{"id":378,"date":"2025-02-12T18:42:06","date_gmt":"2025-02-12T19:42:06","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/mypaytril.com\/?p=378"},"modified":"2025-02-17T12:26:38","modified_gmt":"2025-02-17T12:26:38","slug":"mountain-review-le-massif-de-charlevoix","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/mypaytril.com\/index.php\/2025\/02\/12\/mountain-review-le-massif-de-charlevoix\/","title":{"rendered":"Mountain Review: Le Massif de Charlevoix"},"content":{"rendered":"
MOUNTAIN SCORE<\/strong><\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n #1 East Coast<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n 66<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n #50 Overall<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n See our criteria<\/a><\/i><\/p>\n 6<\/p>\n<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n Snow:<\/strong><\/p>\n 5<\/p>\n<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n Resiliency:<\/strong><\/p>\n 4<\/p>\n<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n Size:<\/strong><\/p>\n 6<\/p>\n<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n Terrain Diversity:<\/strong><\/p>\n 7<\/p>\n<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n Challenge:<\/strong><\/p>\n 8<\/p>\n<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n Lifts:<\/strong><\/p>\n 7<\/p>\n<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n Crowd Flow:<\/strong><\/p>\n 6<\/p>\n<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n Facilities:<\/strong><\/p>\n 7<\/p>\n<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n Navigation:<\/strong><\/p>\n 10<\/p>\n<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n Mountain Aesthetic:<\/strong><\/p>\n 1-Day Ticket: <\/strong>$121-$166 CAD ($84-$116 USD)<\/p>\n Pass Affiliation: <\/strong>Mountain Collective<\/p>\n On-site Lodging: <\/strong>Yes<\/p>\n Apr\u00e8s-ski:<\/strong> Limited<\/p>\n Nearest Cities: <\/strong>Quebec (1 hr), Montreal (3.5 hrs)<\/p>\n Recommended Ability Level:<\/strong><\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n Extraordinary footprint overlooking St. Lawrence River<\/p>\n<\/li>\n Competitive vertical drop<\/p>\n<\/li>\n Exceptional glade terrain<\/p>\n<\/li>\n Reasonable crowds<\/p>\n<\/li>\n High-speed lifts<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n Much more difficult to reach than other Northeast ski resorts<\/p>\n<\/li>\n Lower-mountain terrain reliability<\/p>\n<\/li>\n Limited lodging<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n Skiable Footprint: <\/strong>566<\/a>\u00a0acres<\/p>\n Total Footprint: <\/strong>1,834<\/a> acres<\/p>\n Lift-Serviced Terrain: <\/strong>72%<\/p>\n Top Elevation: <\/strong>2,644 ft<\/p>\n Vertical Drop: <\/strong>2,526 ft<\/p>\n Lifts:<\/strong> 12<\/p>\n Trails: <\/strong>53<\/p>\n Beginner: <\/strong>15%<\/p>\n Intermediate:<\/strong> 30%<\/p>\n Advanced\/Expert: <\/strong>55%<\/p>\n When you drive up to Quebec\u2019s Le Massif, you know it\u2019s something truly special. Boasting spectacular views, distinctive terrain, and one of the biggest footprints in the region, Le Massif de Charlevoix is possibly the East\u2019s closest thing to a true North American destination experience. <\/p>\n Despite snow totals that pale to those of most western resorts, Le Massif\u2019s one-of-a-kind topography makes for an experience that some might call travel-worthy in its own right. So how does Le Massif stack up as an overall package?<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n Le Massif is one of the most stunning ski resorts we\u2019ve ever visited\u2014and you can see it in all of its glory as soon as you unload your car.<\/p>\n<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n The first thing that stands out about Le Massif is its looks. With spectacular views overlooking the Saint Lawrence River, we\u2019d argue Le Massif is one of the most beautiful ski resorts in the entirety of North America, if not the whole world. This isn\u2019t something that any other resort East of the Mississippi can come close to embodying. Not only does a trip to Le Massif provide the surreal experience of seemingly skiing or riding into a body of water, but unlike certain other resorts with nearby lakes, the continuous movement of the river provides a one-of-a-kind backdrop that\u2019s hard to truly appreciate unless you see it for yourself.<\/p>\n Aside from the tucked-away bunny hill by the Club Med, nowhere at the resort feels built-up or developed, and most guests will find their ski or ride experience to feel isolated and naturalistic. The D chair feels plucked straight out of an isolated terrain pod out West, with beautiful snowy alpine scenery and wide open, otherworldly glades that sometimes feel like your own private resort, with massive river views stretching out beyond you. For the adventurous, the 15 minute hike to the top of the unique hors-piste zone will give you a 2,500-foot-high panorama of the whole resort that\u2019s truly breathtaking.<\/p>\n It\u2019s also worth noting that Le Massif is a rare upside-down ski resort, with the main base area actually being at the top of the mountain, rather than the bottom. This means that you get to appreciate the amazing views in all their glory as soon as you strap on your skis or board.<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n Le Massif boasts a modestly-sized footprint for the East Coast on paper, but the resort also includes a sizable unpatrolled \u201chors-piste\u201d sidecountry area.