Mont Tremblant: Side-by-Side ATV Guided Off-Road Tour

Mont Tremblant’s side-by-side tour puts you behind the wheel on rocky forest trails, not on a paved sightseeing route. You ride a dune buggy through the Club Iroquois network near the northern edge of the national park, with pine forest, mountain views, and plenty of dust, bumps, and photo stops along the way.

I like the family-friendly vehicle design, with a roll cage and three-point belts, and I like that no off-road experience is needed. The ORV-certified guides add useful structure for first-timers. The main drawback is value: at $174 per person, the ride is not cheap, and only two of the four participants can drive.

Key points

• Rocky Club Iroquois trails: Expect real off-road terrain rather than a smooth forest road.
• One vehicle for up to four people: The side-by-side has one driver and three passenger positions.
• Only two people can drive: There is one stop to change drivers, so a group of three or four shares limited driving time.
• Boreal forest views: Pine woods, mountain scenery, and open spots provide the best photo opportunities.
• ORV-certified guides: English and French guides lead the route and handle the safety briefing.
• Simple 1.5-hour format: Morning and afternoon departures make it easy to fit into a Mont Tremblant day.

Riding the rocky trails near Mont Tremblant

The appeal here is direct and easy to understand: you get into a compact side-by-side and follow a guide onto off-road trails through the boreal forest. The Club Iroquois trails run along the northern edge of the national park, placing you close to the mountains without requiring a full-day excursion.

This is not a quiet nature walk. The buggy handles uneven ground, and the trail can feel rocky and physical. One detailed account describes driving over very rough paths, which gives you a better idea of the ride than the word ATV alone. You should expect jolts, turns, and the need to hold the handle beside your seat.

The vehicle is also called a dune buggy or side-by-side. It seats up to four people, with one driver and three passengers. A roll cage and three-point seatbelts offer basic protection, while the guide sets the pace and keeps the group on the marked off-road network.

The ride lasts 1.5 hours. That is long enough to get a clear taste of off-roading without taking over your entire day, but it is not a major wilderness expedition. If you want hours of driving, this format may feel short. If you want a manageable outdoor activity between other Mont Tremblant plans, the timing works well.

Arriving at the old train station in Labelle

The meeting point is in Labelle, at the old train station. From the traffic light in Labelle, turn right onto Rue du Pont, cross the bridge, and turn left onto Rue du Pont. Take the first right onto Chemin Allard, then turn left onto Chemin Le Depot. Reception is at the former station.

This detail matters because the activity is not presented as a pickup from a Mont Tremblant hotel. You need to reach Labelle and find the reception point yourself. Bring your driver’s license and a credit card. A Visa or Mastercard is required for a security deposit of $1,500, with a maximum of $3,000 per group.

That deposit is a serious practical point. It does not mean you should expect to pay that amount for the tour, but you do need access to the required card for the security hold. Make sure the person handling the booking understands this before arriving.

The activity is listed as wheelchair accessible, although every participant must be physically able to hold on using the handle installed beside the seat. That physical requirement is important, especially for anyone with limited upper-body strength or sensitivity to rough movement.

What happens before you start driving

Your ORV-certified guide should cover the basics before the vehicle leaves the station area. Since no previous off-road experience is required, this tour is built for beginners as well as people who already enjoy recreational driving.

You do not need to arrive knowing how to handle a side-by-side. You do need to pay attention to the instructions, wear the provided helmet, and be ready for uneven ground. The guide is there to keep the outing controlled, but you still have to stay seated and hold on properly.

The side-by-side has three-point seatbelts and a roll cage. Those features make it a more enclosed and structured ride than a motorcycle-style ATV. They do not turn a rocky trail into a smooth one, so wear clothing you can move in and shoes suited to outdoor conditions.

Rain ponchos are supplied in summer when rain is expected. For winter outings, bring warm clothing. The information does not promise winter ponchos or heated gear, so dress for the season rather than counting on equipment from the operator.

Sharing the wheel in a four-seat buggy

The group arrangement is where you should set your expectations carefully. One vehicle carries between one and four participants, but only up to two participants may drive. There is one stop to exchange driver and passenger.

That means a group of two can divide the driving in a straightforward way. A group of three or four cannot give everyone a turn. One person drives, one person changes into the driver’s seat at the scheduled stop, and the remaining passengers ride for the full outing.

This may be fine if driving is not your main goal. The passenger seats offer a relaxed way to watch the forest and take photographs, and riding lets you focus on the scenery rather than the controls. But if everyone in your group wants a turn behind the wheel, this is not the right format.

The pricing also deserves a close look. At $174 per person, a full four-person vehicle costs $696 before any additional charges. The arrangement can make more sense for a group that values sharing one vehicle and spending time outdoors together, but the price may feel high if you are mainly paying for driving time and only two people get to drive.

Following the Club Iroquois route

The route winds through several off-road trail networks in the boreal forest. You move through pine woods and mountain settings, with views opening up at points along the way. The scenery is a major part of the outing, but the trail itself is the real attraction.

