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After developing a reputation as a top-notch, go-to ski resort, Le Massif de Charlevoix is delivering in a big way to those looking to take a walk on the wild side for a summer/fall vacation.
If you want to soak in a healthy portion of the great outdoors, Le Massif de Charlevoix (lemassif.com), a bit more than an hour northeast of Quebec City, has all the things you might expect — plus, some terrific surprises.
A Mechanical Bird that lifts you with its sights and sounds, an 8-km hike around a mountain, a panoramic train ride that took us to a beautiful town full of art galleries and charming shops, a Club Med where you wouldn’t expect to find a Club Med, and some terrific dining options — it was all part of our three days at Le Massif de Charlevoix.
Let’s do a rewind to a recent trip my wife Kelly-Anne and I made to Le Massif.
Our early evening arrival found us driving to the mountain summit, where we checked into a really nice home (with every amenity you could ask for, and then some) at Chalet-Foret. We quickly discovered the picturesque views from the balcony, overlooking river and mountains, were spectacular. And, the next morning, after waking up early, I sat outside and soaked in a magnificent sunrise.
We took the gondola (actually two of them) to get to the bottom, where we got on the Train de Charlevoix, heading to Baie-Saint-Paul. Riding along the shores of the St. Lawrence River was a treat.
When we arrived, we walked into beautiful, charming Baie-Saint-Paul, which is so rich in arts and culture.
When we got back to the train station, we had a delicious lunch, with terrific service, at Le Bercail in the on-site modernistic Hotel and Spa Le Germain.
After arriving back at Le Massif, we drove to dinner (walking through the trails is also an option) at Camp Boule, under the guidance of chef David Forbes. Our five-star dinner was terrific (I had filet mignon, while my wife had grilled char), while the service went above and beyond what was expected.
The next morning, we did a hike with our guide, Jonathan. Now, Jonathan is a hiker, a guy who really, really loves the outdoors. He spends much of his spare time exploring the area — for his own satisfaction, but also to enhance the experience for anyone he’s guiding along the mountain paths. He provided us with history and gave us plenty of anecdotes from his own experiences (including a time when he came face-to-face with a bear and another time when he refused to call off a long hike even though he had mangled an ankle).
We had dinner at the Summit Chalet, a prelude to our 9:15 reservation on the Mechanical Bird, which has become an iconic night-time attraction, a chairlift ascent of lights and sounds that fills your eyes and ears. The “ride” begins with a gondola descent toward the river. The flight back up the mountain, connecting you with land, sky and sea, delivers a spectacular multi-sensory adventure, replicating a trip on a soaring bird.
The final day of our vacation took us to the base of the mountain and the all-inclusive Club Med Quebec-Charlevoix, which opened in 2021. It’s the first Club Med mountain village in North America. For those who haven’t visited an “all-inclusive,” it’s just like it sounds. Meals, booze, entertainment, kids clubs, sports and wellness options and a spa are among the things that are included. It is possible to enjoy the Club Med without staying there thanks to day and evening passes.
Here are some facts about Le Massif de Charlevoix:
— It has the longest vertical drop east of the Canadian Rockies, there are nearly 55 km of dedicated mountain biking trails.
— In spring/summer/fall, there are outdoor activities such as hiking, trail running and canyoning available at the mountain.
— In winter, there are 53 slopes and glades as well as a back-country area.
— There’s an average natural snowfall of 645 cm each year.
— There’s a 7.5-km sledding run (the longest in North America).
— There are nearly 100 accommodation units at the base and summit of the mountain, including several ski-in ski-out/bike-in bike-out units.
— Some cross-country ski trails of the Sentier des Caps are adapted for mountain biking, including La Boréale and the Lac Gauthier loop, located at the summit. It provides an opportunity to explore Le Massif on two wheels, over nearly 55 km of trails. You can also rent electric bikes.
President and founder Daniel Gauthier plans to increase the skiable area by 50%, add lifts to access the Mont à Liguori sector, improve the snowmaking system, and double the number of residential units at the base and summit of the mountain.
In 2019, 10% of Le Massif’s clientele came from outside Quebec. Since the arrival of Club Med, this proportion increased to 30% in 2023. Gauthier says the goal is to increase that to 50%.
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