We blew byAuberge Chez Ignacejust a few kilometres into the days ride but if its the end of a hot summer day be sure to stop here. Mont-Tremblant Village with its old train station located on the banks of Lac Mercier definitely warrants a stop. More importantly, the trail benefits from the entire tourist infrastructure that developed when the train used to bring thousands of people into the Laurentians for summer vacations and winter skiing from the 1930s to the 1960s. It often follows a noisy four lane highway, and sometimes parallels a roadside industrial park, complete with construction depots and heavy equipment outlets. Individuals who are not used to this kind of cycling may want to schedule a few rest stops on the way. Scroll down to the bottom the this page for map and photos. These cookies will be stored in your browser only with your consent. In town le Provincialart is a nice bed & breakfast which caters to cyclists. The resort village is about 6 or 7 kilometres from the trail. Pour les transports : 30% de dpt applicable sur votre carte de crdit lors de la rservation, non remboursable mais transfrable une date ultrieure dans la mme saison. Un grand choix de restaurants proximit (5 12 minutes pied). This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. It is not that this segment of the trail is all that bad, but it doesnt compare favourably to the rest of the Ptit train du Nord. The Ptit train du Nord is an ideal choice for anyone who ever considered a thoroughly enjoyable bicycle vacation. var path = 'hr' + 'ef' + '='; The main disadvantage is that bicycles and equipment tend to get dusty, especially if the weather has been dry for a while. However, the towns old train station is a very popular stopping point along the Ptit train du Nord. In fact the following day this area would see a massive rainstorm at the same time that Ottawa got hit with tornadoes. document.getElementById('cloak99111096ccc283c6b250268f83a4c4fe').innerHTML = ''; It does not store any personal data. In terms of physical effort, this is the most demanding part of the Ptit train du Nord. If you are driving:For this tour we meet riders in St. Jerome at the public parking lot near the train station. It is only a few minutes away. We lingered over coffee in the morning, stopped whenever we felt moved to do so, got off our bikes and explored villages on foot, looked for birds and bemoaned the fact we hadnt packed our bathing suit especially for a dip in the lake on a warm fall day in Mont Tremblant. If youve got a big appetite, its an excellent choice. With this arrangement the car will be waiting for them in Saint-Jrme when they come to the end of their 200 kilometre ride. We get bikes ready and gather for our first meeting. While I would never call the bike ride difficult, finishing still felt like an accomplishment. C.T.Q. However, this part of the trail has a nice paved surface, and many scenic views which ideal for rest stops. Your email address will not be published. For those who like to travel light on their bicycles, it is even possible to have one of the these shuttle bus companies transport their bags from one hotel to the next. Many of the towns inns and bed & breakfasts are located along the shore of Lac des Sables such as Auberge du Lac des Sables and the Auberge de la tour du Lac. In winter, cross-country skiing and snowshoeing are her passion. NOTE: Senior Cycling is partnering with Velo Quebec Voyages, who will be operating the tour in Quebec on behalf of Senior Cycling. This area is touristy and quite busy. The entire trail runs between Saint-Jrme and Mont-Laurier for 200 kilometres in roughly a northwest direction. Another option for lunch is the Kayak Caf. There are a few long gradual slopes to either climb or descend, but these should not be much of a challenge for most people, even those who may only cycle occasionally. Our first night was in Nominingue at Auberge le de France, a B&B run by Red Seal chef Heiko Dechau and Nancy Pilote, a former nurse. Suggested bicycle: Touring bikes, road bikes, hybrids, Suggested tire size for this tour: 28mm 37mm (or larger), 2195$ CAD (Canadian dollar) per person(based on double occupancy), 330$ CAD Single Supplement(extra price to have your own room). This is an attractive touristy little town that is renowned for its artists. The southern portion of the trail (between Labelle & Saint-Jrme) has a surface made of hard packed crushed stone. It isquite smooth and suitable for all bicycles, but a larger tire will provide more stability. We however did meet a cyclist in Saint-Jrme at the end of the trip who looked puzzled -because he thought he was in Mont- Tremblant. One of the many restaurants, patios, Inns, B&Bs, and campgrounds