Who says winter in Quebec, says dog sledding! Winter activity par excellence, it is in Quebec that you can take the most beautiful dog sled rides, through breathtaking wilderness.
Small precision, in Quebec, we do not say "sled dogs" but dog sledding. We will therefore use this term for the rest of this article.
Besides, what will you find in this article? Our best addresses where to go dog sledding in Quebec. You will see that the solutions are multiple and above all, that the geographical contexts can be varied and very different.
Are you ready for this little getaway in winter land? I'm sure you'll be won over by this exceptional experience, just as we were!
Summary:
- Aventure Inukshuk – Québec
- Kinadapt - Lanaudière
- Outdoor Adventures – Montreal
- Center Kanatha-Aki - Mont Tremblant
- Husky Adventure Harricana – Abitibi-Temiscamingue
- Waban-Aki Outfitter – Mauricie
- Outfitter Fournier – Gaspésie
- Mohigan Adventures – Cantons de l'Est
- Outfitter Cap au Leste – Saguenay Fjord
- Dog sledding raid – Laurentides
Aventure Inukshuk
QuébecTo begin this article, we are going to focus on a center of activity located in the suburbs of Quebec, about a 45-minute drive west from the city center. This center offers various activities to do both in summer and winter.
©TQ/Ouellet, Raphael
But what interests us here is the dog sledding activity that it is possible to do. You have the possibility to choose an excursion from several options:
- one hour outing : ideal for beginners.
- the short 3 hour hike : perfect if you like dogs and outdoor activities.
- the 7 hour long hike : this option is rather recommended for dog sledding enthusiasts who already have experience in this activity.
- a Heart and Engine package : it allows you to combine a dog sledding trip and then a snowmobile ride afterwards. All including a midday meal.
The prices per person vary from 92$CAD to 340$CAD (approximately from 64€ to 237€).
Please note that the prices indicated in Canada generally do not include taxes.. So remember to add about 15% of the price displayed to have the total price that you will have to pay.
It is also customary to leave a tip. whether it is to your guide or even to the waiters in the restaurants. To give you an average, it is customary to tip 15% of the price. This percentage can of course vary according to your level of satisfaction.
This activity can be booked directly online, it's fast and convenient. To do this, follow this link: dog sledding.
Kinadapt
LanaudièreLet's now head to the Lanaudière region, north of Montreal, for a new experience of dog sledding in Quebec. The Kinadapt outdoor center specializes in training and education. It also welcomes you for an unforgettable dog sledding trip. In 2010, this center received an honorable mention from Tourisme Lanaudière.
Then in 2020, the Excellence Product and Quality Service Award is given to them.
© TQ / Gagnon, Francis
To satisfy all the desires of their customers, several walk options are possible:
- The little Coureur des Bois : This option is ideal for families with small children. The outing takes about 30 minutes. Then, a visit to the pack and the farm is planned.
- The walk : activity of about 2 hours including 1 hour of dog sledding. Ideal for a first initiation to this practice.
- The Favorite : This activity lasts 3 hours. It allows you to learn the basics of the profession of musher, to harness your own sled and to lead your pack. Perfect option for dog sledding enthusiasts who want to deepen their knowledge and practice. If this experience won you over, you can take it to the next level with the option Initiated.
- The Mini Expedition : set off for a day to discover the wild immensities of Quebec, with the possibility of adding an overnight stay. Count about 10 km of walk and a snowshoe walk.
- Special formulas : you can also opt for a romantic getaway including a stop at a spa; or even a moonlight outing at nightfall.
With this center, prices start from CAD$108 per adult for the P'tit Coureur des Bois outing and go up to CAD$522 per adult for the romantic getaway (i.e. between €75 and €360 per person ).
Wherever you go dog sledding, making sure the dogs are happy and healthy is paramount. As soon as you arrive in the center, you will be able to see whether or not the dogs are in good shape and the seriousness of the place. Healthy dogs are beautiful and excited to go for a walk; they are welcoming to the idea of meeting you.
For more information on this center and the activities offered, go to Kinadapt website.
Outdoor Adventures
MontrealI suggest you stay around Montreal for this new experience of dog sledding in Quebec. This center is located precisely in Saint-Hippolyte, about 1h15 drive north of Montreal, in the Lanaudière region. This center also offers different offers to suit the whole family and all levels:
- Initiation : this short outing allows beginners or families with young children to enjoy a first experience accessible to everyone. Enjoy a dog sled ride of about 30 minutes without any particular difficulty.
- 2 hour dive : ideal for a discovery outing. You can enjoy a 1-hour dog sled ride with a short training in driving such a team. Then a visit to the kennel and a hot chocolate.
- full immersion : this last option is intended for the most passionate about dogs since you leave for a whole day. On the program dog sledding, a short walk in the mountains and lunch.
The rates for these different options are €45 per person for initiation, the 2-hour immersion costs €120 per person and finally, total immersion is €341 per person.
This center is present on the Manawa.com online activity booking platform. You can book directly here: dog sledding.
©TQ/Hamelin, Jean-Francois
Center Kanatha-Aki
Mont TremblantLet's now go to Mont-Tremblant and its national park. This region of Quebec is very conducive to long walks on snowy trails, between frozen lakes and dense forests. We personally tested this center for our dog sledding trip in Quebec with a 3 hour sledding trip and visit to the bison herd. The outing went extremely well. To begin with, we were equipped with specific extreme cold clothing. We had free time before departure to meet the dogs. Then, the great departure arrived. We were two passengers and a musher. The sled is suitable for two people. But we also had the option, if we wanted to, of driving the sled with the musher in the back. A unique and sensational experience!
