Quebec: six destinations to discover by bike this summer

Q: When will Le Grand tour 2024 take place?

This year, Le Grand Tour will be celebrating its 30th anniversary in the Outaouais region, from August 3 to 8. The event kicks off in Plantagenet, Ontario.

Q: What is the Route verte?

The Route verte is a 5,300 km cycling itinerary that crosses the regions of Quebec. It's the largest cycling route in North America.

To the point Quebec offers sublime cycling itineraries. Here are six destinations to explore at your own pace during the summer season.

The Laurentians: La Vagabonde Montreal: the Lachine Canal, Verdun and Lachine Montérégie: l'Estriade Québec: the Coastal Corridor and Île d'Orléans Saguenay-Lac-Saint-Jean: the Véloroute des Bleuets and Réserve faunique des Laurentides Eastern Townships: Grand Tour du lac Mégantic and Vélo Mag challenge Bike tours and sightseeing Equipment

Save with points and cash back On its equipment On restaurants and groceries On its location On gasoline

Frequently Asked Questions

Most of the routes are easy. You’re sure to enjoy discovering them on your own, with family or friends.

The Laurentians: La Vagabonde

This asphalt route, with sections ranging from 8 to 20 kilometers, offers magnificent scenery. The La Vagabonde cycling network runs along the Rivière des Mille-Îles and Lac des Deux-Montagnes. You’ll pass through Saint-Eustache, Deux-Montagnes, Sainte-Marthe-sur-le-Lac, Oka and Saint-Placide.

Stop off at Oka National Park. To cool off, head for the beach at Oka!

Un cycliste est sur une piste cyclable, au coeur de la nature

Montreal: the Lachine Canal, Verdun and Lachine

The paved Lachine Canal trail is one of the oldest in the Montreal region. Relaxation areas and picnic tables are available along the canal.

Then take the Berges trail, which stretches over 20 kilometers from the borough of Verdun to the city of Dorval. It’s a beautiful walk along the St. Lawrence River.

You can also cool off at Verdun’s urban beach.

Un cycliste se promène sur le canal Lachine

If you’d like to explore the 3,450 km of bike paths in and around Greater Montreal, check out Vélo Québec’s free bike path map.

Montérégie: l'Estriade

The Estriade network offers 97 km of paved trails, including Parc national de la Yamaska. Stops along the way include Bromont, Shefford and Waterloo.

A cycling and cultural experience not to be missed on your tour: discover the Atria, an open-air museum featuring some 60 monumental works of art.

Deux cyclistes regardent une oeuvre d'art

Québec: the Coastal Corridor and Île d'Orléans

The Corridor du Littoral is a 48-km paved Route verte trail along the St. Lawrence River, from Saint-Augustin-de-Desmaures to Montmorency Falls. Some sections are also suitable for walkers and skaters.

Once at Montmorency Falls, you may decide to take the bridge to Île d’Orléans. A 67 km road cycling circuit takes you through magnificent countryside scenery.

Saguenay-Lac-Saint-Jean: the Véloroute des Bleuets and Réserve faunique des Laurentides

The 256-km Véloroute des Bleuets passes through 15 municipalities. Discover the brewery products and enjoy the sandy beaches. It’s even possible to take an electric bike around the lake.

At your disposal: 35 bike stops with tables and 16 repair stations. The bike path has a paved shoulder.

Un couple est en train de faire du vélo au bord d'un lac

Réserve faunique des Laurentides is located between the Québec and Saguenay-Lac-Saint-Jean regions. Here you can enjoy adventure biking on unpaved trails. Twelve tours are available, lasting from two to seven days.

Until September 8, 2024
And from October 17 to 31, 2024

Eastern Townships: Grand Tour du lac Mégantic and Vélo Mag challenge

The Grand Tour du lac Mégantic will take place on Saturday, August 17, 2024. Each year, this event offers a 33 km route for families, with a shuttle bus back to the starting point. Intermediate cyclists will have the opportunity to let off steam on a 53 km route.

Une famille fait du vélo au bord du lac Mégantic

For the Défi Vélo Mag in the Eastern Townships, see you on September 7, 2024 in Bromont. On the program: a choice of untimed routes on road or gravel bikes to explore this beautiful region.

Bike tours and sightseeing

If you prefer short bike rides with a guide, here’s our selection of activities:

In Montreal

Private tour of Montreal: stroll through Old Montreal for 2 hours

Bike tour of the Old Port and the Plateau: 3 or 4-hour bike ride through these two districts

Bicycle tour of downtown and Old Montreal: 3-hour ride through parks, narrow streets and historic monuments.

In Quebec City

Electric bike rental on Île d’Orléans: enjoy 4 hours of magnificent scenery and local produce.

Visit Quebec City on an electric bike: discover many picturesque and historic places during this 3-hour ride.

Bike tour of Montmorency Falls: from Quebec City, this 4-hour excursion is a must.

Equipment

Travelling by bike requires careful preparation, including choosing your route and checking or purchasing your equipment.

Depending on your route, you’ll have to choose between a hybrid bike (gravel and asphalt trails) or a road bike (asphalt). A helmet is a must, of course, and a handlebar bag is very useful.

Here are some equipment suggestions:

Save with points and cash back

On its equipment

Cash-back credit cards are an attractive way to pay off purchases.

The CIBC Dividend^® Visa Infinite* Card is one of the best cashback Visa credit cards in Canada. Right now, you could be eligible for a welcome bonus of up to $300 and a refund of your first year’s annual fee.

Another successful strategy is gift cards combined with shopping portals. You could, for example, buy Decathlon or Sports Experts gift cards and make your purchases via the Rakuten site, which offers cash back.

The most important thing to remember is to use the right credit card at the right place to buy your gift cards, so you can earn more reward points.

These guides will help you implement your strategy:

On restaurants and groceries

You can also earn points every day with the National Bank World Elite Mastercard^® or the American Express Cobalt^{^®} Card.

Whether you’re buying sandwiches at the grocery store or a treat at the restaurant, these two credit cards earn you 5 points per dollar.

On its location

If you’re going away for a weekend or several days, you’ll probably want to book a bed and breakfast or a cottage.

The generous welcome offer of the CIBC Aventura^{^®} Visa Infinite* Card, combined with their points redemption promotion, is a great way to save on accommodation.

Travel points are a great way to reduce costs:

From an Airbnb rental
Chalet rental

Here are our guides to help you establish your points strategy:

On gasoline

Finally, if you’re taking your car to discover a region, there are also tips on how to save money at the pump. Find them in our guide How to save on gas prices in Canada.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the Route verte?

La Route verte est un itinéraire cyclable de 5300 km, qui traverse les régions du Québec. C’est le plus grand itinéraire cyclable en Amérique du Nord.

Where to ride an electric bike in Quebec?

The Véloroute des Bleuets is a three- to five-day route around Lac Saint-Jean. You can recharge your bike at the velovoûtes, closed parking lots equipped with charging stations.

What routes does Vélo Québec Voyages offer?

Star destinations include Le Grand Tour 2024 in early August and the turnkey Le P’tit Train du Nord package on selected dates in August and September.

When will Le Grand tour 2024 take place?

This year, Le Grand Tour, which is celebrating its 30th anniversary in the Outaouais region, takes place from August 3 to 8. The event kicks off in Plantagenet, Ontario.