along the Ptit train du Nord trail. This means this trail is relatively flat. Converting abandoned railroad line into bicycle paths has become increasingly popular in recent decades. It can easily be ridden by all types of bikes, including those with narrow road tires (the author of this article had no problem using 700 x 28 tires ). These are the people that can organize everything for you from a distance including daily bag shuttles from B&B to B&B (though they only work with some of the ones along the route.). He had to retrace his steps adding some 65 km to his day! A big thank you to Tourism Laurentians for hosting my trip. Here the trail becomes an inner city bike path where parents teach their kids how to bicycle and neighbours stop for leisurely conversations. From here cyclists will head to the Parc Lineaire des Basses Laurentides an 18 kilometre trail which runs from Blainville to Saint-Jrme. Functional cookies help to perform certain functionalities like sharing the content of the website on social media platforms, collect feedbacks, and other third-party features. Destination unique en plein cur des Laurentides vous offrant le confort et la dtente. You could feel the press of civilization the closer you got to Saint-Jrme. It is also possible to get lost in a few spots, so it is necessary to use a good map and do some careful planning. Another option would be to pedel down the trail for about 13 kilometres and eat at one of several restaurants in the small town of Lac-Des-Ecorces. Our nights lodging is a special inn nestled in the woods. The cookie is set by GDPR cookie consent to record the user consent for the cookies in the category "Functional". Regardless of which end people start from, there remains the question of how they will get back to their cars when they finish their ride. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Other. Our B&B for the night, Auberge de la Gare, was just off the trail in an old home with beautiful pine floors. If you make a qualifying purchase through one of these links, I may receive a small percentage of the sale at no extra cost to you. In winter, cross-country skiing and snowshoeing are her passion. var addy_text99111096ccc283c6b250268f83a4c4fe = 'info' + '@' + 'ignace' + '.' + 'qc' + '.' + 'ca';document.getElementById('cloak99111096ccc283c6b250268f83a4c4fe').innerHTML += ''+addy_text99111096ccc283c6b250268f83a4c4fe+'<\/a>'; *Condition dannulation sans frais jusqu 14 jours avant votre arrive, puis tarif de la nuit pour les auberges. On the trail our accommodations are ataubergesalong the way. Updates There has been a few changes with Le Ptit Train du Nord trail since this article was originally written. It is easy to pick up a free copy of this booklet in French or English at many key centres on the Ptit train du Nord. The northern portion of the trail (between Mont-Laurier & Labelle) has a nice paved surface. Unfortunately, the trail is somewhat removed from the downtown area, and getting into Sainte-Adle involves a small uphill climb and getting past Autoroute 15. We could also see that our rental bikes had been pulled and were ready to be loaded. The Ptit train du Nord is a 200 kilometre bicycle Trail which runs through the Laurentians north of Montral. Along the way we traded tales with a couple from Russia, a gang of cyclists from Vermont and another couple from north of Toronto. After a fantastic breakfast a French toast with fresh pears and lots of coffee, we were off on a gradual uphill (barely noticeable) towards Val-David, though it was in Sainte-Agathe-des-Monts that we stopped to wander and eat lunch. Our shuttle left promptly at 8 AM. To have all the information and the state of the track: We are located directly at the Place de la Gare in Saint-Jrme (km 0) and we are the only carrier with the exclusivity of operation. Across from the old station is a caboose which is now a small museum about the Ptit train du Nord when it was actually a railroad. Malheureusement, nous ne sommes pas responsables de la mto. var addy99111096ccc283c6b250268f83a4c4fe = 'info' + '@'; This includes travelingwith small groups, a relaxed pace, daily happy hour and excellent trail support. Un bagage pour 1 personne ou partag en couple ; max 15 KG. However, except in cases where there is a strong headwind, there is little difference riding the trail in one direction or the other. The two are connected by a nice paved bicycle path, which starts next to the Post Office in the original town of Mont Tremblant. Official web site of the Ptit train du Nord At the bottom of the hill, turn left. Its also worth noting that there exists a series of bicycle paths and trails that make it reasonably easy to cycle to the Ptit train du