Distance
435mkm
% Unpaved
47%
Ascent
6320m
High Point
604m
Difficulty
4/10
Gaspé Point Loop
It must be stated, and stressed, that although this route has been plotted and I feel as though it is a viable route, it has NOT YET been ridden and tested. There is a good chance that some of the route is plotted on ATV trails and will need corrections to be done before it is complete. If you decide to ride this route prior to this note being edited, I would love your feedback and any re-routing you were required to do. Much appreciated. Chris
The Gaspé Point Loop is a 435km long loop with a lofty 6320m of elevation gain. Of the four routes in the Gaspé Peninsula, this route has the largest amount of paved road riding, as you follow the Gulf of St. Laurence and discover the beauty that is the Gaspesie. Spending your days cycling through small villages that make their living off the sea, you will delve into local culture and customs.
Leaving the coast, you head inland on gravel roads as you cut across the peninsula. Prepare for some tough climbing, as the vast majority of the routes elevation gain will be found in just 170km of the route. It’s also important to prepare adequately before this inland section of the loop, as there are few places where you can resupply.
This route was developed by Chris Panasky, creator of the Bike Tour Adventures Podcast.
- Gravel roads
- St. Laurence River
- Fantastic seafood
- Beautiful views
- Mountain Bike: For mountain bikes, it is recommended to use any tire size between 2″ and 2.6″, in order to provide a little more speed. 3″ tires or full-suspension bikes would also be overkill.
- Gravel Bike: This route can be ridden with gravel bike. If using a gravel bike with 700 wheels, you’ll want to use the biggest tires possible for your rig. I also wouldn’t recommend a cyclocross bike, as the gravel roads can get pretty gnarly and it would not be as comfortable.
- Setup: Run tubeless if possible. You can use bikepacking style bags or a hybrid setup with small panniers. A lighter set-up allows of easier riding, especially in the hillier and more technical sections. You are also going to want to have a wide-range of gear options for climbing the bigger and tougher hills.
- Hotels: There are many options for lodging along the route if you are looking to do a more comfortable tour. From km 108 to km 275 there is only the town of Murdockville where you can find a place to stay.
- Campgrounds: There are many campgrounds along the route, so check the POI’s for camping locations and use your diligence to look over the maps beforehand.
- Wild camping: Since much of the route follows the St. Laurence River, it might be a bit harder to find wild camping spots. Once turning off the coastal road and heading inland, it will be very easy to find a quiet place to sleep for the night. Quebec is not like Ontario, where maps of Crown land indicate where camping may be possible. In my judgement, I would just stealthily avoid being seen.
- Fresh water: This part of Quebec is liberally covered in lakes and rivers. These are all great locations to fill up water bottles. Be sure to always use a water filter or purification tablets to avoid getting sick. There are also water taps near the areas with camping where you can fill up.
- Restaurants/Cafes/Bars: Much of this route goes along the edge of the St. Laurence River where there are plenty of options for food and snacks. The biggest stretch without re-supply will be after leaving Petite-Rivière-Ouest at the 108km mark. From there until km 218 where you can turn off for a short detour to Murdockville, there are no re-supply options. After that it’s about 60km to the river-side where you will once again find plenty of food options.
Average Physical Difficulty – 5
1-2 – Relatively level riding
3-4 – Regular rolling terrain with sustained climbing
5-6 – Rugged terrain with frequent climbs, some of which may be steep and unrelenting
7-8 – Very rugged terrain with abundant climbing, some of which is very steep and unrideable
9-10 – Numerous very steep, climbs requiring bike-pushing and/or carrying
Average Technical Difficulty – 4
1-2 – Smooth riding surface with few obstacles (e.g., graded dirt roads, rail trails); suitable for novice mountain bikers
3-4 – Track has occasional obstacles and steep sections (e.g., maintained forest roads, mellow singletrack); suitable for beginner mountain bikers
5-6 – Continuous sections of track may be rocky, loose, and steep; (e.g., 4×4 roads or singletrack in rugged/rocky terrain) suitable for intermediate mountain bikers
7-8 – Narrow trail with regular obstacles, sustained steep grades; suitable for intermediate to advanced mountain bikers
9-10 – Very challenging riding with frequent large obstacles, exposure, very steep grades; suitable for advanced mountain bikers
The Gaspé Point Loop was created by the team at Bikepack Adventures. It’s sharing on this website is for informational purposes only.
