Distance
451km
% Unpaved
87%
Ascent
6898m
High Point
1043m
Difficulty
5/10
Searching for Rédemption
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
Taking the rider through parts of both the Bas-Saint-Laurent and Gaspé Peninsula, this route will take you through the most mountainous part of the region, taking you through amazing valleys and over mountain passes, predominantly travelling along gravel roads.
One of the biggest challenges of taking on the routes I’ve created in the Gaspé Peninsula is that much of the route is off the beaten track and offer very little in terms of resupply or lodging. This means the rider will have to be complete self-reliant. In terms of safety it is very important you communicate clearly with your loved ones and let them know where you will be. Having a GPS tracker could also be very beneficial.
This route has been developed by Chris Panasky, creator of the Bike Tour Adventures podcast.
- Mountain and forestry roads
- Gravel roads
- Remote lakes
- Rural towns
- Mountain Bike: For mountain bikes, it is recommended to use tires on the bigger end of the spectrum, in order to provide as much comfort as possible. 3″ tires would be overkill, but something in the 2.25″ to 2.6″ range would be ideal. A full-suspension bike would also be overkill.
- Gravel Bike: This route can either be ridden with a cyclocross or gravel bike. If riding a cyclocross bike, use 38C tires, but be aware that some of the roads can be quite chunky and tough with the smaller tires of a cyclocross bike. If using a gravel bike with 700 wheels, you’ll want to use the biggest tires possible for your rig.
- 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 not many towns along the route, but there are some options along the way, particularly around the 120km, 150km and 280km point.
- Campgrounds: There are a few official campgrounds along the route, so check the POI’s for camping locations and use your diligence to look over the maps beforehand.
- Wild camping: Throughout this route, you will need to predominantly wild camp, as other options are limited. When wild camping, do your best to leave no trace. Find a quiet spot near a lake, in a field, etc. 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 everywhere: 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: Throughout this route it is very important that you are mindful of your food and snack supplies. There are some large gaps where no resupply will be possible and it will be necessary to stock up. Locations where one can resupply are at the 25km, 280km, 300km and 375km marks. Other than that the route is very rural without any major towns.
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 – 5
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 Searching for Rédemption route was created by the team at Bikepack Adventures. It’s sharing on this website is for informational purposes only.
