Bike Loop on the Petit Train du Nord (Quebec)

Hi there, We’re leaving from Montreal and planning to bike the Petit Train du Nord route. Any ideas for loops so we don’t have to return the same way? We’re thinking of a one-week trip. Thanks in advance for your tips! Rachel

hi, this seems tricky since there aren’t any other trails nearby to get back. Unless you ride on Route 117, the Laurentians one, but that’s really not recommended—lots of traffic and tons of narrow sections.

Thanks for your reply! We’ll check it out. Have you done this route before? Have a great day!

Hi there, happy to help! To answer your question, yes, I know this route well—I practically know every section like the back of my hand 😉 I’ve done the trail multiple times on cross-country skis, on foot, snowshoes, and even by canoe when I lived in Quebec. Accommodations in Lac-Saguay, Mont-Laurier, Labelle, L’Ascension, etc. There’s an option to take a bus back from Mont-Laurier. The best part of the return trip is that the trail is all downhill. From Saint-Jérôme, start at the bus station

Thanks a bunch

so what are you all planning to do? I checked Google Maps and I don’t see any alternative route.

I’m meeting up with a friend who’s been living in Montreal for a little while, and we want to go biking. He says we should look into info between Mont-Laurier and Gatineau—apparently, finding accommodations is tricky there?

Ouch, yeah, I doubt there are any accommodations all the way to Gatineau. And the big downside is that I doubt there’s a bike path. The Petit Train du Nord trail ends in Mont-Laurier

Hi there, Isn’t there a route that loops back to Gatineau?

Hello, We're leaving from Montreal and planning to bike the Petit Train du Nord route. Any ideas for a loop to avoid coming back the same way? We were thinking of a week-long trip. Thanks in advance for your tips! Rachel

Hi Rachel, We’re Quebecers, bike travelers, and tandem cyclists. We live in Ste-Adèle in the Laurentians, which is a fantastic playground for biking—and for cross-country skiing during Quebec’s beautiful winters.

If you're up for a bit of a challenge and comfortable riding on quiet country roads, there are several lovely alternatives to complement the Petit Train du Nord and avoid a round trip. Here’s a first suggestion:

a.) Start in St-Jérôme at the bus station; follow the PTDN to Mont-Tremblant (94 km). If you prefer shorter stages, Mont-Rolland, Val-David, or Ste-Agathe are good options.

b.) Return along the Rouge River and then on the Corridor Aérobique, a forest bike path. Pass through the villages of La Conception (via PTDN), then toward Brébeuf along the river, Arundel (where you’ll join the Corridor Aérobique, continuing to its end in Morin Heights), Lac-à-la-Loutre, Huberdeau, Weir, Lac-des-Seize-Îles, Lac St-François, and Morin Heights. After Morin Heights, take Chemin du Village toward St-Sauveur to avoid the busy Route 364. You’ll rejoin the PTDN after the village and head back to St-Jérôme. This second leg totals 110 km and is hillier than the PTDN the day before, but still very pleasant and less crowded. Here’s the detailed route: https://www.openrunner.com/route-details/21166470

A second, longer suggestion would let you do the full PTDN to Mont-Laurier, then cross toward Ottawa through the Outaouais. We did this trip with our kids in 6 days of biking—a loop totaling 760 km from our former home in Beloeil, but it’d be shorter depending on whether you start from Montreal, Laval, or St-Jérôme.

https://www.openrunner.com/route-details/1548371 https://www.crazyguyonabike.com/doc/Beloeil-Ottawa-Mont-Laurier

A third option is a hybrid of the two: go all the way to Mont-Tremblant on the PTDN, then return via the full Corridor Aérobique, passing through Papineau-Labelle (wildlife reserve). That’s about 450 km, with 3/4 on bike paths and 1/4 on quiet roads. https://www.openrunner.com/route-details/21166546

There are also other great options often used by local cycling clubs—I can give you more details based on your needs. Hope this helps you discover and enjoy our beautiful region (you should also come in winter to explore our cross-country ski trails from village to village!). Here’s a little video of what you could experience in winter:

https://youtu.be/Up2tnQR7F0Y?si=eFXJ2cAp5DGX35gR

It’s entirely possible to connect Gatineau and Ottawa, partly via bike paths through Gatineau Park south of Grand Remous. However, there are also several quiet backroads, especially via Val-des-Bois and Buckingham. Accommodation is more limited in this region for those doing it as a multi-day trip, but it’s not completely lacking. That said, there are plenty of opportunities for wild camping. We even have a directory of wild camping spots in Quebec, exclusively reserved for self-sufficient cycle-travelers, which I can share privately if needed.

Alternatively, shorter loops are also possible, like via Amherst on the Corridor Aérobique, another bike path that’s wilder and less crowded than the P'tit Train du Nord (PTDN).

Hi there, Thanks so much for all this info! We’re pretty active—skiing and biking—and we live in the Alps. I’m meeting up with a friend who’s settled in Montreal. I went to Vancouver in the winter and I’m definitely planning to visit Montreal and the Laurentians. This summer, after biking with my friend, I’m heading to the Gaspésie for 10 days with a friend whose son is studying there. I’d love any tips or recommendations too! Thanks again—I’ll pass this along to my friend. Have a great day!

It’s entirely possible to travel between Gatineau and Ottawa, partly on bike paths through Gatineau Park south of Grand Remous. However, there are several quiet back roads.

Hi there, Okay, got it. But is it possible to reach Gatineau on a bike path, even if starting from Mont-Laurier? Otherwise, we’d have to take small roads that are still used by cars.

