Types of roadways: short segments on paved roads with shoulders of varying widths, forest roads with sections that may include rocks, sand, and mud depending on the amount of precipitation received—or lack thereof—and steep, rocky double-track trails, where you may need to push your bike in some places. Consult the map below and pay particular attention to the information bubbles (POIs) it contains. It is your responsibility to be well prepared!
IMPORTANT NOTICE—HUNTING: Given the different moose hunting periods in the five distinct wildlife areas, for the safety of users, we recommend refraining from cycling between September 6 and October 30, 2025.
A few days' mission in the woods: crossing mountains, plateaus, and valleys in three ZECs, two outfitters, and one free territory!
A 155-kilometer bikepacking route that stretches across both sides of the famous Charlevoix impact crater. Designed to be ridden counterclockwise, this loop first crosses the Malbaie River to climb out of the crater and onto the high plateaus of the Lac-au-Sable ZEC via the Chemin d’Auteuil and the famous Passe des Monts (600 m), gateway to these high plateaus. Between the first and second Marais lakes, you leave the ZEC’s main road and begin the ascent of the Lac des Panses pass (765 m). On the other side, down from the pass to its namesake lake and onward to Lac à l’Orignal. There are superb views along this lake of the Mont-Élie outcrop, one of the colossal rock formations that stand guard around the Charlevoix meteorite impact crater. There are some interesting rustic camping options in the area: Petit lac à l’Orignal campground and the Mont-Élie/Menaud trailhead campground.
The route continues through the Lac-au-Sable ZEC (acronym that stands for “controlled fishing & hunting zone”) with a return to Chemin des Marais, which is virtually deserted at this point, towards Lac des Caleçons and Club des Hauteurs de Charlevoix outfitter. Lac Bazile, the jewel of this fishing & hunitng resort, lies to the rider’s right. At the western end of the lake is the outfitter’s lodge (meals, beverages, and lodging available). The forest road gently undulates across the plateau and enters the Lac-Brébeuf ZEC. From the entrance to this ZEC to the crossing of the Malbaie River via Lac Desprez, it is a short detour out of Charlevoix and incursion into its neighbour’s territory, the Saguenay region.
We return to Charlevoix on the other side of the river, just upstream from Hautes-Gorges-de-la-Rivière-Malbaie National Park, then begin a long climb with some steep sections littered with rocky outcrops: welcome to the territory of the Lac Moreau outfitter and its famous Le Ravage inn (meals, drinks, and lodging available)! After the intersection with the short road leading to the inn, located on Lac Moreau itself, the circuit continues on the main road of the outfitter for only 1 kilometer, then turns left onto the narrow dirt road that leads to Lac à la Loutre and heads towards ZEC des Martres. Two kilometers after the entrance to Lac à la Loutre, a rough track leads to the Martres Falls trailhead, a real gem that can be reached by following a rustic hiking trail. Well worth the detour!
The transition from the Lac Moreau outfitter to ZEC des Martres involves a long climb to the Lac des Martres pass (941 m), the highest point of the route, from which you can see the lake of the same name with its islands and strange amoeba-like shape. The descent that follows takes us back into the Charlevoix astrobleme via the upper reaches of the Du Gouffre River, which winds its way between Mont des Morios and Montagne de La Noyée. Back at the bottom of the crater, we continue on the Pied-des-Monts trail to the Route des Montagnes, then the Chemin du Friche, a shortcut through the woods between the municipalities of Saint-Aimé-des-Lacs and Clermont. All that remains is to return to the starting point of this “little orbit” and head to the Menaud Brewery & Distillery, a few hundred meters and cosmic dust away from Alexis Le Trotteur Riverside Trail & Park parking lot, to reflect on the adventures and ponder the experiences of this intergalactic journey…
