FAQ

The traverse offers several options: on foot, by bike, or on cross-country skis. Unfortunately, snowshoeing is only possible during the beginning and at the end of the season since it can damage the trails for skiers and the length of the stages is too significant when conditions are more challenging. In the off-season, the combination of snowshoes and ski-snowshoes is also very interesting when the trail is not 100% skiable, for example.

The classic formula from Saint-Urbain to Mont Grand-Fonds (105 km) is 7 days/6 nights. But it is also possible to do it in 6 days/5 nights.

The formula from the Mountains to the Sea from Saint-Urbain to St-Siméon (127 km) can be done in 8 days/7 nights, or in 7 days/6 nights. It is also possible to spend an additional night in ÖBois Charlevoix.

We also offer to do portions of these trips, which are called half-crossings. These portions of trips total on average about fifty kilometers and are generally done in 4 days/3 nights or 3 days/2 nights.

It is possible to do the first half from Saint Urbain to Parc des Hautes-Gorges-de-la-Rivière Malbaie (more athletic portion but with more beautiful viewpoints), the second half from Parc des Hautes-Gorges-de-la-Rivière-Malbaie to Mont Grand-Fonds (more rustic and less technical portion), or the Sentier de l’Origgnac from Mont Grand-Fonds to Saint-Siméon (with magnificent viewpoints as well)

The total distance is 127 km (from Saint-Urbain to St-Siméon). A few shortcuts can be taken to shorten the distances, but you will still miss out on the most beautiful viewpoints.

In summer, it is also possible to start at the Dôme parking lot (when leaving from Saint-Urbain) and add 4km to day 1. The advantage is to start directly on the trails (and not on a forest road) and to have beautiful viewpoints.

TEMPORARILY NOT AVAILABLE. The bike raid is typically done in 3 or 4 days covering a total distance of 92 km. View the bike page here.

No, the campsites are solely reserved for people doing the thru-hike.

It is only possible in three specific cases:

1 – Complete one half with one type of accommodation and the other half with the other type. (first half in a tent and the second half in a cabin, or vice versa, if there is space)

2 – You have the option to rent the cabins/shelters exclusively as follows:

• 1st night: Caribou, Taiga, or JP Cadot
• 2nd night: Boudreault
• 4th night: Prophète

3 – If you are a group of 2 or less.

It depends on your itinerary:

1 – For the classic full crossing: The departure is from the reception of the Zec Des Martres* and ends at Mont Grand-Fonds.

2 – For the Crossing from the Mountains to the Sea: The departure is from the reception of the Zec des Martres* and ends in the village of Saint-Siméon.

3 – For the half crossings, two options are possible:
First half: from the reception of the Zec Des Martres* and ends at the Parc des Hautes Gorges.
Second half: from the reception of the Parc des Hautes Gorges and ends at Mont Grand-Fonds.

4 – For the Orignac trail: The departure is from Mont Grand-Fonds to the village of Saint-Siméon.

*Note that there is also the option to start from the Dôme parking lot and adding 4 km to your traverse/half-traverse. You start directly on the trails and will have beautiful viewpoints.

Note that the traverse is always done in one direction, from west to east.

However, it is possible to start from Mont Grand-Fonds if you follow the Sentier de l’Orignac to Saint-Siméon.

It is now possible to complete the entire thru-hike with your dog. Please contact us to make a reservation as we need to find a date where no one is already registered. We want to avoid imposing the presence of a dog on other groups.

Certain rules apply, as well as a $10 fee per night for the presence of a dog. We invite you to consult this document before booking with a dog.

Check out our summer list here and our winter list here.

We strongly recommend having a set of nordic cross-country skis with full length climbing skins for the winter traverse. Nordic cross-country skis are slightly wider than traditional cross-country skis and have metal edges. The bindings and boots are similar to those of cross-country skiing but are more robust.

It is possible to do it with ski-snowshoes or backcountry skis, but these options are often not recommended.

Backcountry skis are often too heavy and not very flexible, which can make your crossing uncomfortable and can tire you out more quickly. You will also go slower on the flat than with Nordic skiing. One of the only advantages is that you will have a little more control on the descents. If you still opt for this equipment, be aware that climbing skins will be necessary.

As for snowshoe skis, they do not offer enough grip on the climbs with their integrated half-skins. If you have an additional skin, this can however be an interesting option. Be aware, however, that if the tracks of previous people are frozen, you will also be uncomfortable since your skis will be wider than the tracks. However, this is equipment that can be recommended in combination with snowshoes, when the snow cover is not sufficient to make the trail 100% skiable. It then offers great versatility, since it is shorter and can easily be attached to your bag (unlike a Nordic ski).

Classic cross-country skis are strongly discouraged. They do not allow enough flotation on untracked snow, do not offer enough control on descents, and will not allow you to climb.

