Quebec City: Jacques-Cartier Snowshoeing & Winter Lunch

Snowshoeing Jacques-Cartier: Three Hours in Quebec's Winter Forest

You're picked up from your hotel, driven to Jacques-Cartier National Park, and spend three hours snowshoeing quiet forest trails with a guide who points out wildlife and natural history. Lunch and a hot drink are served in a heated tipi tent midway through. All equipment is included, and you're back at your hotel by mid-afternoon.

Is this one for you?Book this if you want to see Quebec's winter forest without arranging your own transport, equipment, or timing — the fixed schedule and included gear mean you show up ready to walk, and the guide handles everything else.

Step-by-step itinerary

Day 1 — Snowshoeing in Jacques-Cartier Park

• Meet guide on bus at 9am
• Travel to Jacques-Cartier National Park
• Start guided snowshoe hike at 10:15am
• Explore trails and take photos
• Stop at heated tipi for lunch and hot drink
• Finish snowshoe hike at 2pm
• Return to Quebec City by minivan

The Experience

The minivan pulls away from your hotel at 9am, and by 10 you're already stepping into Jacques-Cartier National Park, about thirty minutes north of downtown Quebec City. Your guide is waiting, and the snowshoes are ready. The trails ahead are quiet — the kind of quiet that only happens when snow covers everything — and the winter landscape spreads out in front of you without the usual summer crowds. You'll spend the next three hours moving through the forest at an easy pace, stopping whenever something catches your eye or when your legs need a break. The guide knows the area's natural history and wildlife patterns, and in winter, animals leave tracks that are easier to read than spotting them directly.

Around midday, you reach a heated tipi tent set back into the trees. This is where the tour shifts from moving to sitting still for a while. Lunch is served here — hot food, a hot drink, and a chance to warm up properly before heading back out. The vegetarian option is available if you've mentioned it when booking. After you eat, it's another hour or so of snowshoeing before the guide leads you back to the pickup point. By 2pm the activity ends, and the minivan returns you to your hotel by around 4:15pm. The whole day, from pickup to drop-off, takes about five and a half hours.

Snowshoe equipment is included, so you don't need to rent separately or figure out what to bring. Winter clothing rental is available too if you didn't pack layers or a proper coat. The group stays small, which means the guide can adjust the pace and the route based on who's there and what the snow conditions are like that day. Because this is Quebec in winter, the tour runs in all weather — you just need to dress for it. If snow conditions are poor or the weather turns unsafe, you'll be offered an alternative date or a full refund.

Top questions

How far is Jacques-Cartier National Park from Quebec City?

About thirty minutes by minivan from downtown.

What's included in the tour?

Snowshoe equipment, professional guide, lunch, hot beverage, round-trip hotel pickup, and all taxes and fees.

How long is the snowshoeing part?

Three hours on the trail, with stops for photos, rest, and lunch in a heated tipi tent.

What time does the tour start and end?

Pickup is at 9am from your hotel. You're back by around 4:15pm.

Can I rent winter clothing?

Yes, winter clothing rental is available. Ask when you book.

Is there a vegetarian lunch option?

Yes, vegetarian options are available. Request it when you book.

What if there's not enough snow?

If the tour is canceled due to insufficient snow or bad weather, you can choose an alternative date or get a full refund.

Do I need to be very fit?

You should have at least a moderate level of physical fitness. The pace is easy and includes rest breaks.

What’s included

Your day includes hotel pickup and drop-off by minivan, all snowshoe equipment, a professional guide, three hours of guided snowshoeing on park trails, lunch with a vegetarian option available, a hot beverage, and round-trip transportation. Winter clothing rental can be arranged separately if needed. All taxes and fees are included.