Plan a Cycling Tour of Gaspésie

Do you dream of exploring Gaspésie by bike? Here’s some information that will help you plan an epic cycling tour of this region! 

Route 132 circles the Gaspé Peninsula for 885 km, from Sainte-Flavie back to Sainte-Flavie. The Route Verte bike route follows Route 132 almost in its entirety, mostly along the highway’s shoulder. By bike, you can soak up the same breathtaking scenery as motorists do while breathing in the salty sea air, listening to the sounds of nature and enjoying a great feeling of physical accomplishment.

Note that Vélo Québec has identified nearly 40 hills with a grade of over 6% in Gaspésie, which means riding in this region will require you to be in good shape! The most significant ones are mainly found between Tourelle and Marsoui, between Sainte-Madeleine-de-la-Rivière-Madeleine and Rivière-au-Renard as well as in Forillon National Park and the Gaspé area. There are also hills as you approach Percé, in the vicinity of Port-Daniel, between Nouvelle and Escuminac (up to a 10% grade) as well as between Sainte-Jeanne-d’Arc and Saint-Octave-de-Métis.

Note also that some sections of Route 132 are not certified by the Route Verte because they don’t meet Vélo Québec’s safety criteria. For example, this is the case between Sainte-Madeleine-de-la-Rivière-Madeleine and Rivière-au-Renard. This segment of the highway (about 83 km) often doesn’t have a shoulder, has steep grades (up to 13%) and meanders between cliffs and the sea, making it unsafe for cyclists and thus not recommended. Fortunately, you have the option of using public transportation with your bike in this area.

For more information, see the interactive Route Verte map and visit our “Biking in Gaspésie” page. Whether you explore our region northward (clockwise via Matane from Sainte-Flavie) or southward (counterclockwise via La Matapédia), you’ll have to contend with the hilliness of Gaspésie. The wind and weather can also make a significant difference! Keep reading for more details.

Biking in Percé. Photo: CHOK Images

All cyclist-friendly (“Bienvenue cyclistes”) accommodations certified by Vélo Québec offer a bike pump and tools for minor repairs, as well as a closed and locked location to store your bike overnight. Certified campgrounds provide a sheltered location where you can eat during bad weather and a guaranteed camping space, even without a reservation, if you’re travelling exclusively by bike.

Gaspésie offers about 30 certified cyclist-friendly establishments (see list below). Consult the complete list on the Route Verte website and find even more accommodations on our website, along with a list of bike repair shops and big-box stores selling bikes in the region’s main towns and cities.

Biking in Coin-du-Banc. Photo: CHOK Images

Since Gaspésie is a maritime region, temperatures can change rapidly from the coast to inland. You may also be surprised by fog, mist or wind in our region. Make sure you travel with the appropriate clothing.

For weather forecasts for your destination or statistics for the last few years, visit Canadian Weather or The Weather Network. 

The winds in Gaspésie mostly come from the south and/or west (38%). For this reason, many cyclists prefer to travel around the peninsula in a clockwise direction. On the other hand, winds from the northeast, although less frequent, blow onshore from the Gulf of St. Lawrence and are tougher to negotiate.

Haldimand Beach, Gaspé. Photo: CHOK Images

There are many ways to get to Gaspésie with your bike: by car, bus, train, plane or boat.

By car: You can drive to Gaspésie via Highway 20 (Mont-Joli) or Route 132 (Sainte-Flavie). You can leave your car in the parking lot of the Mont-Joli Tourist Information Bureau for the duration of your cycling tour, but you must first obtain permission to do so. For other towns, please inquire at the tourist information offices.

By bus: Orléans Express is the bus company operating in Gaspésie. You can take a bus to Mont-Joli or another town in the region as well as travel within the region (to avoid certain road sections, for example). When travelling with your bike, you will be charged an additional $5, plus a box charge (since your bike will need to be disassembled to fit into a box). You can also ship a bike using their Expedibus courier services.

Biking in Coin-du-Banc. Photo: CHOK Images

In addition, once you’re in Gaspésie, the RÉGÎM public transit network offers bus services between several municipalities along Route 132. There’s no additional cost for the transportation of a bike.

By train: Travel with VIA Rail from Mont-Joli to Matapédia. To transport your undisassembled bike, it is possible to board and unload it only at the Mont-Joli and Matapédia stations, depending on the train chosen. Additional fees apply for bike transportation.

By plane: You can fly with several companies to the airports of Mont-Joli, Gaspé or Bonaventure. Bikes are accepted on a space-available basis only and subject to certain conditions. Please inquire about the terms of transportation before your departure.

By boat: You can travel with your bike on the Matane–Baie-Comeau–Godbout ferry. If you’re travelling without a car, you’ll only have to pay a passenger fare, with no extra charge for your bicycle.

Biking in Percé. Photo: CHOK Images

You are now ready to take on the challenge of cycling around the Gaspé Peninsula!

See also: 

• Fatbike Beach Rides in Gaspésie
• Bikeways in Gaspésie