Top Montreal Gravel

Apr 18

So you just bought a gravel bike this spring and you don’t want to take your car to enjoy gravel trails outside the city during the week?

Here’s some help to satisfy your hunger for dirty gravel tracks.

There are a few “hidden gravel” trails where you can practice with your bike around Montreal before heading out with your friends to show off your skills over the weekend!

Gravel tracks Mtl Area

Voie Maritime

Just south of the city you can head to Verdun and take the Estacade du Pont Champlain. Once at the start of the Voie Maritime, countdown approximately 8km and swerve to the right for a nice single track next to the Fleuve Saint-Laurent. Enjoy the sunset with a nice campfire and beer in good company!

Chemin Olmsted

For a fast grind just getting back from work, Chemin Olmsted is a little climb just next to Camilien Houde climb, but in gravel trails. These trails are often full of pedestrians so watch out for a time of day where there is less traffic! Chemin Olmsted also connects to a trail network that are more or less bike friendly so pay attention to the signs and have fun :)

Parc Frederic BacK

To practice your circus skills or simply do a few laps not too far from home, Parc Fred Back is a cool spot. You can practice climbing steep CX climbs and off camber techniques, or simply chill under the umbrellas with a picnic! It is also where the Gravel Mafia bunker is hidden.

TransTerrebonne

A bit further away from Montreal, but still quite accessible is the TransTerrebonne trail. You have to go through some (private) gravel roads in Laval to get there. However, it is worth the extra time exploring. You can expand the gravel experience by merging parts of the Seigneurie des Plaines for extra fun and time in the forest.

ridING your gravel bike outside of town?

Gravel Map is a great place to find gravel routes sourced by your cycling friends. This is a good way to see where you should go to find great gravel roads. I usually download the GPX from a previously made segment or route and then upload it to Komoot to spice it up!

Top clubs to follow for some social gravel in town

Ceci n’Est pas un Club

Hard to find over the internet, this cycling club posts sporadic rides around to discover new gravel terrain for great fun over the evening during the week. You can find their rides posted in MTL Gravelle et vélo d’aventure.

Gravel Mafia

This Gravel collective is based in Villeray and has the finest gravel grinders in town. They are the guys organizing CX practice events at Parc Fred Back during the Fall. Normally these rides are organized each Tuesday from what I remember.

Other special mentions (mostly out of Montreal)

Alcove

This organization plans some great rides on the North shore of Montreal and in the Eastern Townships. The events are very inclusive and social.

Marauders.cc

This cycling club is mysterious, but is always up for great fun at local gravel events.

Vélo Club Aventures Esprit Gravel-Espresso Sports - Balmoral

This cycling club based in the Laurentians organizes some nice gravel rides and events in their area.

Les Dimanches BarreTendre

These cycling events are free, fun and fast. You can always do them at your own pace if you prefer. The gravel events organized by Mathieu Bélanger-Barrette (a.k.a. Barretendre) became very popular over the last two years with the COVID19 pandemic. This year I have not seen many events planned except the Les Vacances BarreTendre.

Want to make a suggestion of gravel section around Montreal or a cool cycling club that promotes gravel rides? Write below in the comments!

Vincent Nadon