<\/p>\n<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n With a 406-acre skiable footprint within the official bounds of the resort, Le Massif de Charlevoix is a modestly-sized resort for the East Coast on paper. However, the resort calls home to an impressive 2,526-foot vertical drop, which is up there with the best on the East Coast. The resort also boasts a sizable \u201dhors-piste\u201d area to the skiers\u2019 left of the official boundary, with over 160 skiable acres of unpatrolled terrain available to explore. If inclusive of this off-piste terrain area, Le Massif offers a skiable footprint over 560 acres in size, putting it on the upper end of mountains east of the Mississippi.<\/p>\n Beginner terrain at Le Massif isn\u2019t exactly an outstanding experience, although there are some positives. The gondola, B chair, and D chair all service green-rated runs, but they are very limited in nature, with only one to two routes in most places, and they can get crowded. But while Le Massif\u2019s easier runs are limited in quantity, the resort does offer top-to-bottom green terrain, making for the longest possible vertical descent on a beginner slope east of the Mississippi. For those who don\u2019t want runs that long, guests can load back up the resort at mid-mountain via the D chair or gondola mid-station.<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n While Le Massif\u2019s easier terrain is limited, the resort does offer the longest top-to-bottom beginner-level ski route on the East Coast.<\/p>\n<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n Le Massif does have a few options for those who are truly first timers. At the base of the gondola, guests will find a well-sheltered bunny hill area. This zone overlooks the Club Med resort, which is an ideal location for those with the means looking for a ski-in, ski-out luxury beginner experience. This location is also highly sheltered, keeping beginners safe from higher speed traffic. But due to Le Massif\u2019s inverted layout, most guests will begin their day near the summit\u2014far from this lower beginner zone\u2014making this learning area impractical for all but those staying at the Club Med.<\/p>\n However, near the summit lodge is a secondary bunny hill that\u2019s even more sheltered. This high-elevation zone offers spectacular views and excellent snow preservation for a beginner zone. It also features a miniature progression terrain park for beginner and intermediate park enthusiasts looking to practice small jumps. This all being said, this zone comes with a significant drawback for less experienced skiers and riders: it\u2019s served solely by a poma lift, a surface lift that many beginners find challenging and frustrating. At least skiers and riders in this zone can take comfort knowing that the surface lift is keeping them safe from the high winds which frequently occur at this high resort elevation.<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n Le Massif offers a decent selection of intermediate terrain, with the best slopes arguably accessible off Chair D.<\/p>\n<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n Blues at Le Massif are comparable in design to the intermediate trails one would find at many destination resorts. Groomer skiing isn\u2019t quite the expansive experience that one might find at some western resorts, but grooming operations are consistent and widespread enough across the resort’s sizable footprint. The blue trails off Chair D are probably the best at the resort, as they sit in a high-up terrain pod that preserves good snow and faces less south than the rest of the mountain. Notably, some low-angle blue bump runs exist at Le Massif, a rarity among East Coast resorts. These runs are the perfect place for intermediates to experiment in ungroomed terrain with limited consequences for mistakes. Massif\u2019s blue groomers are often empty and rip fast with lots of natural berms, which can be a lot of fun for those looking to ski or ride a bit more aggressively on lower-consequence terrain. In addition, some of the groomed black diamonds are plenty approachable for most upper-intermediate visitors.<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/a><\/p>\n<\/figure>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n Advanced terrain at Le Massif is among the best in the region, especially if you like glades. Unlike many resorts elsewhere in Quebec and Northern Vermont, unmarked glades at Le Massif are by and large too dense to ski without local knowledge. However, marked woods runs are widely present across the resort’s footprint. These glades are cut to every level of desired density, with certain woods trails offering such a unique East Coast experience that they feel like you\u2019re skiing in a different region entirely. Glades at Le Massif range from Colorado\u2019s \u201cglades are where there\u2019s a tree sometimes\u201d to New Hampshire\u2019s \u201cbetter have your pole plants on lock\u201d level of technicality, but each are cut with an attention to detail that makes every run ski with flow and a good fall line that takes advantage of the natural movements of the terrain. You could spend all day trying different lines through the trees of a single terrain pod without ever getting bored. <\/p>\n Outside the glades, Le Massif\u2019s fully cut trails also run the gamut of fairly steep groomers to nice mid-angle bump runs that should give advanced skiers a complete and satisfying experience. Black bump runs frequently sustain a long thigh-burning fall line, making for excellent endurance terrain.