Nord from Montral. The area between the summit and Sainte-Agathe-des-Monts is probably the most boring part of the 200 kilometre trail. Remise scurise pour le rangement des vlos. You dont need to speak French to bike Le Petit Train du Nord though a little bit of French comes in handy. Click on the photo below to bookmark to your Pinterest boards. Needless to say, it comes fully equipped with boutiques, restaurants, bars, terraces, inns, and bed & breakfasts, including Le Creux du Vent and La Maison De Bavire. You also have the option to opt-out of these cookies. It is one of the focal points of the downtown area, so it is fairly easy to find. We have a picnic lunch just off the trail. Your pictures are stunning. Leigh McAdam is an award-winning photographer and soon to be three-time author with 200 Nature Hot Spots in Alberta due out in spring 2022. People who want to take it easy will often pedal the trail in four 50 kilometres segments, with three overnight stops. :(819) 278-0689 ouCette adresse e-mail est protge contre les robots spammeurs. However, such ambitious schedules would leave little time to take in the scenery or explore the nooks and crannies along the trail. Throw in the option of getting a shuttle to the starting point in Mount-Laurier and a daily luggage transfer and Le Petit Train du Nord is one winner of a bike ride. Its almost 60 kilometres from Mont-Laurier, meaning that it could be one longer rides when cycling Ptit train du Nord in four segments. Nominingue is the first reasonably large community on the trail after Mont-Laurier, and it is therefore a good destination for the first days ride. Note that Le 900 Tremblant is very close to Le Petit Train du Nord and is rated highly. In the stretch immediately following Nominingue (and a few other areas), there are several places where the paved surface has developed a rippled or washboard effect. Called the longest linear park in Canada, the trail is covered in asphalt in the northern section and packed dirt and crushed stone in the southern section. It will be our pleasure to serve you guys again and whoever you send our way. Other uncategorized cookies are those that are being analyzed and have not been classified into a category as yet. The bus usually leaves Saint-Jrme between 8 and 9 in the morning, and deposits cyclists and their bikes in Mont-Laurier a little after 11 am. These small inns provide not only unique surroundings but also memorable evening meals. That night we dined in-house on freshly made gazpacho followed by a delicious hot broth fondue (we chose the lobster broth which I highly recommend), followed by apple pie. It was a fitting day to end the trip what with cloudy skies and cooler temperatures. The first step is to drive to Saint-Jrme, a city of 70,000 just north of Montreal. Fifty kilometre hops should be manageable for people who commute to work on their bikes or are used to pedalling reasonable distances on weekends. There is a central agency for booking accommodations at the resort, but people may want to consider the Marriott Residence Inn (if a room is available at a reasonable rate). This is another of the major tourist centres in the Laurentians, and has a lot to offer anyone who pedals into town. Required fields are marked *. 32 miles We leave Nominingue and bike to La Conception. This includes grocery stores, bicycle shops, pubs, restaurants, a youth hostel, bed & breakfasts, and two fairly large hotels/motels (the Hotel Mont Tremblant and La Porte Rouge). I was amazed that seemingly every bump and crack in the asphalt was circled in orange paint so you could avoid them and enjoy a smooth ride. It is big, busy, and somewhat expensive. While wandering from the parking lot at Place de la Gare in Saint-Jrmeto the caboose home to the transportation company, Autobus Le Ptit train du Nord. var prefix = 'ma' + 'il' + 'to'; While these are never longer than a dozen metres, and are usually nothing more than a mild annoyance, they should be handled with care by anyone going fast on a heavily loaded touring bike. 1 km du village pitonnier de Tremblant, accueillante auberge de bois rond de neuf chambres avec salle de bain prive, la plupart avec air climatis et tlvision (sauf chambres Standard). It has a place to lock up bikes indoors, and the price of the room includes a truly impressive all-you-can-eat breakfast buffet. If it is getting close to lunchtime, it is also possible to eat at several fast food restaurants within immediate walking distance of the parking lot. Dangling our feet inches above the water while seated on a shady rock seemed like an idyllic way to start the trip to me. This last service could prove handy for people who, for whatever reason (bad weather, sore