Travel to Mont Avila with ski insurance from Essential Travel

Nestled in the strikingly beautiful scenery of the Saint-Sauveur Valley, a short distance northwest of Montréal, it is conveniently accessible. Snow coverage is guaranteed due to an impressive system of snow cannons.

The ski resort is small, with limited onsite facilities and lodging, but the nearby village of Saint-Sauveur offers much more in the way of amenities. Saint-Sauveur has a rich historical heritage dating back a hundred years, and provides a truly authentic backdrop to the skiing experience at Mont Avila.

Mont Avila’s 11 slopes are roughly divided between the various levels, with two runs allocated to beginners, three to intermediates, and six to advanced and expert skiers and snowboarders. The pistes are linked by means of three lifts, with an hourly uplift capacity of 5,000 people. The longest downhill slope at Mont Avila is an unimpressive one kilometre, but the ski resort also features 20kms of cross-country trails.

In addition to the slopes, Mont Avila presents a full range of exciting non-skiing winter activities, including: tubing, snow rafting, ice-skating and snowshoeing. The onsite Auberge Beaux Reves et Spa/Inn boasts full spa facilities, providing skiers with the perfect end to a day on the slopes. The inn also has an outstanding restaurant, but for more vibrant après-ski, visitors should head to Saint-Sauveur.

Skiing is offered in Mont Avila from mid-December to mid-April. Snow cannons provide guaranteed snow coverage all through the season, but best natural conditions are to be had in February. The easiest way to get to Mont Avila is to take a plane to Montréal and take the ski bus to the resort, or make use of a rental car to complete the journey.

Skiing in Mont Avila

Boasting one of Québec’s most exhilarating snow parks and offering superb skiing on reliably powder-blanketed pistes, Mont Avila is a great ski resort for the whole family. Mont Avila is located less than an hour northwest of Montréal, and encircled by the spectacular landscape of the pristine Saint-Sauveur Valley.

Skiing in Mont Avila is restricted to 11 slopes, but these are of a high standard, and snow cannons ensure first rate slope conditions. Five lifts provide transport to the slopes, of which two are geared for beginners, three are for intermediates, and six are for advanced/expert skiers.

Twenty kilometres of cross-country skiing in Mont Avila do much to make up for a longest run of only one kilometre. Snowboarding is permitted on all pistes and the resort boasts one of Québec’s finest snow parks, complete with an Olympic-sized half-pipe.

Mont Avila provides only the most basic amenities of a ski school and a ski sports/repair shop, and one onsite lodging option, the Auberge Beaux Reves et Spa/Inn, with its spa and restaurant. Plenty more in the way of services and accommodation is just a short trip away, in charming Saint-Sauveur.

Après-ski in Mont Avila

Mont Avila’s winter activities are not just limited to the ski slopes. The resort also offers tubing, snow rafting, snowshoeing and ice-skating. On a different note, the Auberge Beaux Reves et Spa/Inn offers full spa facilities for those who prefer a more laid-back approach.

Also at the inn is a fabulous restaurant that is the only real option for evening entertainment. Those after a spicier après-ski scene should look to the village of Saint-Sauveur, which is peppered with bars and bistros. Likewise, the onsite inn has limited lodging, but an extensive range of accommodations, including hotels, bed-and-breakfasts and rental cottages, is available in Saint-Sauveur.

Nearby Montréal offers wonderful opportunities for an off-slope excursion, with its unique ambience and endless supply of shops, eateries and entertainment options. If more skiing tickles your fancy, Mont Blanc and the Mont Tremblant ski region, offering Québec’s highest vertical drops and superb skiing and snowboarding, are just a short drive north.

Transportation in Mont Avila

Mont Avila ski resort is situated in the Saint-Sauveur Valley of Québec, 75kms northwest of Montréal. Most travellers reach the resort by flying to Montréal and utilising bus transportation or hire car to get to Mont Avila. Alternatives are self-drive, or rail transportation to Montréal followed by road transportation.

From New York, the journey to Mont Avila is a lengthy 675kms, taking roughly seven to eight hours. Follow I-87 north to the US/Canadian border, where I-87 becomes highway 15, which leads all the way to Saint-Sauveur.

The distance between Québec City and Mont Avila is approximately 300kms, taking around four hours. Take highway 40 along the St Lawrence River to Montréal, and then bypass the city on highway 640 to meet with highway 15 (north) to Saint-Sauveur. From Toronto, the distance to Montréal is 600kms, via highway 401, and the journey takes roughly seven hours.

Montréal’s Dorval Airport is the closest major airport to the resort, and is served by regular flights from major cities around the world and destinations across Canada. Buses provide transportation to Saint-Sauveur, from where buses and taxis go to Mont Avila. If you hire a car at the airport, the quickest route uses highways 13 and 1, heading northwest (65kms; 45 minutes).

There are five trains per day from Toronto to Montréal, and one daily train to the city from New York’s Penn station. Greyhound buses provide transportation to Montréal from Toronto, Ottawa and Québec City. Local ski buses run to Mont Avila from Montréal’s rail and bus stations.

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