Mountain Biking in Gaspésie
Fly Down Mountain Bike Trails in Gaspésie
Imagine pedalling through the forest on well-maintained singletracks, occasionally catching glimpses of the sea through the trees!
Dotted throughout the region, nearly a dozen small-scale sites offer cross-country and enduro circuits as well as bike parks where you can learn how to mountain bike or improve your skills.
From flow trails to challenging climbs, ride on a variety of circuits designed for both beginners and thrill seekers. In some places, you can even stay overnight on site to extend the fun.
Mountain biking is possible in the spring, summer and fall, when the leaves change colour and the cool air makes the effort even more enjoyable. By including several mountain biking destinations on your itinerary, you can discover the trails and landscapes of the region.
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Explore Itineraries with Mountain Bike Trips
Discover Some of the Best Places to Go Mountain Biking
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Credit: Roger St-LaurentSentiers du bout du monde
Just 10 minutes from the centre of Gaspé, the Mont-Béchervaise ski centre offers nearly 30 km of singletracks and technical trails. Affiliated with the Québec Cycling Federation (FQSC), this site also offers a skills area and a jump line. While biking to the top of the mountain is a challenge, the view of Gaspé Bay will make all your effort worthwhile.
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Credit: Audrey NormandeauParc régional du Mont-Saint-Joseph
During the summer, you can catch a shuttle in Carleton-sur-Mer that will take you to the top of Mont Saint-Joseph, at an altitude of 555 metres. You can then enjoy an epic descent that features root-filled terrain, steep sections, rivers and incredible views all the way down to Chaleur Bay. You can also prolong your experience by staying in a cottage or geodome tent at the top of the mountain. At the bottom, you will find a bike park suitable for riders of all ages.
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Station touristique Pin Rouge
From the top of the Pin Rouge Mountain, at an altitude of over 670 metres, soak up a view of the Chic-Chocs and Chaleur Bay before starting your descent. The bike park, which features a pump track and skills course, offers the whole family a chance to get in on the fun. Chalets are also available at the base of the slopes.
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Credit: Aegir MediasParc régional de Val-d’Irène
Located just 15 minutes from Amqui, the 685-metre mountain in this regional park is perfect for mountain bikers who enjoy climbing. The ascent is challenging, but the views of the Matapédia Valley and the Chic-Chocs make it worthwhile. The long descent that follows leads to a cross-country network at the base of the mountain. The terrain throughout is technical and sometimes difficult.
5 FAQs about Mountain Biking
Where can I go mountain biking in Gaspésie?
Mountain biking is the activity or sport of riding a bicycle off-road, usually over rough terrain on a bike specifically designed for that purpose. There are various styles of mountain biking; here we will concentrate on three: cross-country, enduro and downhill, as defined by Vélo Québec (in French only).
Cross-country mountain biking involves cycling on narrow unpaved trails with many curves and lots of grade changes.
Enduro is a cross between cross-country and downhill mountain biking that primarily focuses on going downhill; however, mechanized lifts are not used to travel uphill (bikers must make their way up under their own steam).
Downhill mountain biking is an extreme sport primarily done at lift-serviced bike parks on terrain that features jumps, drops, rock gardens or other obstacles. This type of mountain biking requires advanced technical skills. Freeriding is a type of downhill mountain biking.
Gaspésie currently offers cross-country and enduro sites (which are not lift-serviced).
A vast region of forests and mountains, Gaspésie offers many roads and hills to explore: the backcountry is full of trails that may be just as exciting to discover as developed sites in terms of slopes, curves and obstacles. However, in the interest of safety, we have listed only the official sites that are organized, mapped and for which access complies with current regulations. We invite you to be cautious while mountain biking and to consult the section about responsible mountain biking below. In addition, several new projects are in the works in Gaspésie, so stay tuned for more details!
For recommended sites that offer dirt or gravel bike paths, see our blog post about bikeways in our region. These locations are perfect for a family outing or to prolong the fun of riding through the magnificent sea and mountain scenery of Gaspésie!
Can I rent a mountain bike in Gaspésie?
Four places rent mountain bikes for cross-country biking:
Biseak, Sainte-Anne-des-Monts: This shop sells, repairs and rents mountain bikes and can even deliver them to biking sites in the Sainte-Anne-des-Monts area.
Nolin Vélo, Gaspé: This shop sells, repairs and rents mountain bikes for the surrounding area.
Rhéal Pître Sport, New Richmond: may occasionally rent bikes upon request.
Companies that offer guided services to explore the backcountry (Évasion Nature Petite Vallée and Camp de base Gaspésie) provide bikes for rent for the duration of the activity.
Bikes are also available for rent at several other sites where you can ride through the forest on dirt or gravel bike paths. For more details, see our blog post about bikeways in Gaspésie.
Where can I get my bike repaired or buy parts?
Bike shops and repair services:
Sportquet Mobile, Grand-Métis
Vélo Spécialité, Matane
Biseak, Sainte-Anne-des-Monts
Nolin Vélo, Gaspé
Big-box stores:
Canadian Tire, Matane
Sports Experts, Matane
Walmart, Matane
Canadian Tire, Gaspé
Sports Experts, Gaspé
Sports Excellence/Écotone, Grande-Rivière
Go Sport, Chandler
Sport Élite Sport Excellence, Chandler
Canadian Tire, Paspébiac
Sports Experts, Bonaventure
Rhéal Pitre Sports, New Richmond
Sports Experts, Carleton-sur-Mer
Sports Experts, Amqui
Please inquire about opening hours and inventory before visiting any of these locations.
Where can I find mountain bike trail maps?
Several biking sites make their maps available online; you can also find maps on the Trailforks website.
Here are sites offering maps:
Les Sentiers de l’Igloo (Club de Vélo Éolien de Matane): PDF maps and GPX files (in French only) and Trailforks
Mont York, Centre de Plein Air du Lac York: PDF map and Trailforks
Mont-Béchervaise (Sentiers du Bout du Monde): PDF map (in French only) and Trailforks
Station Touristique Pin Rouge: online map (in French only) and Trailforks
Parc régional du Mont-Saint-Joseph: online map and PDF map (in French only), ONDAGO app and Trailforks
Parc régional de Val-d’Irène: Trailforks
What does it mean to be a responsible mountain biker?
Safety, environmental protection, coexistence with other users, mountain bike access and trail sustainability are all issues that are relevant to mountain bikers.
For more information, please read the following:
IMBA Canada’s Rules of the Trail by the International Mountain Bicycling Association Canada
The Ecotourist Code of Conduct by Aventure Écotourisme Québec
Mountain Biking Safety During Covid-19 by the International Mountain Bicycling Association Canada
Racines Magazine Insert
Download the Special Gaspésie insert in Racines magazine (in French only) and plan your mountain bike trip in Gaspésie.
Plan Your Mountain Bike Adventures
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