Since April 1, 2023, any hiker registered with the crossing and having at least one night booked with us, is automatically covered in the event of a medical emergency (AirMédic) for the duration of their stay in our facilities. This coverage covers air or land evacuation. Non-medical evacuations are not covered (equipment breakdown, fatigue, etc.). Note that people with a chalet rental are also covered.

We will pick up your vehicle at your starting point (usually the Zec des Martres reception), and we will bring it to your destination (Mont Grands Fonds or Parc des Hautes Gorges). A spare key makes things easier but it is not absolutely necessary. We cannot guarantee the exact time or date of your vehicle’s transfer, but rest assured it will be on-site upon your arrival. Normally, we bring your vehicle the day before your arrival. The cost of this service is based on the distance and significant travel time undertaken by the drivers and the second vehicle responsible for bringing the drivers back after delivery. See our policy for this service.

Please note that despite the price which may seem expensive, this service is carried out at cost price and sometimes even at a loss (depending on the itinerary ).

We offer two different services for the thru-hike. 

The first service (baggage and food transportation) involves transporting your luggage daily from one chalet to another, as well as bringing a re-supply of potable water and food. In this case, when preparing your food boxes, you must pre-pack boxes to be delivered to each chalet containing your evening supper, followed by breakfast and lunch for the next day. 

The second service involves making one or more food drops at the desired chalet(s), without the baggage transport service. In this case, when preparing your food boxes, don’t forget that you will have to take all your waste with you since we will not be returning to that chalet to retrieve the box. There will therefore be no delivery of drinking water with this service.

The cost for food drops is per delivery (chalet)(see summer and winter costs on our website).

The cost for the baggage transportation is per night.

The costs are the same regardless of the number of people sharing the service. (For example, for a 5-night, 6-day traverse, the cost is multiplied by 5 and participants distribute the cost amongst themselves. If two different groups take the baggage transport for the same dates and at the same chalets, we will offer a discount based on the number of groups that have taken the service.)

Yes, it is possible to keep food boxes or bags in our cold room, freezer, or at room temperature, according to the clients’ preferences.

30 lb (14 kg). It is best to be wise and be minimalist in your baggage and box preparations and to limit unnecessary extravagences. The space in our vehicles is limited (especially in the winter).

We ask that you be reasonable and keep in mind that we must be able to load all the luggage into the sled of our snowmobile or our 6-wheeler (ATV) in a single trip. Generally, the norm is one bag per participant and one to two food boxes per day.

The transportation of luggage from one chalet to another.

Storage according to your needs (room temperature, cold room, or freezer) and delivery of food boxes (which you will have prepared) to each chalet.

Delivery of jugs of potable water (for consumption, not for washing dishes or other), prepared by La Traversée (approximately 3L/person/delivery).

A “kit” containing a tablecloth, dishcloths, a dish towel, matches, a recycling bag, and a garbage bag at each chalet.

Collection of waste placed in the garbage bag and recycling bag at each chalet.

Storage according to your needs (room temperature, cold room, or freezer) and delivery of food boxes (which you will have prepared) to the chosen chalet. Note that you will have to take everything back with you, so it’s essential to plan for minimalist and compact packaging.

On the last day, we will pick up your luggage at the last chalet during the day and bring it back to our reception office in St-Urbain where you will have registered on the day of your departure. Please note that your luggage may arrive at our office late in the afternoon.

It may happen that we agree on another pick-up point for your luggage (e.g. Top Location in Grand-Fonds). We will inform you if necessary.

You are not required to book these services at the same time as your reservations for accommodation. However, you have until two weeks before your departure, at the latest, to add any of these services to your reservation so that we can schedule employees accordingly. Please note that our capacity is limited, and during peak season, it may be challenging for us to offer this service even with a 2-week notice. Therefore, it’s better to book early if you absolutely require this service.

• Pots, pans, plates, bowls, cups, utensils, coffee maker (bodum)
• Propane stove with 2 burners (4-burner stove with oven at Écureuil and Geai Bleu)
• Basic cooking utensils: ladle, knife, colander, cutting board
• Basin and dish soap
• Surface disinfectant
• Hand sanitizer
• Containers to store your food

• Slow-burning wood stove
• Firewood and axe (firestarter is not provided)
• Foam mattresses with vinyl cover
• Propane lamps on the ground floor (solar-powered at Écureuil and Geai Bleu)
• Double USB outlet (Geai Bleu only)
• Table with benches
• Shovel
• Broom and dustpan
• Outhouse (toilet paper is not provided)
• Carbon monoxide, propane and smoke detector

The Écureuil shelter (day 1) and the Geai Bleu shelter (day 4) have ovens.

The Geai Bleu shelter (day 4) has a double USB port for charging your electronic devices.