During this excursion, a stop was planned in a small typical hut to warm us up and have a hot drink. Then, we stopped with the bison for a while to learn more about these impressive animals and their history.
Once back at the center, we were offered a new hot drink. The welcome of the staff, the kindness of our musher and the dogs who were always happy to leave made our experience very successful.
Several packages are offered by this center with optional options such as visiting the bison or ice fishing. You will find all the details and prices for these activities on the Kanatha-Aki center website.
Husky Adventure Harricana
Abitibi-TemiscamingueThis new address for dog sledding in Quebec is located in the Abitibi-Témiscamingue region. This region is rather remote but still easily accessible from Quebec or Montreal. Here again, large wild expanses await you for the greatest pleasure of dogs and mushers. You can board a sled for a few kilometers of ride in the forest as well as on frozen lakes. The dogs here are happy to go and in great shape, which is always an important point to consider.
If you want to test this center for your dog sledding trip, you will have to book in advance by phone.
Waban-Aki Outfitter
MauricieNow let's go back to a more accessible region, the Mauricie. The latter is located between Montreal, Quebec and Saguenay-Lac-Saint-Jean. The Waban-Aki outfitter welcomes visitors for its hunting and fishing activities as well as for more fun activities such as dog sledding. On-site accommodations are even available.
Regarding dog sledding, you can choose from one of the following packages:
- 1 hours : discover dog sledding thanks to this initiation of about an hour.
- 1 / 2 day : Half-day dog sledding excursion for the most enthusiastic in Quebec.
- 1 day : if you are a great dog lover then this day of dog sledding will delight you. This formula also includes dinner, breakfast and one night in a remote cabin.
For such an experience, it will take between 70$CAD and 300$CAD per person (i.e. between 48€ and 208€).
For more information and for any reservation, go to the website of the Waban-Aki Outfitter.
©TQ/Cloutier, Sebastien
Fournier Outfitter
GaspésieAmong the tourist regions of Quebec, there is the Gaspésie which attracts many visitors each year. This is why I have chosen to introduce you to this center in the heart of Gaspésie for dog sledding in Quebec.
Gaspésie ©TQ/Cloutier, Grégory
This walk will allow you to discover a small part of this region. And it will probably make you want to come back on sunny days.
This center offers different packages to suit all levels:
- Initiation : outing of about 1 hour perfect for families with young children.
- Half day : walk of about 2 hours by dog sled. Starting from 7 years old.
- Full day with or without night : with this last package, you will go for a whole day in dog sledding. The program includes a midday break for lunch. For the version with overnight stay, you will leave at the beginning of the afternoon to return the next day at noon.
Prices vary between $150 CAD and $425 CAD per person (i.e. between €104 and €296 per person tax not included).
For more information and for any reservation, go to the website of the outfitter Fournier Plein Air.
Mohigan Adventures
Cantons de l'EstHere is another region quite conducive to the practice of dog sledding in Quebec: the Eastern Townships. This region is located south of Quebec and east of Montreal. To live a unique and sensational experience of dog sledding in Quebec, you can go to the Mohigan Adventures center. You will meet people passionate about dogs and nature, making the experience all the more beautiful. The setting is absolutely magnificent with beautiful hiking trails in the middle of the forest.
This center is closed for the 2021-2022 season. For more information and for any reservation from the 2022-23 season, go to the website of Mohigan Adventures.
© TQ / Cecile, Benoit
Outfitter Cap au Leste
Saguenay FjordI would now like to present two accommodation options that allow you to do dog sledding in a slightly different way. To begin, here is a stay in the heart of the Cap au Leste outfitter located on the heights of the Saguenay fjord, a splendid region.
During this stay, you will spend a week in this hotel and will do a large number of winter activities on site, including a half-day of dog sledding. This alternative allows you to concentrate all the activities in one and the same place and not have to take the car during the Quebec winter. Other activities are offered such as snowmobiling, snowshoeing, access to the spa, …
Interested in this trip? Visit the Imagine-Canada website for all the details of this winter stay: The Saguenay Fjord in the heart of winter.
Dog sledding raid
Laurentides
To end on this article, here is probably the solution that will appeal to the most dog sledding enthusiasts: a few days' sledding raid! This unforgettable experience is also offered by the Imagine-Canada travel agency specializing in Quebec and Canada. During your week in Quebec, you will have the chance to live a real musher experience by learning how to survive in the forest by these extreme temperatures, by observing the surrounding fauna and flora or by walking the snowy trails with your crew.
For lovers of dogs and wide open spaces, this circuit is made for you! It also includes some tourist visits on your itinerary such as the visit of Montreal, Mont-Tremblant or Ottawa, capital of Canada.
If you are seduced by the idea of this dog sledding raid, find all the details here: In the footsteps of Mushers.
© TQ / Bair, Jim
My opinion
Dog sledding is the activity that appealed to us the most during our stay in Quebec. The combination of the calm of nature, the strength of the dogs, the fluidity of the sled gliding over the snow and above all the marvelous landscapes crossed really won us over. Unlike snowmobiling, dog sledding does not generate noise pollution and does not pollute. And if you like dogs, then you will be in heaven because it is advisable to arrive between 30 min and 1 hour in advance to go around the kennel and introduce yourself to the pack.
As for where to go dog sledding in Quebec, it will depend on your itinerary. It is true that getting around in the middle of winter in Quebec can sometimes be tricky. It may therefore be interesting to favor a center not far from where you will be during your stay; or better yet, to choose a stay in an outfitter where you can do all the activities on site, without having to move.
Personally, we had rented a car for 2 weeks, but driving on the snow does not scare us. And fortunately, because some roads are not completely clear and we had the right to some big snowflakes. But the cars are well equipped in Quebec and by adapting your speed, you won't have to worry about getting around!
