A day in La Petite-Nation with kids, never more than 20 minutes in the car
Parc Oméga's elk, build-your-own ice cream, a giant sundial, a waterfall that's free for kids and sculptures that move. Never more than 20 minutes in the car between stops.
Guide
Hiking & trails
Mont Grand-Pic in Ripon, the Plaisance falls, the 400-year-old trees of Forêt-la-Blanche. Enough to hike all fall without repeating a trail.
The 12 best hikes in La Petite-Nation
A lookout tower on Mont Grand-Pic, 400-year-old trees, a cable raft across the Preston River. Our 12 favourite trails, from easy family loops to the Sentier national.
A day in La Petite-Nation from Mont-Tremblant
An hour south on Route 323, coffee in Namur, a picnic under the Montagnes Noires shelter, Montpellier's pies and Lac Simon from above. No lineups.
The best day trip to La Petite-Nation from Ottawa
An hour of highway, a 35-metre waterfall, folk art, a sundial on the 75th meridian and Papineau's manor. Our hour-by-hour plan for a day out from Ottawa.
Where to see fall colours in La Petite-Nation
A lookout tower above the maples, a free viewpoint over Lac Simon, Route 321 heading north in red and gold. Our favourite lookouts, drives and trails for fall.
Our tips for visiting Parc Oméga
Twelve kilometres by car among elk, bison and wolves, plus walking trails, a heritage farm and tube sliding in winter. How to get the most out of Parc Oméga.
IllustrationHeritage
Saint-André-Avellin Heritage Walk
Saint-André-AvellinTwenty-two stops on foot from the Pioneers Museum: the footbridge, the old charnel house, the church, old houses, the Mont Saint-Joseph grotto. Next…
IllustrationPark
Base de plein air Air-Eau-Bois
BowmanAn all-in outdoor centre on the Poisson Blanc reservoir since 1972. Go for the day or stay the week.
IllustrationLookout
Belvédère Denis-Papin
Lac-SimonA lookout above Baie Creuse, named after a former mayor. The whole lake in one view, for free.
IllustrationLodging
Camp Ozanam
Saint-Émile-de-SuffolkA charity family camp that hosts low-income families in summer and rents simple cabins the rest of the year. Beach, trails and a thrift shop.
IllustrationCampground
Camping Montagnard
Val-des-BoisFull-hookup sites, trailer rentals and a heated pool, up in the hills.
IllustrationCampground
Camping Montpellier
Montpellier107 acres with a river, waterfall and beaches, 11 km of bike trails and 5 km of hiking. Two cabins, Le Rustique and Le Zen, rent year-round.
IllustrationPark
Centre touristique du Lac-Simon (Sépaq)
DuhamelSépaq's centre at the top of Lac Simon. In winter it runs a ready-to-go ice-fishing package on Lac de la Ferme: you show up and the holes are…
Lookout
Chutes de Plaisance (Chutes du Moulin)
PlaisanceThe Petite-Nation River drops more than 35 metres right next to the remains of North Nation Mills, the old mill village. A 2 km return walk, some…
IllustrationHeritage
Montebello Heritage Walk
MontebelloTwenty-five houses and sites marked with lecterns around the village, chosen by the Louis-Joseph-Papineau historical society and the arts committee.…
IllustrationHeritage
Papineauville Heritage Walk
PapineauvilleA walk through Papineauville's old buildings, in a village closely tied to the Papineau family. The town provides the brochure.
IllustrationSki & snowshoe
Club Skira, sentiers de ski et raquette
DuhamelOver 40 km of backcountry ski and snowshoe trails in the wildlife reserve, kept up by volunteers. $15 for the whole season is a steal.
IllustrationTrail
Cycl-O-Route de la rivière Outaouais, boucle ouest
ThursoAn 87 km road-cycling loop: take the Thurso ferry across to Ontario, come back on the Québec side through the national park, then Papineauville and…
IllustrationLodging
Domaine Graham – Les Bouleaux Blancs
NamurSeven cottages on four sites, with more than 20 km of private trails.
IllustrationLodging
Domaine Lockbøw
Lac-SimonSixty acres of forest on the Petite Nation River, with the Lockbow falls right on the property. Unusual cabins and rustic camping.
IllustrationHeritage
Duhamel history trails
DuhamelPanels along the trails mark Duhamel's historic spots. The Au fil de l'eau trail adds village history, a bit on the deer, and the Peuples des bois…
IllustrationPark
Halte routière du Canton de Lochaber (Route verte)
LochaberA rest stop on the 148 built with Route verte riders in mind: bike racks, a platform to pitch a tent, and a dry toilet made by a local artist.
