| St. Lawrence Raid | |
| Information | |
| Departure | Wolf River |
|---|---|
| Steps | Matane Baie-Comeau |
| Arrival | Sacred Heart |
| Length | 685 km |
| Country |  Canada |
| Regions | Bas-Saint-Laurent Gaspesie Manicouagan |
| Tourist information office | |
| Touristic site | |
the St. Lawrence raid is a snowmobile route following the St.Lawrence River on its two shores crossing the regions of Bas-Saint-Laurent, of the Gaspesie and some North Coast.
Understand
The St.Lawrence Raid actually combines parts of the snowmobile tour of the Gaspé and Nordic raid for a total of nearly 700 kilometers of snow-covered trails. You have to take the ferry Camille-Marcoux to cross the St. Lawrence River between Matane and Baie-Comeau ; the crossing lasts approximately 2 h 20. Note that it is also possible to take the same ferry from Matane to get to Godbout, thus lengthening the route. the Camille-Marcoux includes a cafeteria, bar and relaxation lounge on board. For more information on the ferry, visit the website of the Quebec ferry company or call toll-free at 
1 877 562-6560 (You must call to reserve.)
On the south shore, the route follows the Trans-Québec 5 trail (TQ5) between Wolf River and Matane. However, nearly Three pistols, it is possible to take a detour via trail 518 which is remarkably wide for a snowmobile trail; this can be reached via trail 571 and will take you back on the TQ5 towards Rimouski. On the north shore, the route follows the TQ3 trail. Between Baie-Comeau and Les Escoumins, to cross the Manicouagan River, you will take the longest snowmobile bridge in North America. Near Portneuf-sur-Mer, there is a bridge spanning the Portneuf river with a length of 30 meters that lights up at night.
Trails are generally well signposted with signs resembling road signs indicating directions and points of interest such as gas stations and restaurants. It is still recommended to download a pdf version or order the printed version of the trail maps for each region (Bas-Saint-Laurent, Gaspésie and Côte-Nord). The maps are updated every season, so it is important to have the most recent, especially since they are available for free. They are available on the tourist site of Quebec maritime. Trail maps are also available on Android or iPhone smartphones via the “snowmobile »At the cost of 2,99 $ C. This also allows you to follow your progress thanks to the GPS of your phone.
Steps
| Departure | Destination | Distance | Remarks |
|---|---|---|---|
| Wolf River | Rimouski | 200 km | |
| Rimouski | Matane | 130 km | Through Mont-Joli |
| Matane | Baie-Comeau | 62 km | Crossing 2 h 20 on board of Camille-Marcoux (also possible to go through Godbout) |
| Baie-Comeau | Forestville | 160 km | |
| Forestville | Portneuf-sur-Mer | 35 km | |
| Portneuf-sur-Mer | Les Escoumins | 95 km | |
| Les Escoumins | Sacred Heart | 65 km | |
| Total | 747 km | Total of 685 km of trails | |
To go
Wolf River is the best entry point for this route. Consult the page for that city or that of Bas-Saint-Laurent to find out how to get there. It is easily accessible from the West of Quebec or from Maine to United States. The route ends at Sacred Heart on the North Coast. It is also possible to travel in the opposite direction without any problem.
To see
South Shore
- Belvedere of Saint-Fabien Saint-Fabien – Via trail 518 followed by a local trail, it is possible to reach the Saint-Fabien belvedere which offers a surprising view of the St. Lawrence River and its coastline as well as of the Bic National Park.
- Domaine Valga 300, chemin des Écorchis, Saint-Gabriel-de-Rimouski,
1 418 739-4200, fax : 1 418 739-4200, e-mail : [email protected] – A detour to Saint-Grabiel-de-Rimouski via trail 579, will allow you to visit an ancestral maple grove and the largest log inn in Eastern Quebec which offers accommodation with internet access, a dining room as well as a bar; two cabins are also available. - 1 Green Island Lighthouse Our Lady of the Seven Sorrows – The oldest lighthouse in the St.Lawrence, located on Île Verte which can be reached by an ice bridge from L'Isle-Verte via trail 567 (for more information on this ice bridge, call 1 418 898-3287). Île Verte is the only island in the St. Lawrence where you cross by an ice bridge. The sunset over the island is particularly remarkable.
North shore
- Tadoussac Bay and Saguenay Fjord – Unmissable landscape of this route, magnificent panoramas.
Do
Circulate
In Saint-Damase, the Trans-Québec 5 trail (TQ5) makes a T-intersection indicating TQ5 in both directions; the TQ5 makes a loop that circles the Gaspé Peninsula. For the route of the Saint-Laurent raid, you have to turn left towards Matane if you start from Rivière-du-Loup. If you travel in the opposite direction, starting with the Côte-Nord, you will then have to continue straight ahead in the direction of Mont-Joli.
In Matane, you will have to leave the TQ5 to join the ferry using local trails. Same thing on the other side of the river, in Baie-Comeau, where you will have to take local tracks to join the TQ3. If we start from Sacré-Coeur, it is obviously the opposite.
Regulations
In order to be able to circulate legally on snowmobile trails, you must acquire a right of access. An access card can be obtained from the Quebec Federation of Snowmobile Clubs (FCMQ) or from one of the member clubs. Certain snowmobile rental services include the right of access. In addition, snowmobile dealers as well as several accommodation and dining places located near the trails sell access rights. Prices for access rights vary depending on the duration, from 55 $ C for a day at 360 $ C for the season (note that seasonal access rights purchased before the start of the season are cheaper.)
It is also compulsory to have your driving license with you to cross a public road. Young people aged 16 and 17 must also have an aptitude certificate.
Eat
Snowmobile relays are located directly on the Trans-Québec trails and other food and beverage outlets are accessible directly by snowmobile through other trails.
Housing
Several accommodation establishments are considered "safe"; that is, they offer a way to secure your snowmobile for the night in order to avoid theft with a garage, a closed enclosure or a chain provided free of charge. The list below only includes establishments that collaborate with the Federation of Snowmobile Clubs of Quebec in order to be said to be safe. For all accommodation options, see the pages of the respective cities or regions: Bas-Saint-Laurent, Gaspesie and Manicouagan.
- Universal Hotel Wolf River, 1 418 862-9520, 1 800 265-0072 (free number)
- Pelchat Resort Les Escoumins, 1 418 233-2401, 1 888 225-3463 (free number)
- Hotel-Motel-Restaurant Coronet Sacred Heart, 1 418 236-9444, 1 800 550-3123 (free number)
- Chantmarin Motel-Restaurant Tadoussac, 1 418 235-4733, 1 800 731-4733 (free number)
Security
The usual safety rules for operating a snowmobile obviously apply. It is especially important to watch out for wild animals that might be on the tracks; deer are particularly present in large numbers in certain portions of the route.
It is important to always check the weather forecast before starting a snowmobile ride. The sites of the Quebec Federation of Snowmobile Clubs (FCMQ) andQuebec Snowmobile Association (ADMDQ) publish snowmobile trail conditions, it is recommended that you consult them before setting off.
As is the case with automobile transportation, it is illegal and above all dangerous to operate a snowmobile on the trails after consuming alcohol. Snowmobile police also roam the trails and sometimes carry out checkpoints.
Patrollers from the Fédération des clubs de motoneigistes du Québec as well as patrollers from the clubs regularly patrol the trails to ensure safety and compliance with laws and regulations in partnership with the police forces.
It is important to follow the posted speed limits where applicable. The speed limit in residential areas is 30 km / h. There are also regulations for night traffic in residential areas; it is prohibited in places.
Around
For all the things to see and do in the surrounding area, consult the pages for each region:
