Chibougamau

Chibougamau brings together winter activities, experiences at Lac Gilman and traces of its mining history. Each of these different facets of the town can give your trip its own focus: you can explore snow sports and winter traditions, plan time by the water or learn about the town’s history on a heritage walk. When choosing your vacation rental, it helps to start by thinking about which experiences you want to shape your days.

Winter activities and living traditions

At the Centre plein air du Mont Chalco in Chibougamau, you can enjoy evening skiing, a snow park and snow tubing. This means there are several winter activities to choose from in one place. Skiers will find something to enjoy here, as will travelers interested in the snow park or snow tubing. These options can shape your winter stay without requiring you to focus on just one activity.

The Festival Folifrets Baie-James has also been celebrating winter in Chibougamau for more than 50 years. One of the festival’s distinctive experiences is the « Randonnée du Président »: a ride on historic snowmobiles along a groomed 60-kilometer route. The length of the route makes this a stand-alone activity, distinct from those at the Centre plein air. When comparing winter activities, you can choose between things to do at Mont Chalco and the festival ride.

Discover the water and nature at Lac Gilman

The municipal beach at Lac Gilman offers swimming, a volleyball court and a nearby playground. You can also rent canoes, kayaks, stand-up paddleboards and pedal boats at the beach to explore the lake. This gives you different ways to enjoy your time by the water: swimming, playing volleyball or exploring the lake in one of the available boats. The playground is close to the beach, adding to the facilities available to travelers with children.

Nature enthusiasts can discover more at Parc régional Obalski. The park is near downtown Chibougamau and is suitable for a wide range of outdoor activities. Along the loop trail around Lac Gilman, interpretive panels provide information about local flora and fauna. Other trails lead to summits with exceptional views of the town, Lac aux Dorés and Grand Lac Chibougamau. The route offers two different ways to enjoy nature: observing plants and animals along the loop trail and taking in the views from the summits.

Mining history on a heritage walk

« Le Chemin des mines » takes you to places that have shaped Chibougamau’s mining history. The heritage walk is about 10 kilometers long and includes seven information panels. If you’re interested in how the town developed, you can use the stops to learn about individual places and their significance to its mining history. You can get a map of the route at tourist information offices and from the Société d'histoire régionale de Chibougamau. This makes it easy to include this cultural and historical focus in your travel plans.

Which experiences would you like to focus on? When choosing your vacation rental, it can help to consider whether you’re looking mainly for active days outdoors or insights into Chibougamau’s history.

Discover more destinations

For further inspiration, explore Baie-James, Lebel-sur-Quévillon, Matagami, Chapais and Kangiqsujuaq.

For the broader travel overview: Nord-Du-Québec.