Quebec Chalets | Log Cabins, Cozy Firesides, and Total Seclusion

With accommodations of various sizes, from one to six bedrooms, the Chalets Royal Laurentien in Quebec’s Laurentian Mountains is the right place for families of any size, from couples with a small child to a multi-generational get-together. Kids, parents and grandparents can head out for some snowmobiling, snowshoeing or cross-country skiing right from their front door. These chalets are perched lakeside, so if the weather cooperates, there’s all the skating a family of any size could ever hope for, right out the front door.

Skating on a natural, pristine lake is the quintessential Canadian tradition, but if you prefer boards, to blades, the Mont Blanc ski area is just eight kilometres away, and Mont Tremblant not much further. There, you’ll find ample opportunity for everything from snowboarding to snow tubing, from sledding to pure downhill skiing on the nearby slopes. Back at the Chalets Royal Laurentien, order up an in-room massage for the perfect ending to a perfect winterlude.

For the woodsiest of winter stays, head into the Mauricie region west of Quebec City to Hotel Sacacomie. Mauricie is named for the Maurice River, which is fed by some of the region’s 17,000 lakes. On one of those lakes – Sacacomie – is the hotel of the same name, its construction inspired by the log cabin style.

In this wild part of Quebec, snowmobiling is king. Guests of Hotel Sacacomie will never tire of exploring some of the 2,800 kilometers of trails. Wildlife sightings here are common – rabbits in their white winter fur coats, deer foraging for a meal, foxes on the hunt. To get a feel for the old way of life, ask for a stroll along the short, demonstration trap line with Gaspard to the rustic trappers’ cabin for a cup of his wild wintergreen tea. Perched on furs by the open fire, you’ll be treated to his true and other tales of life in the Quebec wilderness.

Within sight of Quebec’s best known downhill ski hill, Mont Tremblant, the luxurious Condo Tremblant offers a special, out-of-the-way getaway in a very popular winter destination. The deck and huge windows look onto Tremblant’s runs, just a short two-minute drive from its north parking lot and a 12-minute drive from the south side pedestrian village. If a massage and sauna is your idea of the perfect ending to a day of skiing, either on the slopes at Mont Tremblant or on the trails outside the door of your chalet, there’s a Scandinavian spa within a 10 kilometre drive.

Time at the Condo Tremblant is as much a part of unplugging from a busy life at home as it is about recharging after a day of schooping your way down the slopes. Inside, the grand wood frame construction provides the setting for a most comfortable stay. Get a good blaze going in the wide, glass-front woodstove, kick back with a glass of wine and enjoy the grand views. Before bed, relax with a leisurely soak in the gorgeously appointed bathrooms with wood accents and modern amenities. Afterwards, head upstairs to the loft bedrooms for a quiet night’s sleep.

Near the shores of Lac Tremblant at the base of the slopes of Mont Tremblant, The Refuge is the place for a romantic getaway. It offers accommodations as luxurious as any in the much larger hotels at the nearby base of the ski slopes. The Refuge’s suites are roomy and well appointed with fully equipped kitchens, some with stunning A-frame windows in the bedrooms, all within walking distance and with views of the lake and slopes. Free-standing baths, tiled showers and fireplaces add to the ambiance.

The fine wood décor of these suites matches the quiet, wooded surroundings and gives the feel of a rustic cabin, but with all the amenities of those slope-side hotels. The two-floor Romance Suite has a private entrance and access to a private garden area. Couples will enjoy the easy access to several restaurants within a short, romantic stroll in the snow.

One of the most overlooked regions of Quebec is the south shore of the St. Lawrence River across the provincial border with New Brunswick. This rural stretch of the Gaspé Peninsula is surprisingly scenic and has more than its share of outdoor winter-adventure opportunities.

Le Gîte du Mont-Albert is located right in the middle of the action, within Gaspesie Park, a Quebec provincial park. Step out the door for cross-country skiing and snowshoeing in the park. Ski on trails into the Chic-Choc Mountains and the McGerrigle Mountains. If you’d rather not bring your own ski equipment on holiday, ask about renting it on site.

The one and two bedroom chalets sleep up to eight, so they’re perfect for a family outing. Ask for a room with a view of Mont Albert itself. Go for a sauna after a day of skiing, then head to the central dining room for fine cuisine. Le Gîte du Mont-Albert even has an electric vehicle charging station for those arriving in environmentally friendly cars.

The view from the cliff-edge perch of Pourvoirie du Cap au Lest of the grand Saguenay Fjord is one of the finest vistas in the world. In winter, when the long fjord is a giant white highway of ice and snow, the view is a shimmering scenic wilderness. It’s also a temptation for visitors in the lodge or in the new VIP chalets to just hunker down with a comforting fire in the woodstove and do nothing more than take in the view. It’s doubly tempting to stay inside when you find yourself at the indoor pool, staring out the wall of windows or in the dining room doing the same at the panoramic views of the fjord. Other temptations await in the restaurant where regional cuisine is paired with local micro brews.

It’s said that the founder of Cap au Lest discovered this grand location when he was on a snowmobiling trip. If they can tear themselves away from the views, visitors can relive that magical journey on a snowmobiling tour of their own. This north shore of the Saguenay is a true Canadian wilderness, best explored in winter by snowmobile, snow bike or even by dogsled. Families can choose to leave the kids back at the chalet with in-room babysitting. The older ones might prefer the kids’ game room where they can compete on the foosball table or try their hand at vintage pinball games.

Auberge du Lac Taureau is about as far as you can get into the Quebec wilderness and still enjoy all the amenities of a modern resort. In fact, there’s nothing but forest and lakes north of this combination of wilderness hotel and chalets. The lodge and chalets overlook an endless lake dotted with islands with no other sign of people anywhere.

In winter, guests get out into this pristine wilderness for everything from ice fishing to dog sledding. Many kilometres of trails await the intrepid snowmobiler and cross country skier. Play some pickup hockey or try fat tire biking on the trails right from the lodge. See foxes on a winter wildlife observation trip or hear local indigenous stories at the Atikamekw site. Planes outfitted with skis land on the lake to pick up and deliver visitors, and to offer winter wilderness tours from the sky. With rooms, suites, condos and chalets, there’s an accommodation choice at Auberge du Lac Taureau that meets every need.