Canada, Québec: Lac Saint-Jean – the Blueberry Route Bike Tour
Six nights; Seven days. Easy cycling on the gentle bike paths and roads around Lac-Saint-Jean, following the Veloroute des Bluets – a section of Quebec’s Route Verte cycling network.
“… A highlight of our whole trip across Canada! We loved being looked after so well – food, lodging, itinerary, everything…” – Mia S.
WHY THIS TRIP?
- Eat blueberries! – pies, chocolates, fresh berries…
- Enjoy easy cycling with expansive scenery, on part of Quebec’s Route Verte.
- Manageable distances and easy terrain allow time for diversions, including swimming, hiking, museums, exhibits, bistros and microbreweries.
- Cycling the pathways at Pointe-Taillon Park, including the dedicated cyclist ferry.
- Two nights at the historic village of Val Jalbert.
- Métabetchouan Archeological center.
- Savage Zoo, where you are caged and the animals run free!
- Fairy hole and paths along the river gorge at Parc le Trou de la Feé.
- Nice beaches.
- Paved lakeshore cycling on dedicated bike paths, lanes, and shoulders.
ROUTE EXPECTATIONS:
Daily Distance:
- DAY 1: Arrival
- DAY 2: ~35km
- DAY 3: ~80km
- DAY 4: ~57km
- DAY 5: ~40km
- DAY 6: ~55km
- DAY 7: ~26km and farewell
Québec: Lac Saint-Jean Blueberry Route Bike Tour – Elevation Profile
(Click image to enlarge)
Québec: Lac Saint-Jean Blueberry Route Bike Tour
Activity Levels
The easiest routes we offer, these are generally flat and cover relatively relaxed distances. You will be comfortable riding a hybrid bike, walking in sneakers, or paddling a light kayak, and will normally have time to take many photos and enjoy extended lunches.
This is primarily an easy route, but some days may fall into the moderate category. You can expect time to stop and smell the roses, but some of the rides may be on more hilly terrain.
Requiring moderate fitness levels, these cover terrain with hills and valleys, and tend to include distances of 50-80km (30-50mi.)/day cycling, or 3-6 hours of walking per day. Most Freewheeling Adventures fall into this category, and are suitable for most ability levels.
This is primarily a moderate route, suitable for most ability levels, but some days may be a little more challenging. You can expect some long distances, and/or some big climbs/descents.
The most challenging trips, these include longer distances, bigger hills, long hikes, exposed paddling, and full days of activity. We recommend a higher degree of fitness and training to make the most of the experience.
There is also a rare double black diamond, reserved for only the most difficult adventures.
Start: Québec City, Hotel Chateau Laurier, 16:00, day one, unless you drive to the start and prefer to meet there.
Finish: Québec City, 15:00, day seven.
Arrival Québec City.
Arrive at Québec City at your leisure. Your pre-arranged room awaits, and your guide(s) will meet you early tomorrow morning. You can enjoy the art shops, galleries, historical quarters, and cafes of Old Québec. Other highlights include the Musée de la Civilisation, Le Château Frontenac and La Citadelle de Québec (North America’s largest fort). Dining options abound; check out: Trip Advisor: Downtown Quebec City for inspiration and current local favorites.
Hotel Chateau Laurier, Québec City.
Québec City to Alma. ~35km
Meet in Quebec City this morning for an immediate transfer about 2 ½ hours north to La Plage Rigolet in Métabetchouan where the biking begins. Heading east, you will follow the veloroute toward the fromagerie, bakery, and microbrewery at Saint Gédéon. Ride into Alma where you can visit the exhibits at l’Odyssée des Bâtisseurs before arriving at your inn overlooking the Saguenay River. LD (Meal inclusions shown for guided trips)
La Maison du Matelot, or Gite Almatoit, Alma.
Alma to Dolbeau-Mistassini. ~80km
The warm up ride to Saint-Henri-de-Taillon leads you to a highlight of the tour – the traffic-free trails at Pointe-Taillon Park, an immense delta formed by the Peribonka River at the end of the last ice age. There are beautiful beaches and swimming opportunities and a bicycle ferry that links you to Péribonka from where you’ll continue on the veloroute to Dolbeau-Mistassini and the Chutes du Pere on the Mitassini River at the top of Lac Saint-Jean. BLD
Auberge Chute-des-Peres, Dolbeau-Mistassini.
Dolbeau-Mistassini to Saint-Félicien. ~57km.
Ride on paved shoulders and paved bike paths up one riverbank, through delightfully rural Quebec. Highlights include the Grand Jardins de Normandin (the day lilies are superb), the Normandin Bear Waterfall, the farmhouse-style cheese from Normandinoise dairy. An early afternoon arrival at Saint-Félicien provides ample time to experience Zoo Sauvage, where you are caged on a train and the animals run free. The bilingual interpretation on this excursion is exceptional, and this experience receives rave reviews (plan on at least two hours for a stop here). Others will enjoy relaxing at nearby Chutes à Michel. BLD
Hotel du Jardin, or Hotel de la Boréalie, Saint-Félicien.
Saint-Félicien to Val Jalbert. ~40km
Follow the shore of Lac Saint-Jean to the Mashteuiatsh Native Museum where you can learn about the culture and heritage of the Pekuakamiulnuatsh people – natives of this area for more than 6000 years. Cycle through Roberval to the historic village at Val-Jalbert where you will feel as if you’ve stepped back in time, lodging in a beautifully reconstructed period home. BLD
Village Historique de La-Jalbert, Chambord.
