What is the Route Verte and what are the best cycling routes in Quebec?

The Route Verte is a 5,300 km marked cycling network covering all Quebec regions. Best rides include the Lachine Canal (Montreal), the Île d'Orléans loop, the P'tit Train du Nord rail trail, and the Gaspésie coast route.

Route Verte Quebec 2026: Cycling Canada's Longest Bike Network by Region

Canada’s greatest cycling network

The Route Verte — Quebec’s marked cycling network — is the longest in Canada and one of the longest in the Americas, covering approximately 5,300 kilometres of cycling infrastructure across the province. Created by the Vélo Québec organisation and opened in sections from the late 1990s through the 2000s, the network connects urban cycling paths with rural rail trails, riverside routes, and coastal roads in a linked system that can be ridden in sections of a few kilometres or in multi-week expeditions.

The Route Verte was a deliberate infrastructure investment in cycling as transportation and tourism, and it has succeeded: Quebec has one of the highest rates of cycling participation in Canada, and cycling tourism — both domestic and international — contributes significantly to regional economies along the network. The annual Tour du Quebec charity cycling event draws thousands of participants; countless independent cyclists ride the network’s most scenic sections each summer.

This guide covers the best sections of the Route Verte for visitors, organised by region and by rider type, with practical logistics for route planning, bike rental, and combining cycling with other Quebec travel.

The P’tit Train du Nord: rail trail masterpiece

The P’tit Train du Nord is Quebec’s most celebrated rail trail and one of the finest multi-use rail-trail conversions in North America. Running 232 kilometres from Saint-Jérôme (50 km north of Montreal) to Mont-Laurier through the heart of the Laurentian ski country, the trail follows the former Canadian Pacific railway line — converted to a cycling and cross-country ski trail in 1996.

What makes it exceptional

The trail surfaces are excellent — primarily packed gravel with smoother sections near towns — and the grade is gentle throughout (former railway grades, designed for loaded freight trains, are less than 3% even through the Laurentian hills). The total 232 km can be ridden in three to five days by an average cyclist, but most visitors choose shorter sections between Laurentian resort towns.

The trail passes through or near the ski resort towns of Saint-Sauveur, Sainte-Adèle, Mont-Tremblant, and many smaller communities. Former railway stations along the route have been converted into cycling shelters, cafes, and visitor information points. Cycling services — bike rentals, repairs, shuttles — are available in most towns along the route.

Planning a P’tit Train du Nord ride

Southbound vs. northbound: The trail climbs gently from south to north; a southbound ride (Mont-Laurier to Saint-Jérôme) is slightly easier due to net downhill gradient. Shuttles from Saint-Jérôme to starting points further north allow one-way rides in either direction.

Accommodation: The Laurentian towns along the route have excellent accommodation — from resort hotels to B&Bs to cycling-friendly gîtes that accommodate bikes. In peak summer and fall colour season, book accommodation two to four weeks in advance.

Best sections: The most scenic section is generally from Saint-Agathe-des-Monts northward — the landscape opens up, lakes become more prominent, and the resort density decreases. The Saint-Sauveur to Sainte-Adèle section (about 30 km) is excellent for a shorter day ride from Montreal.

Season: June through October. The trail converts to a cross-country ski trail in winter and is closed to cyclists. Fall colour (late September–early October) makes this one of the best times to ride.

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Lachine Canal, Montreal: urban cycling perfection

The Lachine Canal cycling path — 14.5 km from Old Montreal to Lachine on the western island — is the finest urban cycling route in Canada and one of the best in North America. The route follows the canal (built 1821–1825, now a National Historic Site managed by Parks Canada) through what was once Montreal’s industrial heartland: the former warehouses, mills, and factory buildings that now house lofts, restaurants, and cultural spaces.

Riding the Lachine Canal

The path is flat, fully paved, and separated from motor traffic for its entire length. The canal’s still water reflects the brick buildings and occasional lock chambers; cyclists and joggers share the wide path comfortably. The route is accessible to cyclists of all ages and fitness levels — it is the ideal Montreal urban cycling experience.

Starting point: Atwater Market (western end of the Market — the Quebec food markets guide covers the market itself) is the most atmospheric starting point, with the possibility of buying provisions at the market before riding. Old Montreal’s Old Port is the eastern terminus.

Extending the route: The Lachine Canal path connects to the broader Montreal cycling network, including the path around Île-des-Soeurs (Nuns’ Island) and the route to the South Shore via the Champlain Bridge cycling lane.

Bixi bike share: Montreal’s Bixi electric and regular bike share system makes the Lachine Canal route accessible without renting a bike — Bixi stations are located at both ends of the canal and at several points along the route. Day passes and multi-day passes are available.

What to see along the canal: The Marché Atwater at the western end; the Monk station neighbourhood (distinctive Montreal greystone duplexes); the Peel Basin (former winter harbour, now a kayak launch point); the Lachine neighbourhood at the western terminus, with its village character and view over the St. Lawrence rapids.