Hi there,

If you ever decide to take the route that goes through Oka, you can stop there to spend the night (Oka Park with a gorgeous beach overlooking Lac des Deux-Montagnes). If you're using a tent, there are campsites available. If you don't have a tent, you can book a yurt. However, you’ll need to reserve early to make sure one is available.

Also, depending on the dates you choose, don’t forget that from July 20 to August 2, it’s construction holiday in Quebec. It’s recommended to book your accommodations in advance, especially this year with the "boycott" that seems to be happening against the U.S. There will likely be a lot of Quebecers vacationing within the province.

Happy planning! 👍

Hi there, Thanks so much! We’ll be pedaling starting September 15th. We’re finalizing our route and checking out accommodations. All great tips are welcome! Thanks, Rachel

Thanks! We’ll finalize our route, and I’ll definitely reach out to you about accommodations—depending on where we decide to stop. Have a great day! Rachel

It’s entirely possible to travel between Gatineau and Ottawa, partly on bike paths through Gatineau Park south of Grand Remous. However, several quiet back roads also work.

Evening, okay, got it. Can you get to Gatineau on a bike path starting from Mont-Laurier?

I’d refer you to the official sites of Vélo Québec and the Route Verte, which manage Quebec’s bike paths.

https://www.routeverte.com/cartographie-route-verte/

https://www.velo.qc.ca/#

So, Route Verte 2 (known as the Petit Train du Nord, between St-Jérôme and Mont-Laurier) goes even farther, through Parc La Vérendrye, toward Abitibi (Val-D’Or, Amos, La Sarre, Rouyn) and beyond to Témiscamingue (Ville-Marie, etc.). I did this crossing during COVID in 2020, but I started from St-Félicien in Lac St-Jean, via Jamésie (Chibougamau, Chapais, Lebel-sur-Quévillon, and Senneterre, where I then connected to RV2 in Val-D’Or). I’ve also done the bike routes between Mont-Laurier, Grand Remous, Maniwaki, and Hull a few times (in 2012 with my teenage kids, then in 2021 from Toronto and Ottawa on the way back from Newfoundland). There *is* a bike path, more or less parallel to Route 105, that links up with RV2 from Grand Remous, partly through Gatineau Park farther south.

Personally, I found the small country and forest roads along the Lièvre River—via Notre-Dame-de-Laus and Val-des-Bois (Routes 309 then 307, avoiding the busier 311)—much more charming: more bucolic, winding just right, and fully paved.

Otherwise, you’re forced to take small roads that still see some car traffic.

Bike paths? Cycling routes? Quiet roads? It’d be a bit of a pointless debate since skill and experience vary so much from one bike traveler to another. A young family with kids will need more safety, while a long-distance cyclist might prefer a loop route instead of backtracking on the same trail to see different landscapes and explore the region more.

The original poster is also considering biking around the Gaspésie, a region mainly served by Route 132, which loops around but isn’t particularly safe for cyclists. Can we assume they’ve got the experience to ride on quiet country roads like the ones I’m suggesting between Mont-Laurier and Gatineau?

https://www.crazyguyonabike.com/doc/NPionQuebecNord2020

https://www.crazyguyonabike.com/doc/Canada-tandemTour2021

https://www.crazyguyonabike.com/doc/TDM_en_Tandem_Trajets_Maps

Thanks! I’ll look into it. For Gaspésie, though, it’ll be by car with a friend, leaving from Montreal. E Thanks

Bike paths? Cycling lanes? Quiet roads? It’d be a bit of a pointless debate, since skill and experience vary so much from one bike traveler to another, from one cyclist to another.

Oh really, you think it’s pointless? Even when your own safety is at stake? Well, I respect your point of view, but personally, I wouldn’t trust secondary roads—even if drivers in this province are conscientious.

Good evening, I don’t understand your response?? I thanked you and I definitely didn’t talk about trivial things??

Bike paths? Cycling lanes? Quiet roads? It might seem like a bit of a pointless debate, since skill and experience vary so much from one bike traveler to another, from one cyclist to another.

Didn’t I write that??

hi, sorry but my message wasn’t meant for you :)

That’s reassuring 😊 Have a good evening

Ce n'est pas moi qui ai écrit cela??

Uhh no, you must have a screen issue, you. That was written by monsieur Rikimiki. Have a good evening! 🙂

Just replying to messages Two of you wrote to me That’s weird Have a good evening

Bike paths? Cycling lanes? Quiet roads? It might seem like a bit of a pointless debate, since skill and experience vary so much from one cycle-traveler to another, from one cyclist to another.

Oh, you think it’s pointless? Even when your own safety is at stake? Well, if that’s your point of view, I respect it. But personally, I wouldn’t trust secondary roads, even if drivers in this province are conscientious.

I simply believe it’s a personal choice, depending on our own levels of comfort, our experience on the road, and who we’re cycling with. The word "pointless" might not be the best fit—I just wanted to avoid debating a subjective issue that isn’t mine to decide. I’ll say it again: "since skill and experience vary so much from one cycle-traveler to another, from one cyclist to another."

The route info I share is strictly for informational purposes—never a conviction or obligation. Everyone is free to take or leave the suggestions.

The same goes for elevation; I love mountainous routes on my bike trips, but I totally get that others might prefer easier bike paths. It’s all about personal freedom.

For the Mont-Laurier–Grand Remous–Maniwaki route, I find the quiet roads toward Gatineau much safer than the RV2 bike path to Val-d’Or, but that’s just my personal opinion—other cyclists might agree or not.

That said, I do know what I’m talking about, having biked all these routes in recent years.

Happy cycling season in Quebec (or anywhere else on the planet)! !