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I never thought I’d be spending a night in an igloo but that all changed with a trip to Parc National des Monts-Valin in Quebec last winter.  The park is a monstrous playground for backcountry snowshoeing and cross-country skiing during the winter season.

The park sits at an altitude of 984 m in the Saguenay-Lac-Saint-Jean region of Quebec. The parks gets far more precipitation than it’s surrounding regions and the snow cover makes the area ideal for adventure lovers. Visitors have access to over 65km of marked trails, which are accessible either from the Discovery and Visitors Centre or by the Snowcat shuttle.

The shuttle transports visitors to the base of the Vallee des Fantomes, where a 3km trek will take them to an overlook at Pic Duboc. Heavy snowfall blankets the trees in a dense white cover, revealing a stunning landscape. Along the circuits, there are options to stay in huts, cabins, or rustic shelters. Or if you are brave, spend a night in an igloo! If you have the chance, the park also runs ‘Torch-lit’ trails on Saturday nights where you can snowshoe under the stars.