Quebec City is one of the best mountain bike regions in North America, and it can also be intimidating. The trails are technical. The terrain is unfamiliar. The signage is in French. For an Ontario rider on their first Quebec road trip, knowing where to start can be the difference between an incredible weekend and an overwhelming one.
Start at Empire 47. We mean that genuinely. E47 — as the locals call it — is the most welcoming, most accessible, most progression-friendly trail system in the Quebec City region, and it just happens to also have advanced trails that will satisfy the strongest riders in your group. It’s the perfect first stop on a Quebec trip, and it’s the easiest sell for bringing newer riders along.
What You’re Actually Riding
Empire 47 sits in Lac-Delage, about 20 minutes north of downtown Quebec City. The network is roughly 70 kilometres of marked singletrack, split into two complementary zones: a steeper, more enduro-oriented section with serious climbs and serious descents, and a flatter cross-country area built around accessibility. Most of the trails are connected by an easy or intermediate loop, which means you can pick any line, regroup at the next junction, and dial up or down without ever feeling stranded.
The trail building here is excellent — Whistler’s Gravity Logic has compared some of these lines to what you’d ride in Squamish. There are two jump lines, including the pro-line Haut Valkyrie with stepdowns and gaps that will make your jaw drop. There’s a paved, lit pump track at the base for warmup or sundown laps. And there’s a proper skills park for working on technique.
This is the trail system that bridges the Quebec experience for a wide range of riders. Beginner laps in the morning, jump-line laps in the afternoon, pump track at sunset.
Who It’s For
Newer riders: Honestly, this is one of the best entry points to mountain biking in Quebec. The wider beginner trails are forgiving, well-signed, and not punishingly steep. The skills park lets you work on fundamentals before you commit to a descent.
Intermediate riders: You can stay on the cross-country side all day and never run out of options. Queue de Castor and Huron are widely loved.
Gravity and jump riders: Pad Religion and Upper Valkyrie deliver. The jump lines escalate in difficulty all the way up to the pro-line lot.
Families: There’s drop-in childcare during select hours and a kids’ program on Saturday mornings — three to five year olds learning the basics in a supervised environment. It’s the kind of detail that makes a difference if you’re bringing the whole family on a Quebec trip.
A Few Trails to Build a Day Around
Kamasutrail: A classic intermediate descent that flatters your strengths and rewards smooth lines.
Shaman: Manicured flow trail, a great warm-up or cool-down.
Pad Religion: When you’re ready to get serious. Black-rated tech that will demand your full attention.
Haut Valkyrie: The pro jump line. Watch riders session it from the access trail before you commit.
Huron: The longest trail in the system at 8.6 kilometres. Bring snacks.
Plan Your Day
Where to park: 26 rue du Pied-des-Pentes, Lac-Delage. Free parking at the trailhead pavilion — that’s also where you register, pay, and get your bearings.
Cost: Day pass required (currently around $25 CAD). Season passes available. Rentals on site, including kids’ sizes and e-bikes.
When to ride: Late May through October. June is statistically the busiest month — bluebird weather and trails at their best.
Trail conditions: E47 is closed on rainy days. Check their website or call before driving up.
Drive time: About 20 minutes from downtown Quebec City. Easy to combine with a day at Sentiers du Moulin since they’re less than 15 minutes apart.
Make It a Bikes and Beers Day
There’s a food truck on site (La Shot) for a quick bite. For the real apres, head into Quebec City — you’re 20 minutes from one of the best food and drink scenes in Canada. Old Quebec, Limoilou, Saint-Roch — all within an easy drive. If you’re staying in Lac-Beauport, the village has casual restaurants and lakeside patios worth checking out.
We pair Empire 47 with Sentiers du Moulin on most of our Quebec Adventures — one day for progression and play, one day for full-send rock-slab riding. If you’ve been wanting to get to Quebec but weren’t sure where to start, come ride with us.