knee) dont feel up to pedalling a particular leg of their trip. Because of its proximity to Montral, the southern part of trail may have a little more bicycle traffic, especially on weekends. Nominigue, Riviere-Rouge, La Belle, Mont Tremblant, Ste Faustin, Ste Agathe. By comparison, the paved surface may seem a little more luxurious, but hard packed crushed stone is fairly easy to ride on. But opting out of some of these cookies may affect your browsing experience. The long climb up the slope comes to an end at the summit just a little over a kilometre past Saint-Faustin-Lac-Carr. The trail winds beside Riviere Rouge in the north and Riviere du Nord in the southern part of the trail. Leigh McAdam is an award-winning photographer and soon to be three-time author with200 Nature Hot Spots in Albertadue out in spring 2022. While you dont need a mountain bike I found our rental bike a hybrid to be a great choice. We could have taken Jean-Claude Poirier, our host, up on an offer to drive us to a restaurant, but we were ready to walk. This slope is not very steep, but it is noticeable because it runs for about 8 kilometres. Analytical cookies are used to understand how visitors interact with the website. After parking the car, many cyclists opt to take the shuttle bus to Mont-Laurier to start their ride at the northern end of the Ptit train du Nord. Author of, Get travel tips & outdoor inspiration by signing up for our monthly newsletter. If you are flying, use Montreal Pierre Trudeau International Airport. This linear park provides a rail trail completed in 1996 on the bed of a train track built between 1891 and 1909. These cookies ensure basic functionalities and security features of the website, anonymously. The following is a typical itinerary for riding the Ptit train du Nord in 50 kilometre increments. There are self service kiosks at the lot where you can purchase parking tickets and leave your car here during our tour. This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. There are a number of different ways of planning a trip on the Ptit train du Nord trail. Our timing was perfect to be finishing and leaving. Its pretty country through here with lots of lakes and rivers. Out of these, the cookies that are categorized as necessary are stored on your browser as they are essential for the working of basic functionalities of the website. Obviously, people can pedal all the way back to where they started. They are both located directly on the trail. We meet riders in Saint Jerome and van to our hotel in Mont Laurier. There is even a relaxing terrace near the arch where people can sit down and order some celebratory drinks at the end of their journey. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Performance". * Please note that pets are not allowed in the transportation service. Its old train station has been converted into a tourist information centre and an exhibition area for local artists. Heiko turns out delicious meals (their memorable lip-smacking delicious peanut aioli boasts black garlic) and packed lunches (the best wrap John had ever eaten filled with hummus, fried onions and eggplant) while Nancy is a ball of fire, running to keep the inn humming and the diners happy. By clicking Accept, you consent to the use of ALL the cookies. This bike trail travels through the Laurentian Mountains of Quebec from Mont Laurier in the north to St. Jerome in the south. Until next time, keep up the good work. Accs une plage prive sur le lac Tremblant. Some people believe it is preferable to start in the north in Mont-Laurier and pedal down to Saint-Jrme. Nothing too serious, but steeper than anything on the Ptit train du Nord. The distance between Val-David and Saint-Jrme is well under 50 kilometres, and should be easy to ride in the final day on the Ptit train du Nord. Shuttle service with special designed trailers for bicycles. At the end of the tour we will arrive by bicycle back at the St. Jerome public parking lot. For $40 (the price as of 2007), they will transport a cyclists and his or her bike and luggage from one end of the trail to the other. Nominingue is not as touristy as some of the towns further south, but it offers everything needed for a comfortable overnight stay, including a variety of hotels, bed & breakfasts, restaurants, bars, and stores. Cyclists come to the end of the trail when they pass under the Ptit train du Nord arch and enter a large plaza. In many areas, this trail curves around rivers, lakes, and the base of mountains. Needless to say, it is overflowing with specialty boutiques, stores, hotels, restaurants, and, of course, tourists. Sounds like you and John truly enjoyed it. Baggage handling from inn to inn, bicycle rental. It