Quebec Revives Historic Ski Trails
Quebec is renewing historic backwoods ski trails that were once used by residents to travel between villages a century ago. The initiative is attracting a new generation of outdoor enthusiasts and boosting winter tourism in the region while preserving cultural heritage and promoting sustainable adventure sports.
- The revitalization of these historic routes is largely driven by the Société de plein air des Pays-d'en-Haut (SOPAIR), a non-profit organization dedicated to the conservation and development of outdoor trails in the region. - One of the flagship projects is "Les Routes Blanches" (The White Trails), a network of village-to-village backcountry ski routes inspired by the legendary 128-kilometre "Maple Leaf Trail" blazed by Herman "Jackrabbit" Johannsen in the 1930s. - The "Les Routes Blanches" network currently consists of three multi-day itineraries covering up to 46 kilometers of varied terrain, including deep woods, rolling hills, and frozen lakes, connecting communities like Val-David, Sainte-Agathe-des-Monts, and Morin-Heights. - Funding for these trail projects comes from various sources, including the Quebec government's "Plan montagnes" and fundraising partnerships with local businesses, such as the outdoor retailer La Cordée. - The initiative is seen as a way to promote "slow, responsible travel" and to boost the local winter economy in hamlets along the routes, with businesses like inns and eco-lodges benefiting from the influx of skiers. - The revival faces challenges due to modern development, as many of the historic trails now cross private property, making the project reliant on the goodwill and cooperation of landowners. - A 2024-2025 municipal report from Val-David noted a 30% reduction in trailhead waste, attributing the positive change to awareness campaigns by local conservation groups involved with the trail network. - The historical precedent for this type of tourism is significant; in the winter of 1938-1939, the "snow trains" that serviced the original trail network transported some 112,000 people to the Laurentians.
