Cross-Country Skiing Networks to Discover

Updated on Oct 8, 2024

There are plenty of places to go cross-country skiing in the Townships! We’re introducing you to a few of these that are perfect for newcomers to the sport, or for those who are simply looking for quiet not too steep trails.


©Dominique Thibault

The Massawippi Trail

Here you’ll take the cycling trail that starts out in Lennoxville and head towards North Hatley (by way of the Capelton Mine). They’ve recently started to mechanically groom and mark this route for cross-country skiing enthusiasts. Set alongside the Massawippi River, the trail is linear and has almost no elevations for about fifteen kilometres. It’s ideal for an outing with young children

Access: Free
Suggested Trail Head: Halte Massawippi in Lennoxville or at the Capelton Mine


Parc historique de la Poudrière de Windsor

You’ll be able to explore a total of 12 km of cross-country skiing trails, mostly easy, when you visit this old black gunpowder plant. In fact, you can even still discover remnants of its past! The trails run along the property of the Domtar paper mill, and also in part, along the Watopeka River.

Access : $ 6/adult. Free for children under 17


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Plein Air Coaticook

Here you’ll discover a network covering 30 kilometres of trails. The venue offers several loops with varying lengths, on relatively flat terrain. You’ll find this forest jewel only a few minutes outside downtown Coaticook.

Access: $10/adult. Free for children.


Centre de ski de fond Richmond-Melbourne

The centre offers a total of 35 km of trails and three shelters where you can warm up and pause awhile. Their devoted volunteers ensure impeccable trail conditions. You’ll also enjoy amazing panoramas, and equipment rentals are available as well… Together all these ingredients will make your cross-country ski outing a memorable one!

Access: $20/adult. Free for those 12 years of age and less.


The Centre d’interprétation de la nature du lac Boivin (CINLB)

During the cold season, the Granbyenne, which surrounds the CINLB territory for about 11 km, is specially groomed for cross-country skiing and packed for walking, snowshoeing, and biking. Additionally, the Randonnée trail, approximately 6 km long, is also set up for cross-country skiing and walking. Keep your eyes open and your ears tuned… this place is a refuge for many birds. Keep your eyes and ears open … the place shelters many bird species.

Access: Free


Club de ski de fond d’Asbestos (Val-des-Sources)

This network allows you to cover about a dozen kilometres of trails set inside the forest, all groomed and marked. Most of the trails are rated as easy or of intermediate level. An outing perfectly adapted for beginners!

Access: Free
Trail heads: Club de Golf Royal Estrie or Centre O3 in Val-des-Sources.


Station touristique Baie-des-Sables

Among the panoply of winter activities offered here, of course, there’s cross-country skiing! Their twelve easy or difficult level trails (for a total of about thirty kilometres) are all mechanically groomed. You’ll find this outdoor activity centre near the city of Lac-Mégantic.

Access: $11.50 for the Lac-Mégantic area residents; $17.25 for non-residents.


The Parc des Sommets à Bromont

Among the different trails of this network covering the Parc des Sommets’ 140 km terrain, 37 km are accessible to cross-country skiers. You can therefore either head out on the C1 trail, set around the base of Mount Brome, follow the trail of the Olympic Equestrian park, or explore the Villageois trails. All easy and intermediate level trails, the network will offer you hours of cross-country skiing fun.

Access: Free for Bromont residents. Non-residents: $17.40/adult.

You should read

Cross-country Skiing: 6 Remarkable Venues
10 Really Cool Places to Go Snowshoeing or Cross-Country Skiing
Snowshoeing in the Eastern Townships: 12 Not-to-Be-Missed Trails
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