<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n Le Massif offers excellent advanced-level glade terrain, some of which is widely-spaced enough to offer the resort\u2019s signature river views.<\/p>\n<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n While not the toughest ski resort in the East, Le Massif is still a great choice for experts when conditions allow. Double-black-diamond runs all have pitches that are deserving of the rating, and skiers below expert level should take extreme caution when entering double-black-rated zones due to the exposure. Tree-defined trails of this level offer a combination of steep and protracted fall lines, making for some of the best cardio-busting ski runs one can find east of the Mississippi.<\/p>\n A particular highlight are the single and double black glades off Chair D, whose high elevation preserves natural snow extremely well even when it\u2019s been a while since a storm, and each command a sustained gladed vertical almost all the way back down to the lift. Many of the glades off Chair B, such as La Derive and La Coursive, while tighter than the glades off Chair D, boast deceptively large footprints and fly under many visitors’ radar despite their central location.<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n Le Massif offers some particularly long and demanding bump runs, putting a strain on one\u2019s endurance.<\/p>\n<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n But despite the quality of Le Massif\u2019s inbounds lift served terrain, none of it can compare to the true expert\u2019s wet dream \u2014 the \u201chors piste\u201d terrain to the skiers\u2019 left of the official mountain. <\/p>\n This zone is unpatrolled and requires some mild hiking to reach \u2014 no matter which gate you choose \u2014 so extreme caution is advised before entering this zone. However, this zone is maintained by the resort and features strong signage, so for most savvy visitors this terrain should be considered more inbounds than the lift-accessed backcountry at other resorts. <\/p>\n These zones, particularly the steep chutes marked Secteur 1 & 2 on the map, are some of the East Coast\u2019s most extreme terrain offerings, boasting incredibly steep pitches including paths with airs over icefalls and between steep trees. Due to the nature of their access, difficulty, and sheer size, each of these zones can preserve snow for days after a storm with favorable weather, and on a powder day, they can easily offer fresh laps until your legs give out. For most expert visitors, the short 15-minute hike will likely be more than worth it, given how unmissable of an experience these zones provide.\u00a0<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n Le Massif\u2019s unpatrolled sidecountry \u201chors piste\u201d terrain offers unique glades with little-touched snow.<\/p>\n<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n The one shortcoming of expert terrain at Le Massif is the mid and lower mountain\u2019s elevation and aspect, particularly on the lookers\u2019 left side under Chair C. This terrain, comprising the bulk of Le Massif\u2019s double-black patrolled offerings and very nicely sitting in its own isolated terrain pod, faces south and gets brutally sun-cooked when it hasn\u2019t snowed. The iconic La Charlevoix trail, which is so wide and feature-riddled that it’s better considered a freeride zone than a trail, is particularly weather susceptible and difficult to access due to its location, with either a high traverse or sidestep (depending on which gate is open) above Chair C required to get there, and faces a very southerly aspect on a ridge with almost no trees to shelter its snow. <\/p>\n Still though, Le Massif does have an accommodation for the issue of its near-sea-level elevation in lower-mountain areas. A convenient mid-load station on Chair C picks up skiers and riders halfway up the resort, allowing guests in this terrain pod to skip the long runout through slushy snow which often plagues the bottom third of the resort. <\/p>\n NOTE: We may receive a small affiliate commission if you click on the below links. All products listed below are unisex.<\/strong><\/p>\n Salomon QST 92<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n Recommended all-mountain ski<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n V\u00f6lkl Kendo 88<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n Recommended carving ski<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n Faction Prodigy 2<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n Recommended glade ski<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n Black Diamond Helio 95<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n Recommended expert\/touring ski<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n Speaking of conditions, despite its quite northerly location, Le Massif\u2019s annual snowfall falls short of most western destinations and even some East Coast competitors. In addition, much of the terrain faces south, and many lower elevation zones are vulnerable to melt-outs when it hasn\u2019t recently snowed.\u00a0<\/p>\n However, Le Massif\u2019s tall footprint means snow preservation up high is still quite good for the region, particularly in expert zones that take far longer to ski out than one would expect at a resort of this caliber. These zones are easy to lap thanks to an intuitive lift layout, meaning it’s easy for savvy guests to chase good conditions somewhere at the resort as long as the weather isn\u2019t truly terrible. In addition, Le Massif\u2019s northern location right on the St. Lawrence River means it can catch major storms that miss everywhere else in the east.