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.

Winter
- Snowshoer's Walk: guided snowshoe tours
- Cross-country skiing and snowshoeing

Summer
- In-line skating

WINTER

Snowshoer’s Walk
Guided old-time snowshoe tours

For a quick view of the Guided Tour SNOWSHOER’S WALK

View

Press release

Put on your caps, mittens, arrow-head sashes and snowshoes to accompany a 20th century snowshoer in the park, along the course mapped out by the Plains of Abraham’s sports history.

A member of the "snowshoeing enthursiasts" of the Traders'Union, Amédée Fournier (or his wife), will tell you about the local snowshoeing history, but also about various sports secrets along the park trails : the double Stanley Cup Triumph of the Quebec Bulldogs, the Quebec Skating Rink, among the firs indoor skating rinks in Quebec City, the Quebec Skating Club which hosted several competitions (hockey tournament, ice skating competition and curling tournament, to name a few), ski jorring, which consists of hitching oneself to a horse or car and being dragged in the snow, and much more.

Let Amédée Fournier tell you about the leisure and sports activities of this “belle époque.” Here is a unique recreational outing that will thrill you with delight. Snowshoes, lantern, arrow sash and hot chocolate included.

2012 schedule
In English (at 4:00 p.m.): February 11, 2012.
In French (at 7:00 p.m.): January 21 (sold out) and 28, February 10 and 25, March 3, 2012.

$17/13-64 years old, $15/8-12 years old, 65 years old and over.

Do not miss Amédée participating as a runner at these events :

Raquettes d'Abraham

Sunday, January 22, 2012

Pentathlon des neiges

Saturday, January, 28 and Thursday, February, 23 2012

Cross-country skiing and snowshoeing

Press release

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

Ski conditions

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

 

Data sheet - trails

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

Schedule:
From 8:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. every day.

Access:
Free.

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

Every day, from 10:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.:
from December 17 to 23, December 26 (exceptionally from 1:00 p.m.) to 30 and March 4 to 11.

2011-2012 Fees - Equipment rental

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 Grande Allée. It is accessible from 9:00 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 5:00 p.m. Monday to Friday, 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Saturday, 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 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 24 hours a day and trail patrol from 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. on weekends, depending on 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.
$100 ($75/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

SUMMER

In-line skating
Across from the Musée national des beaux-arts du Québec.
1.4-km loop trail.
From mid-May until mid-October, according to the weather conditions.
Free.

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