Kouchibouguac a winter destination for snow lovers

Summer camping is fun, but have you tried winter camping?

Roughly 30,000 people visit Kouchibouguac National Park between December and April to cross country ski, bird watch, snowshoe and camp.

"We have around 250 visitors that rent these shelters in the winter," said Jerome Lussier, the park's visitor experience manager.

The park remains open throughout the winter and offers rustic shelters so winter lovers can stay the night.

"You need to snowshoe or cross country ski 8 to 10 km to get to them," said Lussier. The huts come equipped with a wood stove, firewood and bed platforms.

If you're not quite ready for a winter camping experience, the park does offer day activities.

"We have more than 35 km of trails for snowshoeing whether it's one way or loops. There are a  lot of huts across the park so people can definitely enjoy warming up after 2 or 3 km trek," Lussier said.

The trail is parallel to portions of the cross-country ski trail between Pijebookgwek and Patterson and shelters will open this winter.

The trail will lead snowshoeing enthusiasts across park terrain, including areas not usually accessible during other seasons.

"Some people are bird watching, some are geocaching, sledding at Patterson Hill, star gazing at night," said Lussier.

Fat biking is a new winter activity at Kouchibouguac. The park is hosting a March break 16 km winter cycle.

"Fat bikes is an emerging sport so we're envisioning it to help us become a year-round destination," said Lussier.