Mountain and Road Biking in Saguenay: The Best Spots

The region is fortunate to have several places for mountain biking. Here is a practical guide according to three levels: beginner, family and athlete.

Beginner

When starting out mountain biking, it is important to start with beginner-friendly trails. Good news: there are several bike trails for beginners in Saguenay

First, there’s the Centre plein air Le Norvégien, located in the district of Jonquière. With 13 different trails, the centre has been constantly renovating over the past few years to provide new routes for all levels. Le Norvégien is truly a great place for people who want to get into mountain biking.

If you go there, don’t forget to visit the skills area. Composed of wooden modules and jumps, you’ll be able to learn the basics of mountain biking as this track was designed for all skill levels, from beginner to expert.

Family

It’s so nice to go mountain biking as a family! To allow you to watch over the children and ensure the difficulty level is accessible for everyone, we once again recommend the Centre plein air Le Norvégien.

In recent years, the centre has increased its mountain biking options. As a result, the centre now offers a great variety of accessible and fun trails.

To entertain the little ones and introduce them to mountain biking, start the day by trying La Skole, a short, easy trail created especially for children.

Athletic

Exercise enthusiasts will certainly find what they’re looking for at Mont-Bélu. This mountain bike centre located in the district of La Baie offers a unique experience and thrilling descents. It’s a very popular meeting place for mountain biking enthusiasts!

During the summer season, the bike park lift is open every Wednesday evening and every Sunday during the day. The rest of the year, the centre is open, and it is possible to reach the summit by taking the ascent trail.

Careful! This centre is for intermediate or expert cyclists only. The trails require a higher level of agility and a certain amount of experience.

Another centre that may interest experienced cyclists is Mont Edouard. This mountain, highly appreciated by skiers in winter, is also popular with cyclists in the summer. We love it for its versatility, its technical challenges, its flow and its spectacular views of the Saguenay Fjord.

For mountain biking enthusiasts, Mont Edouard is a great place to spend a day cycling!

Saguenay has the good fortune of having several great places for road cycling. Here is a practical list broken down into three different levels: family/beginner, intermediate and athletic.

Family and beginner

What could be a better place than bike paths to start road biking or to have a great time doing a family activity? It’s a safe place that gives you a chance to learn and ride without having to worry about car traffic. Saguenay has a wide range of bike paths, thanks in large part to the Véloroute du Fjord du Saguenay, which stretches over more than 400 kilometres.

In the district of Jonquière, you can head toward the section of the bike path located near the parc de la Rivière-aux-Sables. It offers a fun route, right in the heart of the district and close to the river.

What would you say to riding on a beautiful bike path while admiring the breathtaking beauty of the Saguenay Fjord? This is what section #21, which runs along the baie des Ha! Ha!, offers you. For an especially memorable moment, we recommend you go there at the end of the day to admire the sunset.

Between the districts of La Baie and Jonquière is Chicoutimi, where you can take section #19A, which will take you all the way to Jonquière. A ride along this beautiful urban bike path will cover 27 kilometres.

Intermediate

If you’re an intermediate cyclist, here is a suggestion for a road bicycle tour in Saguenay. We advise you to take section #29 first and then a small part of section #28. You can then ride on the Véloroute du Fjord du Saguenay, a bike trail that stretches hundreds of kilometres and will show you the most beautiful attractions of the region.

For your return at the end of the day, you can either take the same route back or go back aboard the Navettes maritimes du Fjord.

Athletic

If you’re used to road biking and are looking for a nice route to spend your day exploring, here are a few ideas. For a unique road biking adventure, we suggest you start from Sacré-Cœur and follow section #27A. This 65-kilometre path goes to Sainte-Rose-du-Nord.

On the other side of the Saguenay Fjord, we suggest you take section #25A, which goes from Petit-Saguenay to Saint-Siméon. This 55-kilometre journey will give you the opportunity to discover the charm of Bas-Saguenay, all within a magnificent mountainous setting.

These two paths run along the road. This route calls for caution and experience for these journeys.