A MOUNTAIN AT THE HEART
OF ITS COMMUNITY
At Mont Rigaud, it all starts with a first turn, a first descent, a first forest trail. For over 60 years, this small mountain with a big heart has been the place where local families learn, progress, and return, season after season.
Mont Rigaud has always been a starting point. A welcoming place to learn to ski, make your first runs, and discover the joy of gliding in a setting that's accessible, safe, and human. Generations of families have discovered skiing and mountain biking here.
With over 20 km of trails, more than fifty modules and structures, Mont Rigaud has become over the years a must-visit mountain biking destination in the region. From introductory runs to downhill, the mountain offers a progressive playground, set in a mature forest and designed to help you improve, have fun, and keep coming back.
Beyond sports, Mont Rigaud is a place to live and gather. A mountain shaped by its surroundings, carried by its community, and developed with a long-term vision. By focusing on accessibility, well-being, and the joy of moving through nature, it remains a vibrant, welcoming, and inclusive outdoor space, in every season.
To offer a vibrant outdoor space where skiing, biking, and hiking become opportunities to move, have fun, and come together, through quality facilities, a warm welcome, and an unwavering focus on safety.
To preserve and develop Mont Rigaud's sports facilities in order to offer, today and for generations to come, an accessible place to stay active, recharge in nature, and cultivate the joy of moving, in every season.
Long before skiing, Rigaud's hill was already a place where life happened. Shaped by the retreat of the glaciers around 12,000 years ago, it served as a natural landmark for Indigenous peoples, then helped shape the development of the village founded in 1783. Sugar shacks, mills, Collège Bourget in 1850, a seminary at the summit in 1888: generation after generation, the mountain has been at the heart of the community, long before it became a ski resort.
Local business owners from Rigaud officially found the ski resort and install a first Poma Lift-style chairlift. Skiing becomes a structured activity on the hill, designed for families, schools, and the local community.
New facilities are added, and the trail network is improved. The mountain becomes fully woven into the winter life of the village and surrounding municipalities.
In a challenging period for Quebec's ski industry, the resort temporarily suspends operations.
Operations resume thanks to the involvement of local stakeholders. The mountain comes back to life and remains accessible to the community, reaffirming its role as a local gathering place.
Gradual modernization of facilities and structuring of operations. Mont Rigaud maintains a human-scale approach, centred on learning and accessibility.
Luc Elie started at Mont Rigaud as a ski instructor. He quickly became involved in the development of instruction and helped structure the Snow School, laying the groundwork for progressive programs that would establish the mountain's reputation as the ultimate place for beginners.
After more than fifteen years of involvement at the resort, in various field and management positions, Luc Elie becomes the owner of Mont Rigaud. A long-term vision is taking root, focused on accessibility, the quality of the experience, and the sustainability of the mountain.
The first mountain biking trails open for the summer. Mont Rigaud reaches a defining milestone, beginning its transformation into a four-season outdoor destination, opening its slopes and forest to a brand-new community of enthusiasts.
The Bike School and Sprockids lessons launch. The same values that built the Ski School's reputation now apply on two wheels: progressive learning, supportive coaching, and fun at the heart of it all, starting at a young age.
A major modernization of the snowmaking system gets underway. The mountain gradually goes from 4 to more than 15 automated, high-performance, and efficient snow guns, including upgrades to the pumping station and piping. These investments make it possible to produce snow at milder temperatures, ensure key trails open on time, and extend the winter season.
André, a former high-level competitor who accumulated several Canadian titles over an 18-year career, is joining Mont Rigaud to oversee the development and maintenance of the mountain bike trail network. Passionate, meticulous, and deeply devoted to his sport, he dedicates his expertise to designing trails that are technical, fluid, playful, and safe, appreciated by beginners and experienced cyclists alike.
Major expansion of the Learning Zone with the addition of a second magic carpet and the installation of a protective dome. These upgrades reinforce Mont Rigaud's mission as "the kindergarten of skiing in Quebec," offering an even safer and more comfortable environment for beginners.
Grand opening of the Poma Express quad chairlift, which doubles uphill transport capacity and significantly improves flow and the overall mountain experience.
The dedicated mountain bike chairlift comes into service. For the first time, riders can access the downhill trails continuously, without the effort of climbing. A game-changing investment that cements Mont Rigaud's status as a must-visit mountain biking destination west of Montreal.
Mont Rigaud is a key player in local life and tourism:
Mont Rigaud is installing permanent snow guns along its trails, a first step toward a fully automated snowmaking system. These giraffe-style guns positioned along the trails will allow for snow production that's more efficient, more precise, and more responsive to weather conditions. An investment in the mountain's future, with more trails to follow in the years ahead.
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Development of the new Pipeline mountain bike trail, promising some serious thrills.
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(Updated: July 18, 2026)
Vertical:
Summit elevation:
Base GPS coordinates:
Skiable terrain:
15
alpine ski trails
14
lit trails
2
snowparks
1
undergrowth
3
alpine touring trails
2
quad chairlifts
2
magic carpets, one of which is covered
22
snow cannons
21
mountain bike trails
1
bike park for fun
17+
kilometers of trails
1
quad chairlift with bike hooks
50+
features and structures
5
hiking trails
1
fitness trail with 11 sports challenges
1
obstacle course with 18 obstacles