We went snowmobiling on Lake Morency

Hello there, it’s Mélanie! I’m the one taking the keyboard this time for the latest article in the series on the activities we did during our recent vacation in Quebec. In this article, I will tell you about our snowmobiling experience on Lake Morency. A superb ride that left us in awe.

So yes, there was already an article on the blog about the best places for snowmobiling in Quebec, but it was a general article based on the knowledge, notably from Valérie who lives there. Thanks to Manawa, she even had the opportunity to personally test a snowmobile excursion experience in the Laurentians, at another spot.

But this time, it’s us giving you our opinion, and that’s wonderful.

Please note that this article was produced in partnership with Manawa, the reference provider we recommend if you wish to book your activities online before going on vacation. We use it all the time—as usual—during our week in the Laurentians, and frankly, we are more than delighted! However, we remain fully in control of our writing and our opinion.

If you want to read about other adventures that we had the opportunity to experience during these 15 days in Quebec, I invite you to read our article about the helicopter in Mont-Tremblant and snow tubing.

Since writing this article, we’ve returned to Canada, and Mélanie and Louis were able to enjoy another snowmobile experience near the Saguenay Fjord.

As usual during our week in the Laurentians, we left our cabin quite early to get to the site. The weather was overcast and they were forecasting snow—it promised well! We arrived on site about an hour early and completed the necessary paperwork for the ride. It turns out that today, it was only Louis and me since Téo is too young to ride a snowmobile yet. Sylvain therefore stayed with him, nice and warm!

We were able to find parking easily in the large lot provided. There is a small kiosk with a fire lit right in front of the reception to warm up your hands, which always feels good. The welcome was really excellent, with no issues on that side. As the lady had indicated, we went down to the lower part of the lodge where Sylvain and Téo could wait for us in an activity room. Everything is very well done: it’s a large room on the ground floor of a lodge. It is well heated, you can relax on sofas, play board games, enjoy a coffee corner, with a view of the snow falling on the lake just across from us. Speaking of snow, large flakes were falling now, creating, as always, a magical atmosphere! It may sound vague, but someone had to volunteer for the activity.

We then all headed together under the heavy snowflakes toward the prefabricated building next to the reception to gear up. We were given gloves, a helmet with a visor, and a balaclava. A short video was shown that explained the safety instructions on a television. It was very brief but well explained. At first, I was a little surprised because I thought they could have simply explained everything directly, but in reality, the guide asked us all the questions to ensure that we had understood how the snowmobile works.

I then met Junior, our guide, who seemed really friendly. Louis was over the moon at the idea of being able to ride a snowmobile—it was going to be great. He made sure one last time that I understood how to start the snowmobile, how to position myself on it, turn, brake, accelerate… In short, a good recap of the video. I left Téo and Sylvain comfortably indoors, and we set off with Louis.

Despite everything, Sylvain looked a little sad, but I promised him that if we return to Canada next winter, it will be him experiencing the activity this time. In fact, thanks to Mélanie’s cousin, we learned that you can do 2- or 3-day snowmobile trips deep in Quebec — something to consider!

We left the parking lot heading toward the lake next to the lodge, which is completely frozen. It started snowing even harder, with large flakes, and that really creates an extraordinary atmosphere. The first few meters are very enjoyable and you eventually begin to feel sensations similar to riding a motorcycle. Junior had us do a few 180° turns and circles to familiarize ourselves with the snowmobile. It turns out it isn’t so hard after all… well, on a frozen lake where there are no obstacles. We were briefed on what we would do for 1 hour. He told us, in particular, that we would climb the hill located right in front of us to obtain a very beautiful view of the frozen lake.

He also explained, which reassured Louis a bit, that there is at least 30 or 40 cm of ice under the snowmobile and that the lake can even support a truck without any problem. So a snowmobile, no problem! I didn’t specifically mention it, but Louis obviously isn’t allowed to drive, so he was riding pillion behind me.

He also told us that the lake actually takes quite a long time to freeze since it is about 20 m deep. We then took back the snowmobiles to continue, and we soon found ourselves deep in the forest… and it was just magnificent. The atmosphere is truly superb: everything is white and it’s really beautiful with snow all around us, and the famous maples.

