5 of the best mountain bike trails in Quebec

Le Massif de Charlevoix. *Photo: Jean-Sébastien Chartier-Plante*

Quebec’s terrain is shaped by some of the oldest rock on the planet: the Canadian Shield, which dominates much of the province. This ancient bedrock creates a landscape of rolling hills, countless lakes, and dense forests in the northern regions, while the southern regions feature the more dramatic relief of the Laurentian Mountains and the Appalachian foothills in the Eastern Townships.

For mountain bikers, this translates to a fascinating mix of riding experiences: the Shield offers technical, rooty singletrack winding through tight hardwood forests with short, punchy climbs and granite outcroppings, while the Laurentians deliver longer, more sustained climbs followed by descents that range from flowy and buff to rocky and demanding. The further north you venture, the more remote and wild the terrain becomes, but the vast majority of Quebec’s developed trail systems can be found near the major population centers of Montreal, Ottawa, and Quebec City.

While some local riders claim that all five of the best trail systems in the province are found near Quebec City, we consulted the experts to expand the geographic diversity of this list just a bit. Here are five of the best networks in the province, plus five runners-up:

Vallée Bras du Nord: Shannahan Sector, Saint-Raymond

If you want to pedal lengthy backcountry trails in the middle of nowhere, Vallée Bras du Nord’s Shannahan Sector is the place to go. This expansive network stretches along the banks of raging rivers and winds around the steep flanks of towering mountain sides, with sheer rock faces looming over the valleys below. “What I did at the beginning was just pinpoint every really [great] spot — this big rock or this waterfall or this river, and after that, just link those points… big sceneries everywhere,” said Gilles Morneau, local trail advocate and current President of the Vallée Bras du Nord (VBN) Board, who first proposed trails in VBN in 2005.

For legendary backcountry riding, the Three Neilsons reign supreme. Combining Neilson Est, Nord, and Sud into a black diamond backcountry loop takes you on an epic adventure through the mountains and river valleys, filled with technical challenges on rugged, old-school singletrack. You’ll pass thundering waterfalls and pedal along the whitewater rapids of the Neilson River, which are popular with whitewater kayakers. If you still have legs, go pedal the Légende — a renowned trail featuring brutally technical but unbelievably beautiful rockwork along the banks of yet another raging mountain stream.

While VBN is best known for its backcountry singletrack, it’s now making a name for itself with its gravity sector, too. The Godzilla jump trail features A-Line-size jumps built by the renowned Gravity Logic crew, while the adjacent Octopus and Kraken trails offer intermediate-level flow with perfectly sculpted terrain, massive berms, and flowing rollers through a beautiful forest.

Bromont Bike Park, Bromont

Bromont is one of Quebec’s premier downhill bike parks, with over 50km (31mi) of downhill and enduro trails served by three chairlifts and 350m (1,150ft) of vertical drop across terrain that ranges from beginner-friendly flow to pro-level technical challenges. The mountain features 29 distinct downhill trails, making it one of the best lift-served bike parks in Eastern Canada.

The bike park caters to all levels of riders, from families just starting out to experts looking to test themselves on legitimate race-worthy terrain featuring jumps, bridges, road gaps, table tops, berms, and drops. “The quality and variety of the trails are unmatched,” said Ian Hughes, local rider and founder of Bikeskills. “You can expect a building style that’s flowy yet natural — proper mountain bike trails that stay true to the essence of riding, not overly manicured but designed with intention.”

Unlike some gravity destinations that lean heavily toward advanced riders, Bromont maintains a strong selection of green and blue trails alongside its challenging blacks and double blacks, making it accessible without sacrificing the gnar that serious riders crave. For kids just starting out, the Bromont National Cycling Center is a great place to learn, and it also “boasts the biggest dirt jumps in Québec,” according to Hughes.

Beyond the lift-served bike park, Bromont’s Parc des Sommets adds another 140km of cross-country trails, enduro trails, and hiking trails spread across five interconnected summits, including Mount Oak’s 17km of family-friendly singletrack and the Mountain Network’s more technical terrain. “What we lack in high elevation, we make up for with an extensive resort made up of eight distinct summits, each offering incredible views of the northeast,” said Hughes.

