Canadian Shield Bikepacking Route (2022)

The Canadian Shield Bikepacking Route is a bikepacking route unlike any other in the region. At 1300km in length and with nearly 17,000 metres of climbing, there is no other route that can provide the same amount of challenge. This route will take you through, over and across some of the most rugged and beautiful parts of Western Quebec. With the vast majority of the route being unpaved, this route takes you over hills and mountains, around beautiful hard to reach lakes, on some of the best rail trail in the region and along backcountry roads that are for the most part free of traffic.

Within close proximity of Ottawa and Montreal, the Canadian Shield Bikepacking Route isn’t too far away from an access point. Featuring national and provincial parks, ski hills, nature reserves and rail trail, the route will take you through forests that were once the building block of this country.

The CSBR is a combination of three challenging routes through Western Quebec: the Canadian Shield 400 and the Northwest Quebec Explorer, two routes which make up the Canadian Shield 1000. To add even more adventure, the Trouble in Tremblant loop adds another 300km and 5000 metres of elevation to the itinerary. This route is designed to take you through some of the most difficult terrain in the region and reward you with epic scenery, amazing riding and an adventure you will never forget.

For this adventure, you have the option of three different distances: 400km, 1000km, and 1300km. It’s highly recommended to use a mountain bike or gravel bike that can accept plus-sized tires.