Île d’Orléans: the perfect bike loop

Île d’Orléans — the large island in the St. Lawrence immediately downstream from Quebec City — is one of Quebec’s great cycling destinations. The island’s circuit road runs approximately 65 kilometres around the perimeter, flat to gently rolling, with uninterrupted views of the St. Lawrence River and the surrounding landscape. The island retains its agricultural character — berry farms, apple orchards, fromageries, roadside produce stands — making it an ideal cycling-food tourism combination.

Cycling the island circuit

Full circuit (65 km): Most cyclists complete the circuit in 4–6 hours at a relaxed pace, with stops at farm stands and viewpoints. The north shore of the island (facing the Charlevoix coast) is slightly more sheltered; the south shore has broader views over the St. Lawrence.

Starting point: The single bridge to the island (Pont de l’Île d’Orléans) is 10 km from Old Quebec City by car or taxi. Cycling across the bridge is possible but involves a narrow highway shoulder — most cyclists arrive by car or the occasional shuttle and begin their circuit from the island itself.

What to stop for: La chocolaterie de l’Île d’Orléans (chocolate from local maple and berries), Vignoble de l’Île d’Orléans (one of Quebec’s northernmost vineyards), Ferme Monna & Filles (apple cider), and multiple roadside fruit stands selling the island’s celebrated strawberries (June–July) and other seasonal produce.

Bike rental: Several operators in Quebec City rent cycling-appropriate bikes for the island circuit; some offer bike transport to the island. Check with the Quebec City tourist office for current rental options.

See the Île d’Orléans vs Île aux Coudres comparison guide for the full island context.

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Gaspésie coast: the epic Quebec cycling journey

For cyclists seeking a multi-day adventure, the Gaspésie coastal route is one of Canada’s great cycling journeys. The Route Verte follows the coast of the Gaspé Peninsula for approximately 550 km from Sainte-Flavie (near Rimouski) around the tip of the peninsula to Gaspé town — a route of extraordinary coastal scenery, with the St. Lawrence expanding from river to sea, the Chic-Choc mountains visible inland, and small fishing villages at regular intervals.

What to expect

Terrain: Mostly rolling to hilly coastal road. Several significant climbs, particularly between Matane and Sainte-Anne-des-Monts and near Gaspé. Not suitable for casual cyclists; best for those comfortable with sustained daily climbs.

Distance and timing: 550 km in 7–10 days is a reasonable pace, allowing time for side trips (inland to Parc national de la Gaspésie — see the Quebec hiking guide — and to Forillon National Park at the tip).

Services: The Gaspé Peninsula has accommodation (B&Bs, small hotels, campgrounds) at reasonable intervals, but services become sparser west of Gaspé town toward the south coast. Research and book accommodation in advance.

Season: July and August are best. The St. Lawrence coast can be cold and foggy in June; September is excellent and crowd-free.

Eastern Townships: wine and cidery routes

The Eastern Townships offer Quebec’s most pleasant multi-day cycling in a wine-and-food-tourism context. The Dunham-Sutton-Bromont corridor has an excellent cycling infrastructure — flat to rolling roads through orchards, vineyards, and cidery country — and the combination of cycling and food tourism is specifically encouraged by the regional tourism infrastructure.

Le Chemin des Cantons: A 140 km cycling route through the Eastern Townships’ most scenic areas, connecting Bromont, Granby, Waterloo, and the Dunham wine corridor. Available as a self-guided multi-day or as individual day sections.

Combining with cideries: The Eastern Townships cider producers (see the Quebec ice cider guide) and fromageries (see the Quebec cheese trail guide) are designed for this type of cycling visit — arrive by bike, taste, pack a purchase in your panniers, continue.

Practical cycling notes

Vélo Québec: The organisation behind the Route Verte (veloquebec.ca) publishes detailed route maps, accommodation guides for cyclists along the network, and the annual Cycling in Quebec magazine — excellent planning resources.

Bike transport on trains and buses: Via Rail trains on the Montreal–Quebec City corridor accept bicycles in checked baggage with advance reservation. Intercar bus lines in regional Quebec sometimes accept bikes with advance notice. Confirm before planning your route.

Bike rental in Quebec cities: Montreal has an excellent Bixi bike-share system and multiple independent rental shops. Quebec City has rental shops near the Old Town; some hotels accommodate cycling guests with secure storage. For multi-day touring bikes or quality road bikes, specialist rental shops in Montreal and Quebec City are the best source.

Helmets: Required by Quebec law for cyclists under 18; strongly recommended for all cyclists on rural routes and rail trails.

E-bikes: Increasingly available for rental in Quebec’s cycling tourism corridors. The P’tit Train du Nord in particular has several e-bike rental operators, making the Laurentian climbs more accessible for casual cyclists.