For those in love with the cold outdoors of the winter months, Quebec City offers a variety of choice in downhill skiing, cross country skiing and snowboarding attractions. Generous snowfall in the region makes for great skiing conditions on two sites in particular. Mont-Sainte-Anne allows beginning and expert skiers alike the enjoyment of both downhill and cross-country skiing on over 66 runs down three sides of the mountain and an extensive trail network extending over 129 miles. It also has the highest vertical drop for night skiing in Canada. Stoneham is a ski resort just 20 minutes from downtown Quebec City and it offers skiiers 39 runs on three different mountains and hosts the Snowboarding World Cup Event.
Quebec City boasts an impressive network of trails for dog sleds, snowmobiles, and quads or ATVs. With a gorgeous and picturesque landscape, the Quebec City region is ideal for exploring nature via your favorite mode of transportation. There are opportunities for beginners and experts to experience transportation the traditional Inuit way by dogsledding through pristine mountain and forest ranges while building a unique bond with the dogs. If machines are your interest, Quebec City provides everything you need to create an exciting and unforgettable experience, including equipment rentals, trails and professional guides/instructors.
The Quebec Winter Carnival is the largest winter carnival in the world and offers winter tourists a seemingly endless array of activities, from ice and snow sculptures, canoe racing and parades to the largest attraction--the Ice Palace. The first Ice palace was built for the festival's guest of honor, Bonhomme, in Jaques-Cartier Square in 1955. The festival constructs a new ice palace every year using bricks made of snow and adorned with lighting effects for festival patrons to tour and admire. The Quebec Winter Carnival delivers music, food, shopping and a unique travel experience.