Dogs are allowed in all our cabins/huts. We ask that you restrict your pets to the ground floor only. Dogs must also be on a leash at all times outside the cabin and on the trails. To book, we will need to find a date where no one is registered yet so as not to impose dogs on other groups. You must therefore call us to book. Consult our Pet Rules and Advice document before booking.

In general, these shelters are primarily intended for people doing the Traversée. However, within 48 hours’ notice, it is possible to rent one of these six shelters for exclusive use without doing the Traversée. You will need to access them on skis during the winter since snowshoes are not allowed on the thru-hiking trail during skiing season.

Yes, on the day hike trails (marked in yellow and green), you can travel as you wish, whether in boots, crampons, snowshoes, ski-shoes, or cross-country skis (not recommended because of steep slopes). However, take into account the prevailing trail conditions at the time of your visit.

We have two main sectors for day hikes:

Dôme Sector (Dôme and Eudore chalets)

Lac à l’Écluse Sector (JP Cadot, Caribou, and Taiga chalets)

Both sectors are interconnected and offer several trails of varying lengths and difficulty levels.

We ask a contribution of $7 per person, payable either online, at our reception, or directly at the trailheads of each sector (self-payment kiosk, cash only). A printed color map is included when you pay at the Traversée de Charlevoix reception at km 10.6 on Route 381. You can also purchase the map for $7 at the Zec des Martres reception at km 26.8 on Route 381.

Zec des Martres also charges road fees and parking fees for the Lac à l’Écluse sector (not for the Dôme sector). These must be paid online via the website or at the Zec reception.

Yes, dogs are allowed, but they must be kept on leash at all times, and please remember to carry waste disposal bags with you. Note: The outhouses in our shelters/chalets are not designed to accommodate these bags, even if they are biodegradable. Also, beware of porcupines! They are very much present in the area.

Shelters are reserved for those doing the thru-hike of the traverse, while holiday cabins are available to everyone. Whether you are hiking or just want to relax, you will most certainly enjoy their rustic charm. All cabins are equipped with solar lighting (except for Boudreault). Additionally, the Dôme and Eudore cabins have solar-powered refrigerators and 4-burner stoves with propane ovens. Several of the holiday cabins are also located at the beginning of several day hiking trails.

We are located at 135 rang St-François, St-Urbain-de-Charlevoix, Quebec, G0A-4K0. This is at km 10.6 on route 381, a few kilometers north of the village of Saint-Urbain. You will see our Traversée de Charlevoix sign on the side of the road; follow the small path to our reception.

Established and led by Mr. Eudore Fortin since 1978, with the assistance of Ms. Johanne Leduc from 1998, LA TRAVERSÉE DE CHARLEVOIX has been operated since 2019 by a non-profit organization called Sentiers Québec-Charlevoix. This organization, born from the merger of La Traversée de Charlevoix and Sentiers de la Capitale, has the primary mission of developing and maintaining hiking trails with accommodation. All the revenue generated by the organization is reinvested in trails, cabins, and the logistical organization of services for the hikers. The organization is made up of around twenty employees during the peak season and has more than fifty regular and occasional volunteers.

The mission of Sentiers Québec-Charlevoix is to plan, develop, manage, maintain, market, and promote trails, infrastructures, equipment, and services including accommodation. It is aimed at non-motorized outdoor activities such as hiking, cross-country skiing, snowshoeing, and cycling in urban, rural, or forested areas. This mission extends to the tourist regions of Québec and Charlevoix and any other region interested in these services. The organization specifically develops, manages, and markets the existing network of trails and accommodations known as “La Traversée de Charlevoix” and the services that are related.

The trails of La Traversée de Charlevoix expand over six territories, each owned by different governmental and private organizations. However, we remain the sole manager and responsible entity for these trails and the activities that take place on them. The existence of the trail relies on right-of-way agreements which are often challenging to obtain and are conditional to our ability to adequately supervise the hikers using them. This is the reason why it is important to register with us before using our trails.

The “Traverse Friends Club” is a support group for La Traversée’s activities. This support is demonstrated through both the annual basic membership fee (30$ in 2025) and participation in the various tasks organized by La Traversée. These tasks may consist of trail cleaning, trail marking, chalet repairs or firewood chores in the spring and fall. Your participation in these tasks is optional.

To thank you for your support, the membership in the Club for the year 2025 includes:

Contribution for unlimited access to our day hike trails for the current year* (does not include the access fee to the road network payable to Zec des Martres);

Additionally, by paying your annual membership before the 31st of March 2025, you are also entitled to:

10% discount on individual overnight stays in our shared cabins.

5% discount for one member on the regular price of exclusive occupancy on overnight stays in our chalets, or a maximum of 10% discount on the regular price of overnight stays if more than one member shares the same reservation.