Val-Jalbert & Parc le Trou de la Fée. ~55km
From Val-Jalbert, you will cycle along the Métabetchouan River to the bridge at Saint-André then head across to the Parc le Trou de la Feé where you can explore the caverns, walking trails, including a network of footbridges and suspension bridges, and if you’re up for some adrenaline, the ziplines. Return to Val-Jalbert, stopping enroute for a swim at Plage Chambord. BLD
Same lodging.
Val-Jalbert to Metabetchouan ~26km, transfer back to Quebec City, and farewell.
After a short bike ride and a visit to the Métabetchouan Archeological Centre, you’ll have the chance for one more refreshing swim in the lake before the two-hour transfer back to Quebec City where you will arrive mid-afternoon with time to explore the city independently or depart for other destinations. BL
All details and pricing are subject to change without notice.
SCHEDULED DATES
2024 Guided:
- Jun 16-22
- Jul 7-13
- Aug 4-10
- Aug 18-24
Self-Guided available any dates, except for those listed above. New dates are also welcomed for guided or private departures.
PRICING
Guided: C 4095 (per person, double occupancy)
Includes 7 days, 6 nights, 4 breakfasts, 6 lunches, 5 dinners, van and guide support, entrance fees to Pointe Taillon Park, Le Trou de la Fee, and Zoo Sauvage, luggage handling, maps, route instructions, hybrid bicycle rental, 15% sales tax.
Small groups or private tours, fully supported with drivers/guides and vehicles, all lodging and most meals included. Choose from existing dates or request new departures. Read more on our “What to Expect” page.
Self-Guided: C 3565 (per person, double occupancy)
Includes 7 days, 6 nights, 4 breakfasts, inn to inn luggage transfers, all ground transportation as outlined, , maps, route instructions, on-call support, hybrid bicycle rental, 15% sales tax.
Semi-supported, independent tours including welcome briefing, lodging, luggage transfers and necessary vehicle transfers. Choose from existing dates or request new departures. Read more on our “What to Expect” page.
Single Occupancy: 945
Bike Rentals:
Hybrid: Included
Flat bars. Trek FX3 or similar, with rear rack/trunk bag. Lowstep frames available by request.
Upgrade to Road: 150
Drop bars. Trek Domane AL5, SL5, or similar, with rear rack/trunk bag (no rack/bag on carbon frames).
Upgrade to E-bike: 300
Flat bars. Trek Verve+ 2 or similar, with rear rack/trunk bag. Lowstep frames available by request.
All details and pricing are subject to change without notice.
Please see above for accurate pricing and inclusions, unless we have proposed a customized trip for you and those details are provided in your custom proposal.
1. Choose an advertised date to join a small group, or see our Join a Group page to see where groups are already forming.
2. Pick your own dates. We will confirm quickly, and are happy to talk with you as you make your choice. If you would like a private guided date, this usually comes at a surcharge depending on the details, please get in touch for more information. If you prefer self-guided, we usually only require two participants to initiate a new date at the advertised price, and can sometimes reduce prices for you if you have four or more.
BEST TIMES
The best time to enjoy this tour is mid-June to mid-October.
Spring daytimes warm up to 10 to 20 °C (50 to 70 °F) by mid June. Note that seasonal businesses may still be closed, or on off-season hours, until late June.
Summer, mid June to mid September, is normally 20 to 25 °C (70 to 80 °F). Freshwater and saltwater swimming is encouraged.
Autumn, mid September to mid October, daytimes 10 to 20 °C range (50 to 70 °F). Nights can be chilly, but rarely down to freezing. Mid-October is the best time to see spectacularly colorful fall foliage.
GET TO THE START
We suggest you plan to spend one or two nights in Québec City before or after your Freewheeling Adventure. Québec City is an UNESCO World Heritage Site, with many worthwhile attractions, restaurants, and shopping opportunities. More information about Québec.
You may also want to coordinate your trip with some of the following festivals:
Québec City Summer Festival : Québec City’s 11-day international music festival in July.
Grands Feux Loto-Québec : Pyromusical firework festival in August.
If you are arriving by air, we recommend you fly in to Québec City Jean Lesage International Airport YQB www.aeroportdequebec.com/en/. If you are staying in a Québec City hotel before your trip begins, you may want to ask if they offer a shuttle to and from the airport. Other options include:
● Taxi Coop Québec; 418-525-5191
● Taxi Coop Sainte-Foy ; 418-653-7777
● Taxi Laurier; 418-651-2727
Another option is to fly into Montreal Pierre Elliot Trudeau International Airport YUL www.admtl.com/Passengers/Home.aspx. Via Rail trains travel to Quebec City up to 8 times per day and the trip takes from 3 to 4 hours, Via Rail. Or you can drive to Quebec City in 2+ hours if you are planning to rent a car.
If you drive: Meet in Quebec City. Reserve your own lodging there, or call us for help with that. We will pick you up or arrange a rendezvous point at about 09:30am on day two, and deduct the first night’s lodging cost. It is 800km from New York, and 800km from Toronto. You can also consider driving all the way to the start of cycling. You could stay at the Gite la Nymphe des Eaux, where we can meet you on day one, and to where you can finish your ride at the end.
FINISH
Finish in Quebec City mid-afternoon of day seven.
BEFORE AND AFTER
If you have one day:
Explore Quebec City. See the recommendation in the “Getting to the Start” section, and call us for more detail. There is good hiking and sightseeing, for example, within half an hour at the Chutes de Montmorency. For a nice day’s ride, consider cycling the perimeter of Ile d’Orleans, just north of Quebec City.
If you have several days:
Extend your trip without leaving Quebec. You can link this tour with our Bas-Saint-Laurent Bike tour.
