Le P'tit Train du Nord: The Long Line North
Montreal, Quebec · Nov 17, 2023
A linear rail trail that follows the old Saint-Jerome to Mont-Laurier railway through the Laurentians, passing quaint mountain towns and picturesque landscapes the whole way. The grade never exceeds four percent, so it covers serious ground without ever feeling like a mountain climb, and only a portion is unpaved. Old stations now serve as museums and cafes, and you can ride as little or as much of it as you like.
Le P'tit Train du Nord is one of the hidden gems of the Quebec trail system and a genuine bucket-list ride. It follows the route of the original railway that once ran from Saint-Jerome to Mont-Laurier, carrying you through the heart of the Laurentians on a multifunctional path that links quaint mountain towns and postcard landscapes. The line began life in 1882 to connect Montreal to the Laurentian towns, fell quiet in 1981, and was reborn as a trail in 1996; Adventure Cycling Magazine has rated it among the top five bicycling paths in Canada.
The defining feature is the gentle grade. Because it traces an old rail line, it never climbs steeper than about four percent, which means you can cover long distances and big elevation totals without the lung-busting pitches you would expect in the mountains. Much of the surface is smooth crushed stone, with only a portion truly unpaved, and the old stations along the way have been converted into museums and cafes.
Getting to the start is easy without a car. Take the EXO train from downtown Montreal to Gare Saint-Jerome on weekdays, or ride the STM metro to De la Concorde and connect to the train there. This route is one of Trevor Browne's picks from his Montreal gravel guide.
From Saint-Jerome you can ride a short stretch or commit to the full line, stopping at the towns and villages strung along the way where camping, bed and breakfasts, and services are plentiful. A dedicated bus service can shuttle you and your bags if you want to ride one way and take transit back, and the trail's interactive map lists every service along the route, so resupply is rarely a worry.
This is a warm-season route best enjoyed from late spring through the fall, and the smooth, gentle surface means almost any bike running tires around 35mm or wider is happy on it. It makes an ideal gateway to the more challenging gravel and overnight routes scattered across the Laurentian region. Save room for a stop at Dieu du Ciel beside the station in Saint-Jerome, where the poutine and Belgian-style beers are a fitting reward at the end of the day.