Right from the start, I very easily recalled the sensations of riding a motorcycle with my brother back in the day. Except that now, of course, the atmosphere is completely different. We then stopped in the forest and Junior showed us the maples and some small iron boxes. He asked us if we knew what they were. At first glance, I replied that they looked like trash bins, and he laughed heartily: that’s not it at all.

He lifted the small lid and a little spout came out, which allows the collection of maple water in the spring. The water is then boiled until evaporation and the natural sugars are then collected. Once the desired consistency is reached, you obtain a golden, sweet syrup, ready to be enjoyed! We’ll end up stuffing ourselves with pancakes here, haha!

When we were in the forest, he explained that we were now going to climb the hill and that the slope would become a bit steeper. It is then necessary to maintain a constant speed while accelerating along the incline. Throughout the climb, it kept snowing, but with the large visor on the helmet, it wasn’t an issue. The scenery is still magnificent and very snowy all around us. Frankly, it’s like a dream. I didn’t mention it specifically, but even though it was a bit colder on Louis’ feet…

We then stopped at a first viewpoint at the top of the hill, which allowed us to obtain a very beautiful panorama of the frozen lake. Sure, the weather isn’t magnificent, but we are really happy to be there with Louis and to enjoy this extraordinary experience. The lake has a fish shape, and he shows us where the village is, although I must admit that the lack of visibility is noticeable.

We continued on our way toward a second viewpoint, which allowed us to obtain a better view of the bottom of the lake and its famous fish tail. Junior explained things to us each time, and it was really nice. He didn’t hesitate to take a photo of the two of us.

We also received plenty of information about the kilometers of snowmobile trails in the Laurentians, which is truly enormous. In summer, these famous snowmobile trails are reserved for ATVs, jeeps, and on-foot trips with dogs. It is also possible to swim in the lake during the summer, and even fish for gray trout, although I definitely don’t think the water is warm — not like in our lagoon!

Time flies, as we only had one hour, and then we continued without any stop, weaving between the fir trees, still so beautiful and white, which made the moment truly soothing. I didn’t really have any difficulty with the snowmobile. I simply enjoyed and lived that moment in complete serenity. And then, experiencing it in a practical way with my big one, it became an even more intense moment. I love spending time with Louis more and more… but anyway, I digress.

We calmly returned to the parking lot, with a quick debrief with Junior. We returned all the equipment to him, and we went back, stars in our eyes, to join Sylvain and Téo who, themselves, had a great time staying warm.

For your information, we had decided to rent all our winter clothes with Tuque & Bicycle Expériences, and honestly it was great! We tell you everything in our article.

As Sylvain is accustomed to, a few words on the practical side.

As usual, everything will depend on where you started your journey and on your destination city. Chances are you’ll be arriving from Montreal, and in that case, you will need a rental car. We increasingly recommend checking out the comparison site Discover Cars — that’s how we found our best prices for this trip.

From Montreal, it is approximately 80 km and a 1-hour drive to get to Saint-Hippolyte, which is the town right next door.

Depending on your plans, you might want to stay overnight in the area. We’ve selected 3 top-rated places for you:

• L’auberge du Lac Morency: This is the spot where we started our journey. You’ll enjoy comfortable accommodation with a private beach, indoor pool, spa, and numerous leisure facilities in a natural setting with stunning views of the lake. The quality of the services, as well as the delicious breakfast, are well known.
• Hôtel du lac Lenore: A warm accommodation with cozy rooms equipped with fireplaces, offering views of the lake and garden, along with various outdoor amenities. You’ll love the chalet vibe, the comfort of the facilities, and the excellent hospitality!
• Chalet 4saisons: You’ll enjoy spacious, family-friendly lodging with modern amenities such as a hot tub, fully equipped kitchen, and a terrace overlooking the lake. The atmosphere is warm and the cleanliness is impeccable!

We stayed in an excellent little Airbnb chalet, but there are plenty of diverse lodging options around. We’ve also selected for you the best hotels in Mont-Tremblant.

Alright, I’ll stop here for this ride! See you soon, and feel free to go dog sledding in the Laurentians during your visit!

See you soon!

Written by Sylvain PONS

I had the opportunity to explore the beauty of this country I love on several different occasions and in different places (Canadian Rockies, the Island of Newfoundland for 1 month, Yukon and Québec)!

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