Life in Lanaudière feels so serene and simple. From its fresh air to its trails and parks, it’s an amazing place to be outdoors and embrace the simplest things in life. Take a Québec road trip and get to know the Lanaudière region a bit better. You will find so many outdoor activities just a day trip from Repentigny, Joliette, or L’Assomption. We enjoyed all the trails and parks, plus a much-needed visit to La Source Spa. Here are the best things to do in the Lanaudière region of Québec that you don’t want to miss.
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About My Trip
During October, my friend Kim aka @WestCoastLife (who also look all these photos) and I went on a week-long road trip through three gorgeous regions in Québec – Mauricie, Lanaudière, and Eastern Townships. I’ve been to Québec several times and I continue to fall in love with every region I visit.
To begin our trip, we flew into Montréal and rented a car for our Québec road trip! If you need to stay overnight before you head off on your adventure, you will find various Montreal family hotels to choose from. We arrived early enough in the day to head our right away and then stayed in various hotels and cabins throughout our journey.
This Quebec road trip blog post is brought to you in collaboration with Tourisme Quebec along with Mauricie, Lanaudière, and Eastern Townships regions.
What to Know About the Lanaudière Region in Québec
The Lanaudière region is located north of the Saint Lawrence River, just above Montréal. Lanaudière is also near the rolling Laurentian Mountains and boasts loads of rural farmland, sparkling lakes, and cottages. Activities like hiking and cycling are some of the most popular things to do in the Lanaudière region of Quebec.
The best way to get to the Lanaudière region is to fly or drive into Montréal and rent a car or travel from there. A Québec road trip is an absolute bucket list worthy experience.
Some Quick Fun Facts About the Lanaudière Region
- Lanaudière is Quebec’s first agricultural region, meaning it’s a foodie destination with local farms, markets, and food producers.
- The region is home to Festival de Lanaudière, the largest classical music festival in Canada.
- Joliette is the largest city in Lanaudière, incorporated in 1863.
Authentic Québec Region
Known as Authentic Québec, Mauricie and Lanaudière are two of the most natural and dreamy regions of Québec thanks to their flourishing flora and fauna and loads of natural beauty at your fingertips. We have loved discovering the captivating spirit of these places, and we got lots of inspiration from Authentic Québec. You can check out their online magazine for more ideas!
What to See and Do in the Lanaudière Region
With awesome ideas for a day trip from Repentigny, Joliette, or L’Assomption and loads of outdoor excursions, there are so many great things to do in the Lanaudière region of Quebec.
Boating on Pristine Lakes
Lanaudière is dotted in lakes! That’s why we took simple boats out on to Lac Bécaud, thanks to our accommodation at Ma Yourte au Cœur des Collines.
If your place to stay in the Lanaudière region is near a lake, then you may be able to rent a paddleboat, kayak, or canoe straight from there. Otherwise, there are lots of kayak and boat rental companies in the region, so take your pick!
Enjoy a blissful sunrise or sunset on a calm lake in Quebec! It’s a must-do while on a Québec road trip.
Hike at Parc Régional de la Chute-à-Bull
Rain or shine, head to Saint-Côme for some hiking at Parc Régional de la Chute-à-Bull! You’ll have access to 6 km (3.7 miles) of trails. Plus, hiking trails and parks in the Lanaudière region are full of pretty surprises!
We loved following the Bull Fall trail. It’s an easy 1.9 km (1.2 miles) trail that leads to a cascading waterfall flowing at 18 m (59 ft.) high and loads of incredible views. Fairytale vibes!
You can follow up a set of wooden staircases that reveal an amazing view over the forested park and surrounding mountains. You’ll also encounter an antique covered bridge, flaunting Saint-Côme’s local heritage as a former logging camp.
The day we went hiking in Lanaudière it was quite rainy and cloudy October day, but it still offered no shortage of beauty!
Abraska Rawdon
Get out and embrace the fresh Quebec air with an adventure at Abraska Rawdon. These ropes courses and Abraska parks send you to navigate among the treetops with zip lines, via ferratas, and more. If you like a bit of adrenaline, this is one of the top things to do in the Lanaudière region of Quebec.
Plus, there are different Abraska parks to choose from in the province. So, if you get the mood during your Québec road trip, there’s probably one of the Abraska parks nearby!
It was quite rainy when we did ours, but it was still worth it! Actually, it added a bit more adventure. Bonus!
La Source Bains Nordiques
In one of the most stunning areas of Rawdon, La Source Bains Nordiques is a little piece of woodsy paradise. The place is a modernly designed cabin with luxury fire pits, exposed brick, and a huge balcony with forest views.
Outside you’ll find some of the steamy Nordic baths. There you’ll have access to the sauna, waterfall and pools, natural springs, and relaxation areas. It’s a beautiful, relaxing experience in nature. You can reserve a spot during the day or evening for an even cozier experience.
Visit a Sugar Shack
A Very Quebec thing to do is visit a sugar shack! Traditional sugar shacks are where they take maple tree sap and boil it into maple syrup. Yum! They are most popular in spring, with families spending the Easter weekend eating dinner at a local sugar shack. Many are closed during the rest of the months.
However, some are open throughout the year! Au Sentier de L’érable in Sainte-Julienne is a great sugar shack where you can take sleigh rides, enjoy wilderness hiking trails, and have the classic maple taffy on snow. Bonus! You can bring your own wine there, too.
