Ride Routes
A Ride from Sainte-Agathe: 165 km in the Upper Laurentians
By the Groupe Contant Team · Published September 6, 2026
Quick Answer
What is a good motorcycle route starting from Sainte-Agathe-des-Monts?
A loop of roughly 165 km: take Route 329 northeast to Saint-Donat and Lac Archambault, push a few kilometres up Route 125 toward the Pimbina sector of Parc national du Mont-Tremblant, then cut across to Lac-Supérieur and Mont-Tremblant before dropping back to Sainte-Agathe on Route 117 through Saint-Faustin, Val-David, and Val-Morin. Budget 4 to 6 hours with stops.
Route 329 between Sainte-Agathe-des-Monts and Saint-Donat is one of the few Laurentian roads riders name without being prompted. It climbs, it turns, it runs through forest for some thirty kilometres without passing through a single village — and it starts ten minutes from our Sainte-Agathe dealership.
This is the most mountainous of our five routes, and the only one with a leg worth checking before you go: the link between Saint-Donat and Lac-Supérieur is a regional road whose condition varies. There is an all-paved alternative further down.
The Route at a Glance
| Route detail | Value |
|---|---|
| Start | Groupe Contant Sainte-Agathe, 1300 Imp. de la Tourbière |
| Distance | Roughly 165 km, as a loop |
| Duration | 4 to 6 hours with stops |
| Season | June to early October — the shortest window of our five loops |
| Main roads | 329, 125, Chemin du Lac-Supérieur, 117 |
| Surface | Paved, except the Saint-Donat–Lac-Supérieur link — check first |
The Route, Leg by Leg
- Sainte-Agathe to Saint-Donat on Route 329 (about 35 km) — the heart of the route and the reason the loop exists. Climbs, descents, and forest corners, with no village between the two ends.
- Saint-Donat and Lac Archambault (about 5 km) — the lakeside village, the day's natural first stop.
- Saint-Donat north on Route 125 (about 15 km each way) — a spur toward the Pimbina sector of Parc national du Mont-Tremblant, worth doing as an out-and-back if you want to see the park without lengthening the loop.
- Saint-Donat to Lac-Supérieur (about 35 km) — the westward link across the park's edge. This is the leg to check: a regional road, less maintained, and in places not fully paved.
- Lac-Supérieur to Mont-Tremblant (about 20 km) — the descent to the village and the resort area.
- Mont-Tremblant to Sainte-Agathe on Route 117 (about 45 km) — the run home through Saint-Faustin-Lac-Carré, Val-David, and Val-Morin. Quick, but busy on summer weekends.
The All-Paved Alternative
If you'd rather take no chances on the surface — reasonable on three wheels, on a loaded touring bike, or two-up — split the loop into two out-and-backs from Sainte-Agathe.
First out-and-back: Route 329 to Saint-Donat and back, about 70 km. It's the best segment of the route and it stands on its own. Second: Route 117 north to Mont-Tremblant and Lac-Supérieur, then back, about 90 km.
You lose the loop, you keep every kilometre of pavement and both best segments — and you can do one in the morning and the other in the afternoon.
Where to Stop Along the Way
- Saint-Donat — the village and the Lac Archambault shore, the most natural midpoint stop.
- Parc national du Mont-Tremblant, Pimbina sector — reached via Route 125 north of Saint-Donat; access fees apply.
- Mont-Tremblant — the Vieux-Village on Lac Mercier, noticeably quieter than the resort area.
- Val-David — an artisan village on Route 117 and a classic stop on the way back.
- Val-Morin and the Val-David–Val-Morin regional park — for a last break before Sainte-Agathe.
When to Ride This Route
This route has the shortest season of the five. At elevation, late frost and thaw damage take longer to repair: wait for June rather than mid-May, especially on Route 329, where the pavement takes a beating every winter.
Late September is spectacular — peak colour in the Upper Laurentians — but mornings are cold and wet leaves cut grip in the shaded corners of the 329. Leave later, come back earlier.
Our motorcycle season prep guide covers the pre-season check, and choosing spring gear is particularly relevant here: it is reliably colder in Saint-Donat than in Sainte-Agathe.
Riding This Route on a Spyder, Ryker, or Canyon
On three wheels, take the all-paved alternative above. Route 329 to Saint-Donat and back is an excellent ride for a Spyder or Canyon: wide, well laid out, with enough elevation change to stay interesting without ever becoming technical.
The Saint-Donat–Lac-Supérieur link, on the other hand, is best avoided on three wheels unless you've confirmed its condition — a Spyder's ground clearance and width don't get along with broken pavement.
Our Sainte-Agathe location rents all three models, and it's the one of our five closest to the best mountain roads in the network.
Frequently Asked Questions
A loop of roughly 165 km: take Route 329 northeast to Saint-Donat and Lac Archambault, push a few kilometres up Route 125 toward the Pimbina sector of Parc national du Mont-Tremblant, then cut across to Lac-Supérieur and Mont-Tremblant before dropping back to Sainte-Agathe on Route 117 through Saint-Faustin, Val-David, and Val-Morin. Budget 4 to 6 hours with stops.
Groupe Contant — Your Quebec Dealer
Route 329 is a fine ride on three wheels. Groupe Contant Sainte-Agathe rents the Can-Am Spyder, Ryker, and Canyon by the day, ten minutes from the start of the route.