Skiing at the door | Amazing Mount Adstock

This winter, we’re touring ski resorts that offer new accommodation directly on the slopes, so you can make the most of the season!

(Adstock) With its 712 meters of altitude and its 335 meters of difference in altitude, Mount Adstock, near Thetford Mines, is astonishing. First of all, its ski offering is enough to satisfy the most demanding, especially since each descent rewards us with striking panoramas, notably over the majestic Lake Saint-François. But as the resort’s recreational tourism offering has improved considerably in recent years, you can spend a few days there. That’s good, because accommodation has also been improved, with offers directly on the slopes.

What is striking when arriving at the tourist resort of Mount Adstock is of course the mountain, which rises out of the ground like a volcano, with its ski slopes extending on either side of the ridge which stretches towards the northeast. Our gaze is then drawn to the brand new chalet.

Upon entering, you discover a large and warm place, with a large central foyer and a restaurant-bar section that promises après-ski. No less than 7 million were invested in the reconstruction of the chalet, a real headquarters for visitors to the tourist resort which offers alpine skiing, but also alpine ski touring, snowshoeing and cross-country skiing, in addition to serve as a relay point for snowmobilers in winter. In summer, it welcomes golfers, hikers, mountain bikers and quad riders.

In fact, thanks to its restaurant, the new chalet opened a little over a year ago is now reaching beyond outdoor enthusiasts. “On Friday the mountain closes at 4 p.m., people stay for après-ski until 5:30 p.m., but then there is another group that arrives at 6:30 p.m. to eat and spend the evening here until to 10 p.m., says general manager Mathieu Desmarais. I would say we attract people from 50 kilometers around the mountain. » With a tempting menu that skilfully mixes bistro classics with typically Mexican specialties passed down by chef Miguel Lopez Sanchez during his time at the restaurant, the Mont Adstock chalet has become a true gourmet destination – the restaurant benefited last year from an attendance growth of more than 600%!

On track

The impact was obviously felt on the slopes, with the resort having recorded an 11% increase in the number of ski days last year, a feat in itself with the winter we experienced in 2023- 2024 in Quebec. It must be said that the Bois-Francs resort has benefited from judicious investments since 2018, a year after coming close to disaster.

“We redid air and water lines, we bought poles, tower fans and other mobile fans,” explains Mr. Desmarais. “We improved our water distribution system, we bought a new compressor and we were also the second station after Bromont to benefit from a snow groomer equipped with GPS sensors to measure the depth of the snow. »

Although more than half of the slopes are reserved for advanced skiers, the entire north slope is devoted to novices and intermediates, including the terrain park and some very accessible glades. The south side is steeper, with La Bossue on the crest, a wide track used as a training ground by several competition clubs at the start of the season and which offers a constant difference in altitude, often difficult to find elsewhere.

Accommodation

The Giant adopts the same kind of profile, with the difference that it ends its course skirting the Bullard chalets. Real ski-in/ski-outfour of them can accommodate up to six guests while a fifth can be rented by a group of up to 13 people. Just at the top of the school slope are also three Coolbox tiny houses which can accommodate up to six people each. And although not accessible directly from the slopes, Domaine Escapad is located very close to the base of the mountain and already offers around fifteen chalets for short-term rental – condos will also soon be offered for rental.

Also, for caravanning enthusiasts, we have reserved 20 spaces for small RVs in a section of the main parking lot.

Off-piste

But what undoubtedly sets Adstock the most apart is its vast off-piste area, accessible by chairlift if we lack the time (or the will!) – the alpine hiking ticket costs $21, we add $6 if we wants to benefit from a chairlift ride. From the top of the ski lift, you take the La Route du Nord trail, which culminates at the peak of Mount Adstock – you have to climb to the lookout to enjoy a breathtaking view. We then turn back to reach one of the four off-piste routes, which total more than 1500 meters of descent; three of them stop near a refuge where we can rest before going back up, if we feel like it. Otherwise, the Après-ski trail takes us back to the main chalet, some 2.5 km further.

The station is open from Thursday to Sunday. Cross-country skiing, snowshoeing and off-piste skiing are accessible at all times, when conditions permit. Please note that there is a minimum fee of $250 for any assistance required outside of opening hours or on marked trails.

Visit the Mont Adstock tourist resort website