You should expect a mix of wooded sections and rougher stretches. The trail is not described as a point-to-point journey with several separate sightseeing stops. There is one stop to exchange drivers, and the route may use the same path on the return. One rating specifically criticized the price because the route felt the same in both directions.

That criticism is useful when deciding what kind of experience you want. This is a recreational trail ride, not a carefully staged scenic tour with a new attraction around every bend. The guide leads you through an off-road network, and the fun comes from handling the buggy, feeling the terrain, and seeing the forest from a moving vehicle.

The ride can also produce strong photographs. Pine trees, mountain views, the vehicle itself, and the rough trail all give you something to work with. Keep your phone secure, since the path can be bumpy. The supplied information promises many photo opportunities, but it does not identify specific viewpoints or guarantee stops beyond the driver exchange.

The guide makes the difference

The guides are ORV certified and speak English and French. That is helpful for a mixed-language group and gives first-time drivers a clear point of contact throughout the ride.

The strongest comments about the experience focus on the guide and the sense of discovery. One recent rating specifically praised a friendly guide and the chance to drive over very rocky paths. Another highlighted the guide and the discoveries made during the visit.

That combination tells you what the experience does best. You get a guide who can make the rough terrain feel approachable, while the forest route provides a change of scenery from the resort area. The guide cannot remove every bump or turn the outing into a long exploration, but a good briefing and a friendly manner matter when you are new to off-roading.

The overall rating is 4.4 out of 5 from 27 ratings. That is a solid result, though not a signal that every part of the experience will suit everyone. The most important split is between people who enjoy a short, active trail ride and people who expect a long route with constant new scenery.

Is $174 per person a fair price?

The value depends heavily on your group size and what you want from the activity. The price includes one side-by-side for one to four people, safety helmets, a certified guide, and a summer rain poncho when needed. You also get a structured 1.5-hour outing rather than having to arrange an off-road vehicle independently.

For a family or group of friends, the shared buggy can be appealing. You stay together, passengers can enjoy the ride without driving, and the side-by-side offers more enclosure and seating structure than a single-rider vehicle. The roll cage and seatbelts are meaningful additions for people who prefer a more protected setup.

Still, $174 per person is a premium price for a short tour. Since only two people can drive and there is only one driver exchange, four participants should not assume they are each buying an equal driving session. If you are comparing this with other activities in the area, count the driving time you will personally receive, not just the total time in the vehicle.

The price is easier to justify if you value the setting, the guide, and the chance to try off-roading without prior experience. It is harder to justify if your main goal is a long route, several different viewpoints, or maximum time at the controls.

Who should book this ride?

I would point this tour toward families with children old enough to participate, couples, and small groups who want a guided outdoor activity with a bit of physical excitement. It works especially well for people who like the idea of off-roading but do not want to operate a single-seat ATV alone.

Children under five cannot join, and pregnant women should not participate. Every rider must be able to hold onto the handle beside the seat, which makes physical comfort and stability more important than age alone.

It is also a reasonable choice for beginners. You do not need previous experience, the guide leads the outing, and the vehicle provides a shared driving environment. If you are experienced with off-road machines, you may find the short duration and limited driver changes less satisfying.

Bring a driver’s license, the required Visa or Mastercard, weather-appropriate clothing, and a willingness to get bounced around a little. The tour is not built for polished clothing or a delicate ride.

Should you book the Mont Tremblant side-by-side tour?

Book it if you want a short guided off-road outing with mountain views, pine forest, and a friendly certified guide. It is a practical first step into side-by-side driving, and the roll cage and seatbelts make it a comfortable choice for a shared family activity.

Think twice if you are paying mainly for driving time. At $174 per person, the cost is high enough that limited driver access and a route that may repeat on the way back matter. For two participants who both want to drive, the format is much easier to justify than for a group of four.

The best match is a small group that values the whole ride, not just the steering wheel. If that sounds like you, Labelle’s old train station is the starting point for a lively, bumpy hour and a half in the forest.

FAQ

How long is the side-by-side ATV tour?

The tour lasts 1.5 hours.

Where does the tour meet?

The meeting point is the reception area in the old train station in Labelle. From the traffic light in Labelle, follow Rue du Pont, Chemin Allard, and Chemin Le Depot as directed.

How many people can ride in one vehicle?

One vehicle can carry between one and four participants.

How many people can drive?

Up to two participants can share the driving. There is one stop to exchange the driver and passenger positions.

Is previous off-road experience required?

No. Previous experience is not required.

What safety equipment is included?

Safety helmets are included. The side-by-side also has three-point seatbelts and a roll cage.

Are guides available in English?

Yes. The guides speak English and French.

What should I bring?

Bring a credit card and a driver’s license. Warm clothing is advised for winter tours.

Is a security deposit required?

Yes. A Visa or Mastercard is required for a security deposit of $1,500, with a maximum of $3,000 per group.

Who cannot participate?

Pregnant women and children under five cannot participate. Every participant must also be physically able to hold onto the handle beside the seat.