Tour of Lac-Saint-Jean by Snowmobile – Step by Step

Grab your bike and come for a nice ride!

Surrounding the majestic Lac-Saint-Jean, this 325-kilometer-plus ride… invites you on a memorable adventure. From Alma to Dolbeau-Mistassini, via Roberval and Saint-Félicien, the route takes you through breathtaking landscapes, welcoming villages, and legendary stops. It’s the classic winter experience of the Jeannois region: snow, freedom, and memories to fill your visor.

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Step 1: Official departure: Alma Airport

Free, secure, and easy parking—and above all, super convenient for snowmobilers coming from out of town.

It’s easy to unload the trailer, hook up the sled, and head out without any hassle.

As soon as you leave, you’ll be on the Trans-Québec Trail #23—it’s a smooth ride. Gas stations are nearby.

Alma offers a variety of services: rest stops, safe accommodations, and more.

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Section 1: Alma → Roberval – 70 km

As soon as you leave Alma (Trans-Québec #23), the scenery opens up: snow-covered fields.

The ride is smooth, wide, and well-maintained.

Ride along the lake, take Regional Trail #383 to join Trans-Québec #83, right on the lake’s edge, where the horizon stretches white as far as the eye can see.

You’ll find several rest stops along the way if you need a break.

In Chambord, you can take a shortcut across the lake via Local Trail #617 to arrive directly in Roberval.

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Village sur Glace

(via Local Trail #373 or Lake Trail #617)

The Village on Ice, a small town built on the frozen lake.

It’s a signature feature of the region.

It’s definitely worth a stop.

In Roberval, a variety of services are also available to snowmobilers.

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Section 2: Roberval → Dolbeau-Mistassini – via Saint-Félicien (70 km)

Continue on Trail #373 toward Saint-Félicien.

The terrain offers a bit more variety: forest, valleys, and snow-covered corridors.

Still on #373, you head toward Dolbeau-Mistassini.

It’s wooded and secluded, with beautiful winding sections and a more immersive feel.

In Dolbeau-Mistassini, several services are available for snowmobilers.

Here, there are two possible routes:

1. Head toward the 49th Street Bridge
2. Continue toward Péribonka / Sainte-Monique / the east shore of the lake

Option A : Passerelle du 49e parallèle (an additional 160 km)

• Trans-Québec Trail #93 toward Girardville
• Then Regional Trail #373 toward Saint-Élizabeth-de-Proulx
• The 49th Parallel Footbridge is located along this route

We also recommend stopping by the nearby Domaine du Lac Éden.

Option B: A leisurely ride along the north shore – 95 km

Dolbeau-Mistassini → Sainte-Monique → Saint-Henri-de-Taillon → Alma

If you’re looking for a laid-back, open stretch that’s quintessentially Lac-Saint-Jean, this is the one.

You’ll ride along the north shore of Lac-Saint-Jean, where the villages are blanketed in snow and brimming with hospitality, and where the lake occasionally comes into view, like a quiet giant watching you pass by.

Take the Trans-Québec Trail #93 south to Alma.

There are several services and rest stops along the way.

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Additional options:

Tough option: Les Monts-Valin (90 additional km)

You’re heading out to conquer the Monts-Valin via the Trans-Québec Trail #93.

The Monts-Valin is a powder paradise.

You’ll climb up via Regional Trail #383, then take Trail #328 toward Saint-David-de-Falardeau at Valinouët.

The further you go, the higher the terrain rises, and the deeper the snow gets.

That’s when you’ll understand why snowmobilers talk about it with such excitement.

Legendary Option: Travel through the Mont-Apica Wildlife Reserve and Observatory (an additional 250 km)

From Hébertville, you can reach the Laurentides Wildlife Reserve via the Trans-Québec Trail #23.

This isn’t a casual Sunday stroll. It’s an expedition: miles of northern forest, sweeping panoramas, and a destination at Mont-Apica, a former military site. Silence. Vast. Powerful.

A ride that puts things into perspective, requiring careful planning and thorough preparation.

From Hébertville to the Mont-Apica rest stop, the round trip is about 150 km—a spectacular loop.

Conclusion

The Lac-Saint-Jean Snowmobile Tour is more than just a trail.

It’s a region that embraces winter to the fullest and offers a wealth of possibilities.

Snow, scenery, rest stops, and facilities tailored to snowmobilers of all skill levels.

Helmet. Keys. Open road.

The lake is waiting for you.

Grab your machine and come for a ride this winter.