Sports and recreational activities

Ever since its creation, the park has fulfilled its calling as an oversize playground. Formerly, various winter sports were practised here, such as snowshoeing, tobogganing, skiing, skating and hockey in the first covered skating rink in the world! Here the Québec Bulldogs even won the Stanley Cup twice in the 1910s. Crowds of people used to attend the horse shows and the city’s elite enjoyed a game of golf on the Plains.

Today the public at large can practice, singly or in a group, sports such as in-line skating, jogging, hiking, cycling, football, soccer, cross-country skiing and many more recreational activities in a highy stimulating environment.

SUMMER

In-line skating
1.4-km loop trail.
Free.
Across from the Musée national des beaux-arts du Québec.

NEW
Guided old-time bicycle tours

Mr. Bicyclist
Do you feel like stretching your legs and following the course of history on a bike? The National Battlefields Commission, in collaboration with Cyclo Services, is launching a new highly original tour of the Plains of Abraham. Enjoy a historical trip on two wheels with a 1914 cyclist and, as you twist and turn along the park’s winding paths, you will discover the local history and the summer sports and leisure activities of yesteryear. A way to remain sound in body and mind!

Get on your bicycle and follow Arthur Duquet or his wife Jeanne Hardy on this unique tour: Mr. Bicyclist. In his youth, Arthur lived on Grande Allée (the site of today’s Hôtel Loews Le Concorde) and played to his heart’s content on these grounds, which explains his enthusiasm for dawdling along on the Plains of Abraham. He is the son of the famous Cyrille Duquet, honorary president of the Québec Bicycle Club and one of Québec City’s first velocipede champions. Mr. Duquet was also town councillor, inventor, watchmaker, goldsmith and businessman.

In the early 20th century, the creation of the great urban parks undoubtedly contributed to better air circulation and the control of diseases. What better place than the Plains for a bicycle ride! This sport was a favourite among gentlemen and society ladies. It was a leisure activity that required time, helped maintain good health and allowed people to be seen and admired. The perfect activity for the upper middle-class of the time! During this unique ride, our colourful character will make stops to bring to light the history of the bicycle and of the park, but also of the Royal Golf Club, of horse races, circuses, and more. Leisure, free time, sports and major events of the first years of the park: they are all there, including the festivities of Québec City’s tricentennial event, as well as military parades!

Did you know that, in the early years of the 19th century, a hippodrome, then located where the sports field is today (in front of the Museum) was among the country’s leading hippodromes and that people used to come from the United States and all over Canada to race the best horses? That garrisoned soldiers used to play cricket on the Plains in the 1830’s? That the park’s 14-hole golf course was very rugged and cows were used to “mow” the lawn except for the “greens”? You will learn even more while pedalling, with photos and historical objects to back it up. A suggestion for an original, recreational outdoor activity that will fill you with wonder.

Sunday, August 22, 2010, at 3:00 p.m. (in French only).
$18/13-64 years old, $15/8-12 years old, 65 years old and over.
Bring your bicycle and helmet.

Approximate duration: 90 minutes.
Departure point at the Discovery Pavilion of the Plains of Abraham.

418 649-6157
Reservations required, places limited.

Collaboration:

WINTER

Cross-country skiing and snowshoeing

Press release (English version available soon)

Ski for free in one of the most accessible and enchanting sites offering an unobstructed view of the Saint-Lawrence River. The Plains of Abraham provides 12.6 km of ski trails laid out for beginner and intermediate cross-country skiers, a 3.8-km trail (round trip) for snowshoeing, and 5.6 km of walking trails. A waxing room and two heated rest areas are also available.

Download the trail map Download the leaflet

Guided old-time snowshoe tours

Press release

The snowshoer’s walk
Join a 20th century snowshoer as you set off on a winter stroll
to explore the winter sports and recreation of this bygone era.
Snowshoes, lantern and hot chocolate included.

In English (at 4 p.m.): February 6 and 13, 2010.
In French (at 7 p.m.): January 16 and 30, February 5, 12 and 27, March 6, 2010.
$23/13-64 years old, $20/8-12 years old, 65 years old and over.

418 649-6157
Reservations required, places limited.

Season:
From mid-December until the end of March, according to the weather conditions.

Schedule:
From 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. every day.

Access:
Free.

Number of trails (marked and groomed):
- 4 classic trails, including 1 easy trail and 3 intermediate trails
- 4 ski skating trails, including 2 easy trails and 2 intermediate trails
- 4 walking trails
- 1 snowshoe trail

Services offered

Equipment rental (418 648-2586):
From December 19, 2009 to March 21, 2010, the «Friends of the Plains of Abraham» Society offers to adults and children a rental service that supplies boots, poles, cross-country skis and snowshoes, at level 0 of the Discovery Pavilion of the Plains of Abraham.

- From December 19 to 23, December 27 to 30, January 3 and February 27 to March 7: every day, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.

- From January 4 to February 26, and March 8 to 21: Thursday to Sunday, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.

No equipment retal after 2 p.m.

The rental service can open ahead of time or be extended according to the snow coverage.

2009-2010 Fees - Equipment rental

Cross-country skis:

Snowshoes :

Sled for kid:

Winter package - (2 days of rent):

* Cost for two adults and two children (17 years old and younger).

Waxing room:
Located along trail No. 51 and 91, at the Montcalm park entrance, near Grande Allée. It is accessible from 9 a.m. to 4:15 p.m. every day.

Rest areas and food service:
2 heated rest areas, as well as vending machines, are available to cross-country skiers. The Discovery Pavilion is open from 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday to Friday, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sunday and the Pavilion from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. every day.

Patrol (418 648-4652):
Safety officer on duty from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. on weekends, according to weather conditions.

Cross-country skiing lessons (418 649-6476):
The «Friends of the Plains of Abraham» Society offers classical and free-style skiing lessons for adults, on Sundays.
$80 ($50/member of the«Friends of the Plains of Abraham» Society). Equipment not included.

Code of conduct for nordic skiers

- move in the specified direction and observe the signs
- respect the skiing techniques for the trail you are using
- keep to your left when passing other skiers
- yield the way to more rapid skiers
- respect the environment, avoid polluting or damaging trees and other elements
- do not ski off the trails
- do not block the trails or stop where you could prejudice other skiers
- remain in control and control your movements
- understand and accept the risks associated with this sport
- respect the opening hours for the trails

Ski conditions

To find out about the condition of cross-country ski trails.
Automatic Info-line: 418 648-4212