ATV AND off-road motorcycle trails
Managed and maintained by the Club Quad de La Matanie in collaboration with the Club Moto Aventure Chic-Chocs, our ATV trails welcome enthusiasts of enduro and dual-purpose off-road motorcycles. Nearly 300 kilometers of federated trails are spread over the territory of La Matanie allowing you to discover the beauty of our forests, to ride along St. Lawrence river, to explore our wind farms and to climb our mountains.
With the largest number of moose per square kilometer in Quebec, the Matane Wildlife Reserve covers an area of 1,275 km2. It is crossed from south to north by trail 807, which passes by the Étang-à-la-truite, a magnificent sector for an excursion in the heart of the Chic-Chocs mountains! Note that during the hunting season, only the trail that crosses the Matane Wildlife Reserve, between Saint-Jean-Cherbourg and Carleton, is closed to ATV.
For the past 10 years, every summer, the event Aventure MTCTAN takes place in La Matanie : an organized 3-day trip where close to 150 off-road motorcycle enthusiasts gather to explore 800 km of trails with cool or hot technical levels. Quite an adventure in the Gaspesian jungle!
Recreational Boating
The Marina de Matane
Whether you are a sailor, a boat enthusiast or simply curious, a stop at the Matane marina is a must. Close to downtown and offering drinks inside the little building at the marina, the Capitainerie Delphis Bélanger is the ideal place to refuel and meet interesting people during your stopover in the region. The many sailboats in the marina will impress the young and old alike. On site, "Le Knorr", a replica of a Viking ship will welcome you. How to explain its surprising presence here? This is an excellent question to ask the members or employees of the marina.
If you are coming in from offshore, head for the red and white buoy marked "MATAN" (48º51.639'N; 67º32.357'W). Communicate by VHF with the marina staff, on channel 68, to indicate your arrival and the size of your boat so that they can assign you a berth. The Club de Yacht de Matane offers several services to sailors: drinkable water tank refill, 25A and 30A electricity on the pontoons, gasoline and diesel, service module including five private shower rooms, toilet and sink, laundry room, launching ramp, minor repair shop, dry dock and free long-term parking.
Learn more about the Marina de Matane
Where can I find a dock or a boat ramp in the region of Matane?
VAnlife and RV traveling
Where to sleep, eat and dump your used water during a RV trip in the region of Matane? Here is some practical information and advices to help you plan your vacation in La Matanie.
Where to stop to sleep?
Most municipalities in La Matanie have regulations prohibiting overnight parking in public places. In order to avoid fines and to sleep safely, we invite you to use the services provided for this purpose.
Boondocking with your RV
In addition to the certified campsites offered at several locations on our territory, some municipalities in our region have set up spaces specifically for self-sufficient campers. Signs are always disposed on sites to clearly identify where overnight parking is permitted. Contact the Tourist Information Office of Matane to find out where these sites are located and to obtain information on the regulations to follow.
Rest stops
Picnic tables, sanitary facilities, drinkable water and playgrounds are among the services that can be found at some rest stops. However, in the province of Quebec, it is forbidden to be parked in a rest stop for a period of more than 4 hours or to spend the night there. Also note that most rest stops arejust open during summer, therefore open from mid-May to mid-October. Visit quebec511.info for more information.
Certified RV Friendly Campsites
Terego - A way to discover a place throught agritourism
Terego is a network of free overnight parking spaces at local hosts in Canada who warmly welcome travelers with RVs (recreational vehicles: motor homes, caravans, campers, minivans). To have access to the network, the traveler only needs to become a member of Terego with either a yearly subscription or a 3 consecutive days passport. No other fees will be charged by the network's hosts to stay overnight. To make a reservation, first choose your RV parks by browsing the online map or searching by region, date, host type or other search criteria. Then reserve your parking with one click! The host is immediately notified by email of your visit. In La Matanie, we are fortunate to have a host on our territory, the smokehouse Fumoir M. Chassé. Discover the good products of this producer by reserving this location on the Terego platform!
Dumping station, fresh water fill-up, propane fill-up and other services for RV travelers
Looking for a station to drain your RV? Need to fill your propane tank? Your drinkable water tank is almost dry? You need a repairman for your van? Find all the services offered to RV or van owners on this map. Click on the icons for more details.
Leave no trace: Tips for a more responsible travel
In La Matanie, even if there are large open spaces of nature that do not seem to be occupied, the place you want to park always belongs to an individual, a business, a municipality or another entity. It may also be a protected area.
Here are some behaviours to adopt and be inspired by when traveling:
- Get well informed and plan your roadtrip before leaving your home;
- Limit your waste during meals on the road. Bring the following items: reusable water bottle, reusable utensils, table cloths and rags, dish soap, etc. Eliminate single-use containers as much as possible;
- Recycle and compost, even when you are traveling;
- Always empty your RV's waste water at the designated dump stations;
- Do not venture onto the beach with your vehicle, as this can cause significant damage to fragile habitat and the species that inhabit it;
- Always make sure that you are in order when you pass through a place with your vehicle as well as when you park it;
- Once there, why not prioritize walking or biking;
- To taste all the local flavours, buy Matane's products from local producers, fish shops and restaurants;
- Drive fewer kilometers a day and discover the little treasures of the localities. Meet the locals and immerse yourself in the local culture;
- Encourage the local economy by staying overnight in a certified campsite. In addition, you will have access to more services and have the chance to meet other travelers like you. Many campgrounds organize activities and events especially for their users;
- Offset your carbon emissions based on your RV's fuel consumption with a Quebec-based GHG offsetting organization, such as Carbone Boréal, Irokko or Planetair;
- Adopt the Leave no trace principles: Respect the spaces we have the privilege of using. For example, properly dispose of and pick up any garbage that gets in our way, respect wildlife, leave intact what we discover (plants, rocks, etc.), respect others around you.