houses a surprisingly well equipped bicycle shop as well as a nice restaurant which is an ideal place to grab lunch while watching the traffic on the trail. From Sainte-Agathe-des-Monts it is only another 7 kilometres to Val-David, which is worth considering as an alternative destination. If pedalling up the long slope gives anyone hunger pains, it may be worth stopping at Saint-Faustin-Lac-Carr for a meal. It took us just 2.5 hours to roll under the archway that marked Kilometre 0 on Le Ptit Train du Nord. Velo Quebec Voyagesis a non-profit company based in Montreal, Quebec, Canada. They also offer additional services including providing assistance with trip planning and picking up and dropping off people and their bikes between various centres along the trail. There is a sign announcing the summit at an altitude of 426 metres. Given that this trail doesnt have any real hills, super fit cyclists that are used to very long rides could try to do all 200 kilometres in one day. We van to a local restaurant for dinner. Then we saw Crperie Catherine, all of two minutes into our walk and decided to stop right there. The Ptit train du Nord starts at the old train station in the middle of town. Make sure you buy enough days to cover your entire trip. Our clean, comfortable accommodation for the nigh B&B Le Voyageur (now closed) was just steps away from the trail but it didnt offer dinner. This leads to the beginning of the trail and a large parking lot where people can leave their vehicles while cycling. Table d'hte o saumon fum maison terrine, lapin et civet sont l'honneur. Le transport et le transport de bagages sont inclus. Les 200 kilomtres du Ptit Train du Nord en 4 jours, 3 nuits. The itinerary described in this article is fairly popular for people wanting to ride the trail in daily segments of 50 kilometres. Vous devez activer le JavaScript pour la visualiser. Learn how your comment data is processed. This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. We ride past Lac Nominingue, Lac Tremblant, and Lac Carre as well as smaller lakes. Labelle is also the place where the trails surface changes to crushed stone. For example, the Auberge du Vieux Foyer is a two kilometre ride from the trail on a road with a bike lane. This was the only day we started off with full rain gear partially just to stay warm as the temperature had nose-dived. Your email address will not be published. Transportation, accommodations, prices and bike rental and baggage handling. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Analytics". Si annul moins de 5 jours avant la date de dpart, le montant total du transport sera appliqu votre carte de crdit, et sera applicable une date ultrieure dans la mme saison. The Ptit train du Nord has a paved surface for the last few kilometres leading into Saint-Jrme. La navette de Saint-Jrme Mont-Laurier et le transport de bagages sont inclus par Autobus Le Petit Train du Nord. Other experienced cyclists may be tempted to do it in two 100 kilometres segments, with one overnight stopover. Advertisement cookies are used to provide visitors with relevant ads and marketing campaigns. This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. Ce site est une conception de Jean-Paul Bleau pour. There is a campground in Nominingue located on the left side of the trail a short distance before the old train station. And we opted for a quiet lunch in a farmers field over Gare de Labelle(John is allergic to creosote so we had to blow through this area fast), a popular choice as its got a licensed restaurant. The Stazione Restaurant is next to the trail and is a popular place to have lunch with cyclists. On the way, cyclists will ride by Sainte-Adle. The next day, cyclists will head down the trail to either Sainte-Agathe-des-Monts or Val-David. Named in honour of a train that ran for decades between Saint-Jrme and Mont-Laurier,Le Ptit Train Du Nord ceased service in November, 1981. Plan your trip here. I think we ate more calories than we cycled off! Cette adresse e-mail est protge contre les robots spammeurs. Cyclists leaving Nominingue early enough may want to consider stopping in the small town of Labelle for lunch. Under the restaurant is a rental outlet for kayaks and canoes. Le Petit Train du Nord, a 200 km multi-use trail in Quebecs Laurentian region checks off almost every box cyclists dream about. It is spectacularly scenic. After a 2.5 hour drive with one stop for coffee, we arrived in Mont-Laurier. Use ground transportation to meet us at our St. Jerome train station meeting location. From this point onwards, it is all down hill for the rest of the Ptit train du Nord. En chambre ou en chalet, l'auberge vous attend pour vous faire vivre un sjour