combining the qualities of snowshoes and cross-country skis and are mainly used off trail. Parc national de la Gaspésie offers 3 accessible fatbike trails: Lac aux Américains, round trip 16.9 km, L'orignal Trail, loop 4.2 km and La Serpentine (from Ruisseau Isabelle), round trip 10 km. Snowshoe and cross-country ski rental at the Mountain School.

They are easy to handle and therefore perfect for beginners. In the park, you can stay in a comfortable and fully equipped cabin or at the Gîte du Mont-Albert, which offers fine dining. If you are looking for something more basic, you can also opt for a hut or winter camping.

• Snow Conditions

Parc national de la Gaspésie. Photo: Roger Saint-Laurent

Accommodating from 4 to 15 people, the cottages and condos at the Base de plein air de Bellefeuille are ideal for family getaways. This outdoor recreational centre gives you the opportunity to lace up your snowshoes on your balcony and explore 15 km of trails through the forest. You can also go ice skating on the rink across from the cottages or sliding. You can even enjoy a stroll along the nearby beach.

Photo: Base de plein air de Bellefeuille

With a vertical drop of 450 m, a lookout 670 m above sea level (with a view of the water!) and 25 slopes, the Pin Rouge Mountain will delight downhill skiers and snowboarders of all levels. Enjoy the snow park and beautiful powder snow! The Pin Rouge resort also offers snow tubing with a mechanical lift, which children will enjoy, as well as snowshoe trails, a skating rink and fatbike rentals. At the foot of the mountain, 32 colourful and comfortable cottages will charm you. Up to 6 people can stay in the two-storey cottages, while the studio cottages can accommodate up to 4.

Station touristique Pin Rouge. Photo: Roger St-Laurent

Offering all kinds of winter sports for all levels, the Val-d’Irène ski resort has 28 slopes on two mountainsides. On weekends, snow tubing with a magic carpet lift will enchant the youngest members of your family. Snowshoe and cross-country ski trails are also available. The park offers about 24 units accommodating 4 to 6 people each as well as 8 luxury chalets for up to 8 people. 

Parc régional de Val-d'Irène. Photo: Michel Laverdière

Spend a great time with your family at a site that offers both accommodations and winter activities! 

See also:

• 5 Family Winter Activities in Gaspésie
• 5 Places to Learn How to Backcountry Ski in Gaspésie
• Cafés and Gourmet Shops to Discover This Winter in Gaspésie