Bike and Fatbike in Shawinigan
By Tommy Corriveau
With its large territory, Shawinigan proves to be an excellent playground for cyclists of all levels, for those enjoying a smooth stroll as well as athletes looking for challenge or performance. What makes Shawinigan’s cycling network even more interesting is La Route Verte, a renowned circuit across Canada, which includes the city in its route by connecting its seven sectors. It’s therefore possible to start from one sector and head towards all the other sectors of the city. It brings a very original dimension to the route because it makes it possible to discover the city by bike with the whole family.
The lakes tour, a route that brings a feeling of escape, is without a doubt our favorite because it represents the personality of Shawinigan: the perfect balance of the city and nature. It’s possible to park your car at the Parc de la Rivière-Shawinigan to start the trail, and then enjoy this tour which offers a good mix of physical effort and beautiful landscapes. This route is certainly ideal for sporty cyclists since some parts are more difficult and located along the road, but it leads to places that are worth it, such as La Gabelle and Lac Bell to cool off.
The possibilities are numerous for road biking in Shawi, as much for families, discoveries and all types of cycling enthusiasts. A very interesting place for families is the Parc de la Rivière Grand-Mère. This park, a real oasis of greenery, is the perfect balance between activity and beautiful tranquility. It’s also possible to extend the pleasure by continuing to the Saint-Georges-de-Champlain and the Lac-à-la-Tortue sectors. You then have the option to do a 25 km loop. On this route, you can take the ferry boat to go from one bank to the other and then access the last two sectors where you can enjoy unique landscapes with rest areas and discover more of Shawinigan.
The greatest discovery you’ll make is certainly the Parc de la Rivière-Shawinigan, with a trail running along the river of the same name for several kilometres. This linear trail, accessible from Avenue de la Montagne and Rue Trudel near exit 217 of Highway 55, is part of the favorites’ section of Vélo Québec. Another route, longer and just as interesting, is the Tour de ville, which covers more than 60 km and goes around the city of Shawinigan. However, it’s important to be careful because some sections are shared with vehicules.
So take out your bike and come ride in Shawi!