Where to rent a chalet for skiing, snowshoeing, snowmobiling or simply a fire and a hot tub in the snow, with drive times from Montreal and Quebec City.
Quebec does winter better than almost anywhere: reliable snow from December to March, ski hills within an hour of both big cities, thousands of kilometres of snowmobile trails, and chalets built for the season with wood stoves, big windows and hot tubs on the deck.
Here are six regions for a winter chalet, from the easy weekend to the big trip. Book the holidays and spring break early, and remember that winter tires are required in Quebec from December 1 to March 15.
The classic choice from Montreal. Saint-Sauveur is about an hour away and known for night skiing; Mont-Tremblant, about an hour and a half, has a big ski resort with a pedestrian village at its foot. Between them, the P’tit Train du Nord becomes a cross-country ski trail, and lakes freeze for skating.
Best for: downhill skiing, night skiing, a resort village
Four ski hills within about an hour and a half of Montreal: Bromont, also known for night skiing, Sutton with its glades, Orford above Lake Memphremagog and Owl’s Head. Villages like Knowlton, North Hatley and Magog keep winter cozy with cafés, spas and wine shops.
Best for: skiing for every level, spas, cozy villages
Chalets in Lac-Beauport, Stoneham or Saint-Ferréol-les-Neiges put you twenty minutes from Old Quebec yet close to skiing at Stoneham and Mont-Sainte-Anne. In February, add the Quebec Winter Carnival in the old city; on other days, snowshoe in Jacques-Cartier National Park.
Best for: skiing and the city, the Winter Carnival
Le Massif de Charlevoix has one of the biggest vertical drops in Eastern Canada and a view of the St. Lawrence from every run. Base yourself in Baie-Saint-Paul or Petite-Rivière-Saint-François for skiing by day and Charlevoix’s food and galleries by night. About an hour from Quebec City.
Best for: serious skiing, river views, food
A quieter winter an hour or two north of Montreal: family ski hills in Saint-Côme and Saint-Donat, long snowmobile trails, ice fishing on big frozen lakes, and chalets with hot tubs that book up fast.
Best for: snowmobiling, families, quiet lakes
For a real northern winter about two and a half hours from Quebec City: snowmobile routes through forest and over frozen lakes, and the ice-fishing villages that appear on the Saguenay Fjord each winter. Chalets here are often roomier and cheaper than near the big ski resorts.
Best for: snowmobiling, ice fishing, a northern adventure
Every chalet on our site is rented directly from its owner, with no booking fees. Use the “winter” filter in search to find winter-ready chalets, or open a region above to read the full guide.
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Updated 2026-10-18
