Le Massif

In the late-1970s, local skiers began using a combination of vans and snowmobiles to move skiers around the slopes of what eventually became known as the Le Massif de Charlevoix ski area. With a view overlooking the St. Lawrence River and the highest vertical east of the Rockies, the winter venue is a popular destination less than an hour from Quebec City.

Motorists will take Route 138 north from Quebec City, driving along the northern shores of the St. Lawrence River until they reach Petite-Rivière-Saint-François. Skiers and snowboarders traveling by air will find the Quebec City Jean Lasage International Airport the closest major airfield.

Skiing and Riding the Big Drop

The stand-out features for most alpine enthusiasts are the vertical and the snowfall, both of which are the biggest east of the Canadian Rocky Mountains. The Le Massif de Charlevoix ski area has a base elevation of just 118 feet and a summit that reaches 2,644 feet. That helps create the 2,526-foot vertical drop that snow hounds flock here to test their skills upon. An annual average snowfall exceeding 250 inches also provides plenty of chances for skiers and riders to play during a dump or cut fresh tracks after the storms pass.

Le Massif offers several lodging options that range from hotel rooms to private chalets. Guests staying here have priority on the slopes, which is something to consider on weekends and holidays. Four locations offer visitors the ski-apres one might expect from a popular winter destination. The cuisine is varied and adds to the atmosphere off the snow. Occasional Daycare provides a safe place for child supervision while their parents carve through the pow at hourly, half-day, and full-day rates.

Le Massif does rent out gear and accessories for anyone showing up empty-handed, and guests will also find items they may have forgotten to pack sold in the retail areas. Group and private lessons will get everyone up and going, with sessions ranging from beginners to seasoned downhill explorers. Some programs focus on adaptive skiing, free-styling, backcountry skiing, and entry-level instructor sessions.

Choosing the Best Path Down

There are over 406 skiable acres at the Le Massif de Charlevoix ski area, which the staff grooms regularly. Maintenence includes snowmaking on about 170 acres of terrain. Plenty of snow is set aside for cross-country skiers and snowshoers, offering a way to enjoy the resort outside of downhill. A third way to enjoy the winter here is by riding down the 4.6-mile long luge trail or exploring the off-trail gnarl sitting between the luge run and the downhill trails of Le Massif.

Those skiing or riding down the slopes at Le Massif will find that the resort offers advanced and expert ski bums more opportunities. Runs rated green for beginners cover only about 15-percent of the mountain, with blue-rated intermediate trails providing an additional 30-percent of named runs. Advanced runs rank as double diamond (20-percent,) and expert terrain rank as double black diamond (35-percent).

Eight lifts move guests uphill at over 11,000 skiers each hour Le Massif, including the conveyor in the novice's area and the high-speed gondola.