Reviewed by: Alex Kehler , from Montreal

Summary:
Hi, Yes these trails are awesome (remind me of slick rock that I've ridden in North Carolina) but they are on Private Property and the Landlords having been fighting to keep us off for ten years. I had a long talk with them and they convinced me never to go back. It sucks but I have to respect their differing opinion.

Reviewed by: Matsky , from Montreal

Summary:
Mont-Rigaud is one of the good places I did so far. Their is a lot of everything, fun to ride fireroads, technical single tracks with a lot of rocks. No trails with ups and down and roots. The trails have a lot of flow, very fun to ride. I di not do all trail but will be back very soon. Easy to get lost, you can get a map at the Centre touristique. Have good ride!!

Recommended Route:
Highway 40, exit 12, turn left on rue St-Viateur, drive for about 5 minutes and look out for trails opening. Its well indicated and you can park the car there.

Reviewed by: Robbie , from Hudson

Summary:
This is a really good trail with a bit of everything although I still have not explored everything cause I can't go there often because I am only 14 and can't dive yet. This has a really long up hill and it is really difficult in early spring when the trail is still really wet. Were I have ridden it has been mostly dirt/mud but like I said I have not ridden all the trail. It is also a very pretty trail. Some bad news though the last time I went there the trail was close to bikers although the trail is not monitered and they are fighting to lift the ban.

Reviewed by: supra , from rigaud, quebec, canada

Summary:
i say i ride once a week but it's no more true...trails in Rigaud are getting disappearing.
NEw residents blocking access to their properties.The most famous one " the slick rock one" is gone...gone for ever.Others , like mount oscar are getting dug up for residential development...and so on. There are still some trails left but for how long now?

Reviewed by: Cannonball , from Ottawa

Summary:
I used to ride this trail system 2 to 3 times a week when I lived in Montreal. Now that I live in Ottawa I'm torn between the fast lung-burning climbs/descents of the Gatineau's and the technically demanding slick rock/singletrack found in Rigaud. Time considerations determine where I go (15 minutes to Gatineau's or 1 hour 15 minutes to Rigaud from Ottawa). On epic rides one usually comments on how one's legs feel rubbery -- this ride will do the same to your hands, arms and upper body as well as your legs. I've learned how to handle my bike in these trails, even though I'd been riding a couple of years (not-quite-trials-but-almost). Don't get me wrong, you can get a good cardio workout here, but the point of these trails is to push the limits of bike handling. The terrain, as described above, is dissimilar to any I've ridden in Eastern Canada (the closest I've found is Wrandees in Halifax). At the top of the hill/mountain what you find is a series of slick rock "islands" interconnected by trails. You can get off the regular trail and tool around looking for challenging drop offs or speed along the slicks. Yes it is possible to get the adrenaline going in some places, but these areas are mostly up top.
I definitely recommend you hook up with a local so that you may enjoy all Rigaud has to offer. These trails have been around for some time, so with the help of locals you can find the latest loops and trails. The most exciting news in this review, is the creation of a new trail nearby that will make you soil yourself. My local riding buddy, who lives at the base of the hill, inducted me and my Ottawa riding bud to help him clear and design the trail. The terrain is north facing (lots of moss), populated primarily by large pine trees and other conifers and littered with granite boulders, some as large as a house. There is the sense of a North Shore-like experience brewing while we work on this trail as we are planning to build some scarry-ass (or is that scar-y?) sky bridges between rock formations. You'll need a good set of lungs for climbs, excellent technical skills, and big balls. I'll update you all when it is ready (best guesstimate is for 3rd week of April 2000) as there was still some snow on the ground when I was there last week.

Recommended Route:
See above (Stu)

Other recommended trails in the same area:
Ottawa: multiple orgasm, power line, wolf, camp fortune 22-34, skyline, Kanata Lakes