<\/p>\n Snowmaking exists in most key resort areas, and grooming is employed to keep even the most vulnerable lower-mountain areas skiable. However, since the resort bottoms out near-sea level and faces south, spring-like conditions and bare spots are commonplace across the bottom third of the resort throughout the entire winter.<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n Le Massif\u2019s lower mountain areas face south and sit almost at sea level, making for so-so conditions throughout the winter season.<\/p>\n<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n Le Massif has an impressive lift system for the East. Almost every lift at the resort is modern and high speed, with few seeing significant lift lines outside of peak periods. The main drawback is the variability of low elevation terrain making for a sluggish runout for those looking to lap top-to-bottom on the B chair and gondola, but this is avoidable with the mid-load stations on the C chair and gondola. In addition, the summit poma is a somewhat difficult lift for the beginners who are served by this terrain pod, but the tradeoff is wind-shelter for the most wind-exposed zone of the resort.<\/p>\n It\u2019s worth reiterating that the hors-piste sections of Le Massif, which comprise over 160 skiable acres, are not directly lift served and require some hiking to reach.<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n Le Massif\u2019s combination of fast lifts and modest crowds makes for quick laps versus other Northeast ski resorts.<\/p>\n<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n For a major East Coast destination resort, Le Massif rarely sees serious crowding comparable to major resorts south of the border. An expansive and modern lift fleet placed sensibly to the fall lines makes it easy to lap most terrain zones, with minimal traversing required when every lift is running. The resort limits lift ticket sales to ensure that crowds are never too terrible.<\/p>\n Lines can sometimes build up at the gondola base and summit poma, but on the average day most guests will rarely be waiting longer than 5 minutes for a lift, with midweek visitors regularly skiing straight on to the chair even during midwinter months.<\/p>\n Le Massif\u2019s biggest crowd flow issue arguably has to do with its lower mountain. Several trails converge into the same lower-mountain runs near the bottom, which leads to congestion, especially on the green runs down there. This can be particularly annoying on weekends or holidays.<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n Le Massif offers strong signage across its footprint, a lot of which happens to be in quite picturesque places.<\/p>\n<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n But at least Le Massif\u2019s chokepoints are fairly straightforward to get acquainted with thanks to a generally-easy-to-figure-out mountain layout. Signage is abundant and thorough across the resort\u2019s footprint, and all resort areas filter down to the main base aside from a few trails around the base of the gondola. From the main base, Chair B takes you straight up to the summit lodge, so it\u2019s never difficult to find your way back to your car despite the resort\u2019s inverted layout \u2014 as long as you aren\u2019t caught at the base when the resort closes. Even in the hors-piste zone, signage is present at every major junction area, making it hard to get lost despite this area\u2019s extreme isolation.\u00a0<\/p>\n However, Le Massif occasionally requires some traversing to get between terrain zones, particularly getting to the lookers\u2019 left terrain when the C chair isn\u2019t running. In addition, the resort\u2019s 3-dimensionality makes the sizes of some areas difficult to interpret from the map, leading to some runs feeling way longer than they might appear on paper.<\/p>\n NOTE: We may receive a small affiliate commission if you click on the below links. All products listed below are unisex.<\/strong><\/p>\n K2 Raygun Pop<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n Recommended intermediate board<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n CAPiTA Defenders of Awesome<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n Recommended advanced board<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\n WRITTEN REVIEW
\n <\/a><\/p>\n
\n MOUNTAIN STATS
\n <\/a><\/p>\nCATEGORY BREAKDOWN\u00a0<\/h3>\n
\nGOOD TO KNOW<\/h3>\n
\n<\/p>\n<\/figure>\n
\n \u00a0\u00a0+<\/span>\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Pros
\n<\/h3>\n
\n\n
\n \u00a0\u00a0\u2013<\/span>\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Cons
\n<\/h3>\n
\n\n
MOUNTAIN STATS<\/h3>\n
\nMountain Review<\/h2>\n
Mountain Aesthetic<\/h3>\n
Size and Terrain Layout<\/strong><\/h3>\n
Beginner Terrain<\/h3>\n
Intermediate Terrain<\/h3>\n
TRAIL MAP<\/h3>\n
\n<\/p>\n
Advanced Terrain<\/h3>\n
Expert Terrain<\/strong><\/h3>\n
Hors-Piste Terrain<\/strong><\/h3>\n
Lower Mountain Elevation and Aspect<\/h3>\n
RECOMMENDED SKIS FOR LE MASSIF DE CHARLEVOIX<\/h3>\n
\nSnow Quality and Resiliency<\/strong><\/h3>\n
Lifts<\/strong><\/h3>\n
Crowd Flow<\/h3>\n
Navigation<\/strong><\/h3>\n
RECOMMENDED SNOWBOARDS FOR LE MASSIF DE CHARLEVOIX<\/h3>\n
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