If you are looking for more Quebec travel ideas, you might like The Laurentians – Québec Road Trip, Abitibi-Témiscamingue Region – Québec Road Trip or Outaouais Region – Québec Road Trip.
Where To Stay in the Lanaudière Region
Somewhere with lots of natural beauty at your fingertips! There are many amazing places to stay in the Lanaudière region, but here are my top picks.
Ma Yourte au Cœur des Collines
Have you ever wanted to stay in one of those Instagrammable bubbles where you’re surrounded by nature in all directions? Stay at Ma Yourte au Cœur des Collines and you can! Actually, they have bubbles, yurts, and a chalet.
The yurts are insulated and warm with a propane gas stove. They feature double beds with yurts for 2 or 4 people. Plus, you’ll also have a fully equipped kitchen for hearty meals at home. You’ll feel like you’ve been transported to another time!
Then, there are the bubbles. They are adorable! Smaller than the yurts, but offer no shortage of beauty. You’ll have a cosy double bed, a warm propane fireplace, an outdoor fire pit, and an equipped kitchen area.
We had the opportunity to stay in the chalet! It has beautiful light wood walls, great insulation, and cozy chalet vibes all around. There’s a ladder to get to the upstairs bedroom, and the chalet itself can fit four people. The kitchen area is great for cooking meals at home. Then, there’s space for chilling out by the outdoor campfire, making s’mores, and reminiscing the day. I can’t recommend the chalet at Ma Yourte au Cœur des Collines enough!
Kabania
Cozy cabin bliss awaits! Next to the Dufresne River in the Ouareau Forest Regional Park, feel immersed in the woods of this dreamy area! It’s set high up on stilts, so it has incredible forest and river views.
The rustic cabins are so charming with their balconies and simplistic rooms. Whether the place is dusted in snow or covered in autumn foliage, Kabania is a dreamy place to stay in the Lanaudière region.
There are also common areas with two kitchens, relaxing lounge areas, bonfire, and BBQ spaces. 2 glass-enclosed lounges, and bonfire/BBQ areas. Then, the are trails to explore, river swimming, and other activities going on at Kabania!
As you can see, it was a wet day when we visited, but it didn’t stop us from exploring the beautiful grounds.
Where to Eat in the Lanaudière Region
Since our accommodation in Lanaudière was part of the travel experience, we ate a lot of homemade meals at our cabin, which I highly recommend. But don’t worry, I’ve got you covered on some of the best places to eat in the area. Note that I am celiac and dairy-free so if you are looking for those options, I got you!
BBQ Dinner at Ma Yourte au Cœur des Collines
If you stay at Ma Yourte au Cœur des Collines then you can add a delicious BBQ dinner to your stay! It’ll be brought straight to your place. So, it’s a great alternative if you don’t feel like cooking during your stay. You can have BBQ, a Chinese fondue dinner with local meats, a casserole dinner, or pizza.
For breakfast, they also serve continental breakfast with fruits, cakes, muffins, bread, coffee, and tea. See their menu options here.
Pacini Repentigny
If you’re driving from Montreal, a great spot to grab dinner along the way is Restaurant Pacini in Repentigny. We all know I love Italian food and this restaurant had some great options for all sorts of dietary restrictions.
If you’re gluten-free (like myself), there are lots of options! They can make all of their pizzas with a gluten-free crust and multiple pasta dishes can be made with gluten-free penne. Then, if you’re vegan or dairy-free, you can substitute a couple of the pizzas with a vegan cheese.
TABOO Cuisine Rebelle L’Assomption
Mini burgers, poutine, and cocktails unite for a delicious and chic dining experience in L’Assomption at TABOO.
L’Imposteur Resto
Locally sourced, vegetarian comfort food at its finest is what you’ll find at L’Imposteur Resto in Sainte-Julienne. It has a rustic and artsy interior and an outdoor dining patio.
Microbreweries
Add a brewery or two to your Québec road trip! There are loads of local microbreweries in the area. From happy and hoppy IPAs to smooth and chocolatey stouts, check out some of the local breweries during your trip.
Have More Time?
If you have more time, add Parc Régional de la Forêt-Ouareau to your Québec road trip. Explore the trails and parks in the Lanaudière region, cross its suspension bridge, or kayak down the river.
Also, I recommend spending some time exploring the historic centre of Joliette and visiting its beautiful contemporary art museum.
From sugar shacks and spa days to beautiful waterfall hikes and cozy cabins, exploring the Lanaudière region of Quebec is such a joy! Spend a long weekend or even weeks exploring this beautiful piece of Canada.
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Bella Bucchiotti
Bella Bucchiotti is a storyteller, food lover, dog mom and adventure seeker living on the Pacific coast. She shares her passion for food, dogs, fitness, adventures, travel and philanthropy, in hopes of encouraging followers to run the extra mile, try new recipes, visit unfamiliar places and stand for a cause. Bella lives with Type 1 Diabetes and Celiac Disease.
The nordic baths look amazing! I would love to visit
Road trips are always fun. It makes you visit every specific place has to offer.
Great post! My sister and her family actually live in Montreal so we do the 6 hour drive up 1-2 times a year, just went up for Thanksgiving our first “post” pandemic visit! But I’ve been wanting to explore other areas nearby, so this is helpful, thank you!
This looks like an absolutely incredible trip! So gorgeous!
This looks like it was such a fun adventure. I would love to go to Quebec during this time of year.