Sentiers du Moulin, Quebec City

Sentiers du Moulin (SDM) is arguably the most popular mountain bike trail system in Quebec City, and for good reason: 65km (40 miles) of one-way technical singletrack located just 20 minutes from downtown. “The technical level of riding is quite high,” said Julien Levesque, General Manager of Sentiers du Moulin. “It shows in the trails. I’d say maybe a third, or maybe more than that, are double blacks.” The rock is “a little bit like the rock in Squamish — so big rock slabs, but you can control your speed pretty easily,” Levesque added. In addition to the steep rock slabs, advanced riders will love the gnarly rock gardens, slick root webs, and skinny wooden bridges spread throughout the network.

Saga, one of the newest trails at SDM, epitomizes the network’s technical character. At 4.2km (2.6 miles) long and dropping 237 vertical meters (779 feet), this single black diamond descent is a true commitment with no bailout options and no easy lines. Numerous double black line options are sprinkled throughout the descent, and there’s even one “pro line.”

Slab City offers another standout experience — an endless cascade of exposed rock slabs over 1.3km (4,400 linear feet) where you’re essentially rolling on rock for the entire descent. For those seeking flow, SuperG is likely the most popular trail in the system, offering big berms, jumps, and drops, though in true SDM fashion, several exposed rock slabs and rock drops are mixed in.

While SDM excels at challenging terrain, the leap from easy trails to black diamonds is substantial. “We are trying to address this gap with future trail builds,” Levesque noted. But for now, riders looking to progress their skills may want to start at more progressive systems like Empire 47.

Photo: Judicael Aspirot, courtesy Mont SM

Mont SM, Saint-Mathieu-du-Parc

Located on the doorstep of La Mauricie National Park, Mont SM is “an exceptional enduro bike park with over 30km of trails, family-owned, and celebrated for its quality thanks to the expertise of our devoted crew,” according to Catherine Lecomte, Marketing Manager for Mont SM. The pedal-accessed bike park is a repurposed ski resort that utilizes three distinct summits to deliver everything from beginner-friendly green trails to expert-only lines that will test even the most skilled riders.

The main climb, known as the “T-Bar,” zigzags up the front face of the mountain through a series of short switchbacks, reaching the first summit in under 20 minutes. From there, multiple loops spread across the other summits through dense forest, with trails that are well-marked, perfectly maintained, and technical throughout.

While beginners can find their footing on La Dunlop — which Lecomte describes as a “beginner-friendly” green trail — the network truly shines for intermediate and expert riders. “Intermediate riders will find flow on trails like the berm-filled C-Line and Tricoline 2, but will also love a technical challenge with Lablack Bleue (similar to our Black Slabbath, a double black slab trail),” said Lecomte. “For high-adrenaline experts, the park delivers with the challenging Gullyvair (pro line), packed with gap jumps and the high-speed, double black jumpline La Sauterie.”

Mont-Sainte-Anne, Beaupré

“Mountain biking in Quebec was born here in Mont-Sainte-Anne,” said local elite XC racer Anne-Marie Gauthier. This iconic mountain has long drawn the best riders in the world for World Cup competitions, and in October 2025, Mont-Sainte-Anne (MSA) hosted its 30th anniversary World Cup DH race on one of the gnarliest downhill race tracks on the planet.

The MSA bike park is filled with pro-level gravity lines, including the World Cup track itself, which is now open to any rider brave enough to test their mettle. But here’s what many riders don’t know: MSA boasts 165km (102 miles) of mountain bike trails extending far beyond the bike park, with XC and enduro-oriented singletrack lacing the backcountry. The resort also hosts World Cup XC racing, meaning the cross-country trails are similarly world-class.

Even the “easier” trails at MSA offer plenty of rocks and roots to keep you honest. Single black descents like La Vietnam and the blue La Bapteme in the bike park offer technical challenges, while the XC network features standouts like L’Adorila, a flow trail-style descent with great berms, jumps, and a few rock drops. Riders can use the gondola (625m/2,050ft of free vertical) to create enduro-style laps that mix lift access with pedal-driven climbs, or go fully human-powered on the extensive XC network.