Snowmobiling
The Club des amoureux de la motoneige de Matane (snowmobile trails)
Known for its exceptional snowfall, La Matanie offers unforgettable experiences to snowmobile enthusiasts. Discover nearly 350 km of trails maintained by the Club des amoureux de la motoneige de Matane and the priceless beauty of the river and mountain landscapes. In the region of Matane, you have the beauty of the St. Lawrence river, but you have also the beginning of the Chic-Chocs mountain range. Our snowmobile trails extends from Saint-Damase in La Matapédia, south of Baie-des-Sables, to the Relais de La Cache located in the heart of the Chic-Chocs. This is a huge territory to cover! A superb playground awaits you.
Before you leave, here are a few things to do:
- Plan your itinerary - Consult the Gaspésie snowmobile trails interactive map;
- To be safe, tell someone you know about your itinerary;
- Consult the trails conditions with the iMotoneige app or visit the website amoureuxdelamotoneige.com/trail-conditions/;
- Get your trail permit: all snowmobilers are required to have a trail permit in order to use the trails in the pronvince of Quebec. This can be done through the Fédération des clubs de motoneigistes du Québec website or by phone at 1-844-253-4343.
Good practices to adopt when snowmobiling:
- Keep to your right ont the trails and keep a good distance from other snowmobiles;
- Drive at the indicated speed and according to your own abilities (physical, degree of comfort, etc.) and to other conditions such as the weather;
- Don't throw your garbage on or off the trails. Keep it with you and dispose of it in a garbage can;
- Be respectful when you are near residences and when passing other users (cross-country skiing, snowshoeing);
- Avoid driving after hours - at night the resurfacers are at work and it is not safe to venture out on the trails;
- Stop at road crossings;
- Avoid waterways except on club-marked trails;
- Avoid the use of drugs and alcohol;
- It is mandatory for the owner of a snowmobile to have at least $1,000,000 in liability insurance and to carry proof of this insurance;
- Change regarding the new act respecting off-highway vehicules: for drivers aged 16 and 17, they must have a valid driver's license in addition to the training.
- Helmets must be worn at all times while riding (Article 52.2. OHV Act).
To learn more about the laws and regulations, click here.
Some areas are prohibited for off-trail snowmobiling. Consult the map of prohibited areas in the Gaspé Peninsula for off-trail snowmobiling. Not respecting the rules is detrimental to the sport of snowmobiling. In the Matanie, there are currently no off-trail sectors available. Please respect the zones and stay on the trails so as not to interfere with pass agreements.
Snowmobile Relay Stations
A large network of trails means many snowmobile relay stations and shelters where you can take a break, get warm and have a bite to eat. Plan a few stops during your tour:
- Relais Place des Sports, Matane: Open. Restaurant and bar service.
- Relais St-Adelme, Saint-Adelme: Open. Restaurant and bar service. Lodging (Motel Marquis) and gas station nearby.
- Halte des montagnes, Saint-Jean-de-Cherbourg: Open. Restaurant service.
- Relais St-Paulin, Les Méchins (Saint-Paulin-Dalibaire): Open. Located on the Trans-Qc 5 trail between Les Méchins and the Camp Simoneau shelter, near the intersection to take the 595 trail. Restaurant service.
- Relais de la Cache, TNO Rivière-Bonjour: Open. Located on trail 595, near route 299. Gas, convenience store, meals and lodging.
- Camp Simoneau shelter, TNO Rivière-Bonjour: Open. Located on trail 595 between the St-Paulin snowmobile clubhouse and the Faribault outfitter. Equipped with a wood stove.
- Canton Richard shelter, TNO Rivière-Bonjour: Open. Located on trail 595 between Faribault outfitter and Relais de la Cache. Equipped with a wood stove.
Moderation tastes better! Drinking and driving don't go together, and that goes for snowmobiling too. Remember that snowmobiling is an off-road activity and takes place in a natural, unpredictable and uncontrollable environment. If you drink at a snowmobile clubhouse or a shelter, have a second sober driver who can take over and drive your snowmobile. Zero Alcohol - Your Smart Choice!
Snowmobile routes ideas
Thanks to its geographical location, Matane is the perfect base camp to take off in the morning and choose one of the many routes available to you. As the gateway to the Chic-Chocs, you will find yourself in a true mountain playground where snow and nature take center stage! In addition, several hotels in our region offer snowmobilers the possibility of leaving their car in a long-term parking lot so that they can make a trip of more than one night before returning to Matane. Be inspired by our snowmobile routes that crisscross the Gaspé Peninsula and whose departure points are all located in Matane.
Discover our snowmobile routes
What should I do if I come across an animal while snowmobiling?
- Slow down or turn off the engine completely to avoid scaring them;
- Stay calm, do not shout;
- Do not disturb them in their ravage or chase them;
- Do everything you can to avoid injuring it;
- Turn back if the animal does not run away or if you find yourself in a ravine.
By adopting these good habits, you contribute to responsible snowmobiling by reducing its impact on wildlife and to the positive impact of this important activity, particularly for the tourism industry.
