Choose your Itinerary

Self-guided Formula

This is an activity that takes place within a framework defined with the producer Equinox Aventure. You determine the date of your trip, as well as the duration, depending on the route that interests you. It is possible to intervene at any time to supervise the activity and provide support for mechanical breakdown or other problem. This is an autonomous way of discovering the Saguenay-Lac-Saint-Jean region. This approach offers complete freedom in your stay while benefiting from support at all times. Departures and information meetings are personalized and individual.

Why choose a self-guided formula:

To manage your schedule as you see fit;
To be able to rely on a team of experts if something goes wrong;
So that you can enjoy the feeling of freedom without having to worry about the logistical aspects of planning your trip.

Assess your physical level

Blueberry Trail

The relief: The lowlands of Lac-Saint-Jean are made up of valleys to the south-east of Lac St-Jean and a few plains further north. All in all, the relief is fairly flat if we compare it to the rest of the Canadian Shield on which the Saguenay-Lac-Saint-Jean region is located.
The distance: A complete tour of Lac-Saint-Jean is a distance of 256 km. Thus, the number of kilometers cycled per day will determine the route to be covered, taking into account the location of the villages around the lake in order to have access to services.
Difficulties: Fatigue. Many people underestimate the relief and immensity of Lac-St-Jean. For example, although 50 km of cycling in one day may not seem like much, keep in mind that the trip does not end there and that the body still has to pedal for 4 more days. Therefore, it is important to properly assess your physical abilities to be able to enjoy your stay and come out with a positive experience. For example, maybe a U-turn would have been more appropriate for someone starting out rather than choosing a full 256 km lap.

Fjord cycle route

The relief: The Saguenay Fjord is a plateau whose altitude varies around 400 to 500m. There are also many deep valleys there. The positive elevation of the Véloroute du fjord revolves around 4500m to 5000m.
The distance: The two shores of the Saguenay Fjord offer, in all, a circuit of 435 km. The route is created based on the location of the villages that have accommodation available to tourists rather than the physical capacity of cyclists.
The difficulties: The significant vertical drop combined with long distances without services and entirely on the asphalt shoulder.

Horst of Kénogami

The relief: The Horst of Kénogami is a chain of hills constituting the natural border between Lac-Saint-Jean and Saguenay. The Horst has an irregular relief characteristic of the Laurentians bordering altitudes of 180m. (source Ville Saguenay)
The distance: From a distance of 71 km. This circuit starts from Métabetchouan in Lac-St-Jean and ends at Shiphaw on the banks of the Saguenay River. These are the section that connects the Blueberry Trail to the Véloroute du Fjord.
The difficulties: The Horst of Kénogami is generally done in one day since it is included in the packages that start in Lac-St-Jean and go to Saguenay.

Assess your comfort

Blueberry Trail

Circuit conditions : The Blueberry Trail is 100% asphalted, with the exception of the 15km of Pointe-Taillon National Park. The portion with the most sections of cycle paths is the southern portion of Lac Saint-Jean. Distribution according to the Blueberry Trail:
- Cycle paths (105 km) - 43%
- Cycle lanes (8 km) - 3%
- Paved shoulders (82 km) - 34%
- Designated roadway (48 km) - 20%
Accommodation: Lac-Saint-Jean is mainly made up of municipalities where there are small villages and a few towns. As a result, the choice of accommodation is not as diverse as in large urban centers. On average, accommodation in the region has a classification of 3 stars.

Fjord cycle route

Ciruit conditions : 95% of the circuit is on a paved shoulder. The remaining 5% is in Ville Saguenay and these are cycle paths.
Accommodation: In Ville Saguenay and Tadoussac, we can find a fairly diversified tourist offer since they are two important tourist poles. As for the villages on the outskirts, there are lodges and inns.

Horst of Kénogami

Circuit conditions: 71 km of cycling network including: 20% (14 km) of cycle paths, 32% (23 km) of asphalt shoulder and 48% (34 km) of designated roadway.
Accommodation: There are no hotels in this area. However, there are a few hostels there.

Assess your expectations

The Blueberry Trail

Riding along the shore of Lac St-Jean: the Blueberry Trail was built on the basis of the existing road network that connects towns and villages. Indeed, the Blueberry Trail does not always run alongside Lac Saint-Jean. This is explained by the fact that the shores of the lake are private.
Access to the beaches: Lac-Saint-Jean is a region that welcomes many tourists during the summer. Many wants to see and enjoy the famous beaches of Lac Saint-Jean. However, it is important to know that some beaches are located on private lands or reserved for residents of Lac-Saint-Jean. Therefore, we recommend you public beaches.

Fjord cycle route

Riding with a view of the Fjord: the Véloroute du Fjord is a circuit that is, in fact, a loop on routes 170 and 172. As a result, the road does not run alongside the Saguenay Fjord. This can be explained by the fact that the relief is too steep, in addition to being a protected area thanks to the Saguenay Fjord National Park.