mmorable. The afternoon brings us past waterfalls into the village of Val David. Premier et troisime soir ; le souper est inclus. The two companies are working closely together to ensure atrue Senior Cycling experience for all participants. The Ptit train du Nord literally means the Little Train of the North, and the trail is built on an old railway line which closed in the late 1980s. A true adventurer, Leigh prefers wilderness experiences, camping and glamping in unique locations, long hikes, multi-day bike rides and paddling trips where few people go. mi-chemin entre St-Sauveur et Mont-Tremblant l'Auberge est reconnue pour la qualit de son accueil. Although built to be next to the large ski hills, it operates as a year round resort. All this is located right next to, or within easy walking distance of the trail. Like many other places on the trail, the towns old train station has been converted into a tourist information centre and exhibition space for local artists. I was immediately impressed with the organization that goes into moving several vans full of people along with their bikes and luggage. In this area it is best to go slow and be ready for pedestrian traffic. More details will follow prior to the tour. From there we cycled on straight-as-an-arrow trails through wooded countryside with peek-a-boo views of ponds. There is also a park along the trail in this area, and the towns old train station has public washrooms. Quatre jours et trois nuits dans trois auberges de charme au bord de leau : le lac Nominingue, la rivire Rouge et la rivire du Nord. Note: Autobus Le Ptit train du Nordoffers packages that include a shuttle to Mont-Laurier, bike rentals and transport, luggage moving and accommodation. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. A bathing suit would be a welcome addition in the summer when the lakes beckon on hot, sunny days. But its usually the opposite with the Ptit train du Nord. De Mont-Laurier Saint-Jrme (200km), en hbergement toujours prs de la piste cyclable. It was at this inn we met a couple from Timmins and their daughter from Nanaimo. An easier option would be to take advantage of the services offered by at least two businesses which operate shuttle buses with trailers that are especially designed for moving bicycles. 34 miles We bike from Mont Laurier to Lac Nominingue with a picnic lunch beside the trail. And this is lake country. On this part of the trail, the towns are fewer and further apart, and the surroundings are a little more rustic, and perhaps a touch more scenic. It is French. The cookie is set by the GDPR Cookie Consent plugin and is used to store whether or not user has consented to the use of cookies. It was an unseasonably hot day when we started out so when we arrived at a lake after just 30 minutes of easy cycling it seemed a tad premature for lunch but it was such a pretty spot that we figured why not. It can provide cyclists with enough fuel to pedal for the better part of a day, although the crowd around the buffet counter can sometimes resemble a war zone. Cue the beautiful countryside, delicious local food, charming small towns and villages, excellent signage and relatively easy cycling especially if you bike from north to south. When driving north on the Autoroute 15, take exit 43, head east for a few blocks on rue de Martigny Ouest, then turn right onto Labelle Boulevard, and then left on rue de la Gare. Nancy and Heiko Auberge lle de France. The cookies is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Necessary". Official web site of the Ptit train du Nord, Qubecs Route Verte trail and bike network. Join the Wait List. These cookies track visitors across websites and collect information to provide customized ads. A true adventurer, Leigh prefers wilderness experiences, camping and glamping in unique locations, long hikes, multi-day bike rides and paddling trips where few people go. Sainte-Agathe-des-Monts is a fairly large centre in the Laurentians almost a mini city. Val David, Val Morin, and Ste Adele all lie either directly beside or just off the trail. Tracks were ripped up, former railway station houses were transformed into museums and cafs and the old railway bed converted to a trail that is now used by cyclists, hikers and rollerbladers when its snow free and in winter by cross-country skiers and snowmobilers, though they never share the same section of trail. Such a timetable should leave plenty of time to stop for relaxing meals, to do a little exploring, and if it is hot enough, to take a quick dip in one of the rivers and streams which are often accessible from the trail. addy99111096ccc283c6b250268f83a4c4fe = addy99111096ccc283c6b250268f83a4c4fe + 'ignace' + '.' + 'qc' + '.' + 'ca';