Winter Outdoor activities near Rivière-du-Loup : Recommendations from AuQueb

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AuQuéb, loyal collaborator who offers you her discoveries and crushes in Bas-Saint-Laurent.

On the shores of the St. Lawrence River, Rivière-du-Loup charms us with its magnificent views, lined with the most beautiful sunsets. Our last trip to the region reminded us how ideal it is to unplug during the winter and enjoy the great outdoors.

Rivière-du-Loup is a great place for families… super-friendly, easy to get around and with plenty of options for outdoor play.

So here’s a selection of sites to visit for our top 3 winter activities near Rivière-du-Loup!

To your tubes

Rivière-du-Loup’s downtown area offers not one, but two tubing sites! The Frontenac slope is quite unique in terms of location; situated right next to the Premier Tech Centre, the tubing park lets you enjoy the joys of winter in the heart of the city.

For thrill-seekers, the Chalet des sports in Notre-Dame-du-Portage is less than 15 minutes away. This one won us over with its inclined-turn slide that had us whirling! To top it all off, access is free (as are all the outdoor activities on site).

Psssst! We weren’t, but if you’re traveling with young children, they must be at least 125 cm tall to enjoy the slide. What’s more, helmets must be worn by all (available on site).

Other nearby slide: Centre sportif de Saint-Antonin

To your tubes

Rivière-du-Loup’s prime location spoils us with enchanting hiking trails. Here are three sites that really charmed us, thanks to their proximity to the water… so magnificent in winter with snow and ice!

Parc de la Pointe (a camping area in summer) is breathtaking. For end-of-day hikers, the sunset here is sublime when the weather allows it, of course. The park lives up to its name; located on the Pointe de la Rivière-du-Loup on the shores of the St. Lawrence River, it’s a five-kilometre walk with lovely lookouts where you can stop for a moment and enjoy your surroundings. 

Another favorite park is Parc des chutes, located downtown, accessible via Frontenac street and just a short stroll from lively Rue Lafontaine. In both winter and summer, its 33-metre-high waterfall, which can be walked over via two footbridges (one at the top of the falls, the other at the bottom), is truly magnificent! Although in the middle of the city, the park is vast, with 9 km of trails. Once again, our favorite!

For the third walking destination: head for Notre-Dame-du-Portage to discover Parc de l’Anse! Running alongside the St. Lawrence River, it offers sublime views of the Charlevoix mountains, Île aux Lièvres and Iles des Pèlerins. Both the eastern and western areas are waiting to be discovered, and offer just a few kilometers of splendid panoramic views. 

Other park nearby: Parc côtier Kiskotuk.

On your skates

Rivière-du-Loup and the surrounding area hide some jewels of ice-skating spots! There’s something for everyone, from field hockey fans to recreational skaters. And let’s face it, we’re having the perfect winter for ice skating this year!

Two ice rings are available, one in Parc Blais and the other on Frontenac Street at The Premier Tech Center. Depending on which location suits you best, both are equivalent, maintained by the municipality and open from 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. every day/evening. 

Please note! Only free skating is permitted, so please leave your hockey equipment in the car or head for the rink at the Chalet des sports at Notre-Dame-du-Portage if you intend to negotiate a game. Also free of charge, the rink has a great pre-set schedule that’s super inclusive! For example, time slots for family field hockey are on the daily schedule, in addition to field hockey and free skating. Very well thought out to ensure that all styles feel at home! 

In Saint-Alexandre-de-Kamouraska, there’s also a municipal skating rink with a specific schedule, as well as an ice trail that’s back this year in the municipal park (a little trailer welcomes us during opening hours to put on our skates in the warmth).

Other ice skating rinks nearby: Place Saint-Georges in Cacouna, Centre récréatif Guy D’amours in L’Isle-Verte, Centre sportif in Saint-Antonin, Centre communautaire Morneau in Saint-Arsène, Centre Gérald Bérubé in Saint-Francois-Xavier-de-Viger, Centre récréatif Guillaume Bastille in Saint-Modeste and Chalet des loisirs in Saint-Paul-de-la-Croix.