Let’s be honest: winters aren’t what they used to be. Mild spells, December rain, and a first snowfall that keeps you waiting have become a reality for nordic playgrounds like ours.
If you arrive in Mont-Tremblant and the landscape is less white than you’d hoped, don’t worry: your trip can still be awesome. Here’s what works with or without snow, along with our tips for making the most of whatever winter brings.
We’d rather talk about this openly than skip over it. Snowless holiday periods, with unusually mild weather and rain, create serious viability challenges for outdoor activities in the Mont-Tremblant region. That’s why the region’s activity operators came together to put a climate surcharge in place for the activities most at risk.
Some activities depend entirely on snow. They often rely on many kilometres of snow-covered trails that we can’t always count on during that three-week peak period around Christmas. Given the climate disruptions we’re seeing right now, it’s becoming less viable to run these activities at the front and the back of the winter season.
The good news: a large share of our activities don’t depend on snow, or adapt easily to the conditions. Here’s a selection.
At a glance
| Activity | What it needs |
|---|---|
| Fatbike | Rideable trails, frozen dirt or packed snow |
| ATV 4x4 | Trails that aren’t slush |
| Guided walking tour or snowshoeing | Adapts to the day: micro-spikes without snow, snowshoes with enough snow |
| Helicopter flight | Clear skies. Snow on the ground doesn’t matter |
| Les Refuges Perchés | Works with or without snow |
| Paintball | No snow cover needed |
| Treetop Walk | Open in almost any weather |
| Day with a Woodsman | Doesn’t depend on snow |
| Survival Hike | The skills apply in every condition |
| Indoor games | Under a roof, so snow and sky don’t matter |
The oversized 4-inch tires roll just as well over frozen forest dirt as over packed snow. When snow is scarce, fat biking becomes one of the best ways to explore the forest on wheels, with surprising grip and no mountain biking experience required.
As long as the trails aren’t slush, side-by-side ATVs are a fun way to explore and take in the winter landscape. A great alternative when we can’t snowmobile because winter is slow to arrive.
A guide takes you deep into the forest, on foot with micro-spikes (crampons) when there isn’t enough snow, and on snowshoes as soon as there is. The activity adapts to the day’s conditions, so it works from the start of the season to the end.
No matter how much snow is on the ground, the view over the Laurentians from the air stays spectacular. It’s an activity that doesn’t depend on conditions at ground level. As long as the skies are clear, it can turn any day into a memorable one.
Spend the night off-grid in a treehouse raised up in the trees at Les Refuges Perchés, in Parc Éco-Laurentides. The site has kilometres of trails, and the experience of a night in the forest keeps all its magic, whether there’s plenty of snow or not.
A classic for groups and families that doesn’t depend on snow cover at all. Split into two sides, take cover, and see who comes out on top.
The elevated walkway climbs gently to the panoramic tower, open in almost any weather. The 360-degree view over the Laurentians is worth it in any season, and in the evening the site lights up with the Lumagica illuminations for a magical experience.
Spend the day alongside a real woodsman and learn his traditional skills. It’s an authentic Canadian experience, an immersion in Quebec culture and the forest that doesn’t depend on snow, but on the land and the people who know it.
Head into the forest to learn the basics of wilderness survival with a guide, an authentic Canadian experience at the heart of the land. Snow on the ground or not, the skills apply in every condition, and that’s exactly what makes the activity so rewarding.
When the weather really won’t cooperate, our indoor games keep the group laughing under a roof. They don’t depend on snow or sky, which makes them a reliable backup on the wettest or coldest days, and a fun way to round out an afternoon.
When conditions stop us from running activities like snowmobiling or dog sledding, we let you know as soon as our weather prediction and cancellation decision is made. This can be days or hours in advance, but we do it as early as possible, and we’ll help you swap it for something that works. Our goal stays the same: that your day is an awesome one.
Anything that melts or softens the snow on the trails, so it’s usually rain or unusually warm weather. Freezing rain can cause problems too, making trails too icy, and soft slushy snow that’s quickly frozen by a cold snap can cause delays until it’s groomed.
It’s a measure put in place collectively by the region’s activity operators to deal with the viability challenges of milder, less predictable winters, especially around the holidays. It reflects the real cost of running activities when conditions become untenable. You can read more about it here.
The helicopter flight, the Treetop Walk, paintball, the Day with a Woodsman, the Survival Hike, and indoor games don’t depend on snow and are among the most reliable when winter is slow to arrive. Fat biking and mountain biking work as long as the trails stay rideable.
Whatever the conditions, there’s always something to discover in Mont-Tremblant. Get in touch with our team or reserve on tremblantactivities.com, and we’ll help you build a great trip, snow or no snow. Spaces are limited, so we recommend you reserve in advance.
