Sainte-Marie Saunter (59km)

RideGravel.ca
Oct 30, 2019
2 min read

Updated: Feb 11, 2022

Route Author: Rodd Heino

Location: Lac-Sainte-Marie, La-Valle-de-la-Gatineau, Quebec

Estimated Gravel Time: 75%

Full Route Map:

Download GPX File

Distance: 58.9km (36.6 miles)

Suggested Tire Width: 35mm or more

Amenities: The starting point in the village of Sainte-Marie has a couple of depanneurs. The village of Gracefield, at the approximate halfway point, has a chip stand, pub, convenience store/gas station and grocery store.

Parking: Community Centre/Boat Launch, Lac-Sainte-Marie

Route Description:

Based on the Mont Sainte-Marie gravel event host by Rodd Heino in the summer of 2018, this route takes advantage of Chemin de la Chute, a pretty stretch of gravel that parallels the Gatineau River to the town of Gracefield, before returning to the starting point in the village of Lac Sainte-Marie, via a series of undulating dirt roads.

ree — Open gravel north of Lac-Sainte-Marie

Starting in the village of Lac-Sainte-Marie, travel clockwise via Chemin du Lac Sainte Marie, before turning right onto Chemin de la Chute, a pretty section of sandy gravel that parallels the Gatineau River for most of its length. Eventually, the route turns left on Chemin du Rapide-Faucher, then left again across the Gatineau River to the town of Gracefield.

ree — Sandy section of gravel east of the Gatineau River

Here, riders have access to several amenities including a grocery store, gas station/convenience store, a chip stand and pub.

Exiting Gracefield, the route crosses the Gatineau River once again and travels east via Chemin de la Riviere-Gatineau, transitioning from pavement to gravel, then turning south on Chemin McBean, followed by a left on Chemin du Poison Blanc.

Continue on Chemin du Poisson Blanc, eventually turning right on Chemin du Lac Desormeaux as the route follows a twisty, hilly (and sandy!) section of gravel, paralleling the shores of Lac Honey. The road then switches to Chemin du Lac Vert, following the shores of its namesake back to Chemin du Lac Sainte-Marie, turning right here and following this stretch of pavement all the way back to the start.

3 Comments

Matthew Griffin

May 11

Rode this CCW yesterday and wanted to share one important change. There is a 200-m section of Chem. de la Rivière Gatineau, approx 2 km north of Gracefield, that has been blocked off as private land. There are huge berms built across the road and "PRIVE" signs. There's no detour available, apart from a 10-12 km backtrack.

Renee Bélanger

Jun 16

Replying to

I did it on June 15, 2025 and you can actually go over the dirt mounds that block the road. I did not see any provate sign. The mounds are about 200 meters apart, and the road is very nice both before and after them. We saw other bike path, we were not the first bikes to go through. The road was recently closed because it's not safe for cars (it's too close to a sandy cliff above the river).

steve.e.adams

Sep 19, 2021

Beautiful ride.

Note that the road just north of Gracefield has a segment of about 100m that is blocked off to traffic because of erosion. Don’t be deterred. It is easily rideable.