The Îles de la Madeleine are unique, especially in the winter! Winter in the Islands is the season for getting to know the Madelinots and their traditional hospitality, time for carnival, mid-Lent festivities and other events that will give you a glimpse into the cultural, artistic and gastronomical individuality of the Island environment!
You might take the clue from the
Madelinots, who like to say : " In the Islands, we might not know the time, but we always have the time." So take the time for a break and enjoy quality time-off in the middle of the Gulf of Saint Lawrence..
Unlike the summer season, their winter life glides along to a much slower tempo. You can share their culture and take full advantage of the island experience by choosing from a wide range of activities adapted to the season and the prevailing weather.
With every new day and every new turn of the road, visions of the unique splendours of the Madelinot landscape unfold before your eyes: towering red sandstone cliffs, enormous, immaculate ice fields, snow-covered hills and valleys.
In the heart of winter, when weather conditions allow, Greenland seals, these sea nomads, migrate southward.
The females return near the coasts of the Îles de la Madeleine to calve on the vast ice fields surrounding the archipelago, providing one of Nature's rarest and most wonderful spectacles. Over a couple of weeks, the whitecoats gradually exchange their snowy colouring for the black and silver that gives the adults such excellent camouflage in their marine environment. Underwater, the seals' agility has all the fluid grace and beauty of a sublime submarine ballet. These sights and memories will remain with you forever, and even your best photo images cannot begin to convey the magic of this experience for your friends. Visit the section Seal Observation Tours for more information.
Location: At the back of the church of La Vernière and the Centre récréatif de l'Étang-du-Nord. Park at the rear of the Centre. To access the trail, follow the path leading to woods on foot or on skis.
Note: The access to the trail and the parking is free. 7 km.
Map of La Vernière (in french)
(8.38 Mo)
Location: The departure point is from the parking lot of Parc des Buck.
Note: The access to the trail and the parking is free. 10.2 km.
Location: The departure point is from the rear of the Centre multifonctionnel du Havre-Aubert (CMF).
Note: The access to the trail and the parking is free. 4.9 km.
Map of Havre-Aubert (in french)
(8.52 Mo)
Location: The departure point is at the end of the Chemin des Bas.
Note: The access to the trail is free. 7 km.
Map of Havre-aux-Maisons (in french)
(5.91 Mo)
Localisation: The departure point of these trail are different one of the other. All the informations are available on the map. A parking lot is provided on the side of the road.
Note: The access to the trail and the parking is free.
Snowshoeing Trail - Cap-aux-Meules (in french)
(3.39 Mo)
