From January 8 to 10, 2016, I have been invited by SledMagazine.com to rediscover the Monts Valin. I say “ rediscover ” because it was my third visit. As a guest, I accompanied some of the other collaborators of the web magazine. Most of them were like me, they did not know the Monts Valin very well. This trip was meant to make us realize how important the Monts Valin are to the tourism industry of the Saguenay-Lac-Saint-Jean region in terms of innkeepers and restaurant operators, hundreds of kilometers of quality trails, abundance of snow that pleases so much on- and off-trail snowmobilers. Over the years, the Monts Valin have built a reputation as a land of welcome for all types of snowmobilers. So, we were there to discover their treasure.
I knew at that time that the Monts Valin had a wide range of activities to offer. So, it can become uneasy to make the right choice in order to get the optimal fun in just a few-day trip. What a nice problem, anyway !
Firstly, the Monts Valin scenery in winter is just incredibly wonderful. You can take different trails to reach directly the numerous panoramic views over the Saguenay Fjord. Once on the site, you realize that a picture cannot do justice to the beauty and immensity of the gorges and cliffs. Also, this region includes many small inviting villages with inhabitants dedicated to tourism. This time, we stayed at the Auberge du km 31. After only 10 years of operation, this place has become legendary; it offers many rooms and cottages of superior quality. On the premises located in the heart of the mounts, you will find a restaurant, a gas station and all others amenities related to snowmobile. From this strategic point, you can easily plan a ride towards regions outside the Monts Valin, like Les Escoumins, Tadoussac and the Saguenay area. You will be pleased by the large number of trails.
The Monts Valin also offer the charming ski station Le Valinouët, open till mid-April. A large network of accomodations and infrastructures of all kinds has been developped all around the mounts to satisfy the most demanding fans of winter sports. For example, there is the Ferme 5 étoiles in Sacré-Coeur, where you can find bed and breakfast, motel rooms, condo-appartments, suites, cottages and other types of lodging. The establishment offers many activities such as dog sledding, snowshoeing, relaxation centre, snowmobile rental, ice fishing and encounter with various wild animals. Staff are really nice people who do everything to make your stay unforgettable.
During one of our rides, we headed for the Réservoir Péribonka to have lunch at the Centre plein-air Mont Vilain. You must absolutely stop at this place. Once again, we have been amazed by the installations offered to snowmobilers and quadists. Effectively, you will find here comfort, great service and meals that will please the most demanding clients. We have been very happy to meet the owners, Martin Lachance and his wife Annick, two generous persons who put much effort to make our stay friendly and warm.
To conclude, I would say that the Monts Valin are to be visited by all snowmobilers. This is definitely a large territory covered with lots of snow right from the beginning of the season. After 20 to 22 weeks of snowy conditions, spring snowmobiling is just great. The multitude of trails on the territory are centralized and perfect for snowmobiling. You have to discover and to rediscover these wonderful landscapes and lodging accomodations. And moreover, you will meet people who are proud of their region and who love to share it.
