Sports and recreational activities

Ever since its creation, the park has fulfilled its calling as an oversize playground. Formerly, various winter sports were practised here, such as snowshoeing, tobogganing, skiing, skating and hockey in the first covered skating rink in the world! Here the Québec Bulldogs even won the Stanley Cup twice in the 1910s. Crowds of people used to attend the horse shows and the city’s elite enjoyed a game of golf on the Plains.

Today the public at large can practice, singly or in a group, sports such as in-line skating, jogging, hiking, cycling, football, soccer, cross-country skiing and many more recreational activities in a highy stimulating environment.

Cross-country skiing and snowshoeing

Ski for free in one of the most accessible and enchanting sites offering an unobstructed view of the Saint-Lawrence River. The Plains of Abraham provides 12.6 km of ski trails laid out for beginner and intermediate cross-country skiers, a 3.8-km trail (round trip) for snowshoeing, and 5.6 km of walking trails. A waxing room and two heated rest areas are also available.

Download the trail map Download the leaflet

Season:
From mid-December until the end of March, according to the weather conditions.

Schedule:
From 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. every day.

Number of trails (marked and groomed):
- 4 classic trails, including 1 easy trail and 3 intermediate trails
- 4 ski skating trails, including 2 easy trails and 2 intermediate trails
- 4 walking trails
- 1 snowshoe trail

Services offered

Equipment rental (418 648-2586):
From December 19, 2009 to March 21, 2010, the «Friends of the Plains of Abraham» Society offers to adults and children a rental service that supplies boots, poles, cross-country skis and snowshoes, at level 0 of the Discovery Pavilion of the Plains of Abraham.

- From December 19 to 23, December 27 to 30, January 3 and February 27 to March 7: every day, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.

- From January 4 to February 26, and March 8 to 21: Thursday to Sunday, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.

No equipment retal after 2 p.m.

The rental service can open ahead of time or be extended according to the snow coverage.

2009-2010 Fees

Cross-country skis:

Snowshoes :

Sled for kid:

Winter package - (2 days of rent):

* Cost for two adults and two children (17 years old and younger).

Waxing room:
Located along trail No. 51 and 91, at the Montcalm park entrance, near chemin Saint-Louis. It is accessible from 9 a.m. to 4:15 p.m. every day.

Rest areas and food service:
2 heated rest areas, as well as vending machines, are available to cross-country skiers. The Discovery Pavilion is open from 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday to Friday, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sunday and the Pavilion from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. every day.

Patrol (418 648-4652):
Safety officer on duty from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. on weekends, according to weather conditions.

Cross-country skiing lessons (418 649-6476):
The «Friends of the Plains of Abraham» Society offers classical and free-style skiing lessons for adults, on Sundays.
$80 ($50/member of the«Friends of the Plains of Abraham» Society). Equipment not included.

Code of conduct for nordic skiers

- move in the specified direction and observe the signs
- respect the skiing techniques for the trail you are using
- keep to your left when passing other skiers
- yield the way to more rapid skiers
- respect the environment, avoid polluting or damaging trees and other elements
- do not ski off the trails
- do not block the trails or stop where you could prejudice other skiers
- remain in control and control your movements
- understand and accept the risks associated with this sport
- respect the opening hours for the trails

Ski conditions

To find out about the condition of cross-country ski trails.
Automatic Info-line: 418 648-4212