On a Mountaintop in Quebec, MTB Trails Connect a Cabin Community

Just outside of Quebec City, recreation area Sentiers du Moulin and cabin development Le Maelström have partnered to create the ultimate destination for cabin lovers and mountain bikers.

The natural playground is located on Mont Tourbillon in the Lac-Beauport region, and while the project is geared toward mountain biking (pun intended, tysvm), 37 miles of year-round trails are offered for cross-country skiing, hiking, and more.

The project began over five years ago when Sentiers du Moulin was a mere municipal park. Looking to invest in its growth, the Municipality of Lac-Beauport began looking for further development opportunities. Around the same time, a developer was selling land on Mont Tourbillon, a mountain towards the southeast of the region.

Nicolas Sauvé, the now Development Coordinator at Sentiers du Moulin, proposed building a network of trails on the mountain and the developer agreed with their own proposal of interweaving short-term cabin rentals throughout the sprawling property.

A few modest-sized, privately owned cabins already dotted the mountain and Sauvé set to work establishing a relationship with each owner, including them in the development, which would eventually become Le Maelström.

Certain parameters were agreed upon for the cabins to keep them eco-friendly, seasonal, and recreation friendly. A public mountain bike trail must pass through the property for the city to issue a short-term rental permit, the maximum size for each is ~215 sq meters over two floors, and most are off-grid or employ a hybrid of energy sources.

In other words, we’re talking bike-in, bike-out accommodations from Earth-friendly cabin people. What's not to love?

Fifteen cabins now accommodate guests at Le Maelström, with an impressive mixture of architectural styles. And although the website lists that no land or cabins are currently for sale, those interested have the opportunity to buy or build their own cabin on the mountain when available.

Each cabin is unique to its owner, and everything from wooden A-Frames to hyper-modern chalets are offered. Some have websites of their own, like the cozy La Cabin and Sauvé’s own Quartz and Mica cabins. All cabins can be reserved through the Le Maelström website, starting anywhere from $99 to $325/night CAD.

Similar to the vacation communities of old, the whole project is an impressive feat of coordination between multiple parties-all of whom have a clear appreciation for outdoor recreation and the impact of beautiful architecture within the natural landscape.

Considered developments such as Le Maelström seem to be resurging in the outdoor community and we’ll be here, keeping a close eye on the trend.