IllustrationPark
Jardin de la relève (Ma cabane au Canada)
NamurArtists' cabins set up in the village park in 2013. A good place to stretch your legs, and kids love them.
IllustrationTrail
La Route des Zingues (Sentier national)
DuhamelVolunteers built this stretch of the National Trail between lakes and summits, and there's even a cable raft to cross the Preston River. Several…
IllustrationHeritage
Hercule Chéné Heritage Trail
ChénévilleChénéville's heritage trail, named for Pierre Hercule Chéné, who opened the first post office in 1864. The brochure is online.
IllustrationHeritage
Lac-Simon history trail
Lac-SimonPanels at the marina tell the lake's story, and on Île du Canard Blanc an interpretive trail leads to Lac des Étoiles. There are docks on both sides…
Heritage
Chutes du Moulin and North Nation Mills
PlaisanceFalls of more than 35 metres on the Petite Nation and, all around them, traces of North Nation Mills, the mill village that kicked off the region's…
IllustrationHeritage
Mont-Salettin
Notre-Dame-de-la-SaletteAbout 200 steps up to a cross that lights up at night, with a view over the village and Route 309. A place for quiet and memory, in a village marked…
IllustrationTrail
Montebello Vélo de Montagne
Montebello30 km of trail on Papineau's old seigneury land, with Ottawa River views, a cave to ride through and century-old pines. You start at the Château…
IllustrationPark
Parc de l'Amitié (mini-golf de Lac-Simon)
Lac-SimonAn 18-hole mini-putt and a handful of courts. Good for after the beach, when the kids still have energy to burn.
IllustrationPark
Parc des Montagnes Noires de Ripon
Ripon800 acres of hills above Ripon. Hike up Mont Grand-Pic, 426 metres, climb the tower, and you get a full 360. On a clear day you can see Tremblant.
IllustrationPark
Parc Joseph-Roy
Saint-Émile-de-SuffolkThe village park: a bit of everything, from tennis in summer to skating in winter.
IllustrationPark
Parc national de Plaisance
PlaisanceBays, marshes and little peninsulas along the Ottawa River. Thousands of Canada geese stop here in spring, and in summer it's flat, easy cycling and…
Attraction
Parc Oméga
Notre-Dame-de-BonsecoursThe drive-through safari: moose, elk, bison, wolves and bears along a 10 km road. Open all year.
IllustrationTrail
Parc récréatif de la Maskinongé
Lac-des-PlagesClose to 20 km of trails starting next to the cemetery, for walking or riding in summer and skiing in winter. Free, dogs welcome.
IllustrationPark
Parc régional de la Forêt Bowman
BowmanCliffs, old forest and a loop called Panorama that looks out over the Lièvre and four lakes. Climbers come for the wall. In February there's a…
IllustrationTrail
Parcours Louis-Joseph-Papineau
Saint-André-AvellinAbout ten kilometres of stone-dust trail out to Saint-Sixte, through woods and open fields, with two lookouts. In winter, extra loops bring it to 25…
IllustrationTrail
Piste cyclable familiale de Duhamel
DuhamelAn easy 10 km on the old Singer railway bed between Lac Simon and Lac Gagnon. The town even lends out bikes.
IllustrationTrail
Piste du parc national, secteur Thurso
ThursoOne of the national park's entrances is in Thurso. From there it's 21 km of riding along the Ottawa River, with turtles, groundhogs and a lot of…
IllustrationPark
Réserve écologique de la Forêt-la-Blanche
MayoOne of the last old-growth forests in southern Québec, with trees over 400 years old. Leave the dog at home: it's an ecological reserve and dogs…
IllustrationZEC & reserve
Réserve faunique de Papineau-Labelle
Hors MRCQuébec's southernmost wildlife reserve, with more than 760 lakes. Day fishing for brook trout, lake trout and walleye, and quota hunts for moose and…
IllustrationPark
SAJO (Service d'animation jeunesse de l'Outaouais)
Saint-SixteA youth organization with 250 acres of woods, two lookouts and a lake. You can get there along the Louis-Joseph-Papineau trail, and its four cabins…
IllustrationTrail
Sentier de l'Albatros (Sentier national)
Val-des-Bois19.5 km of National Trail between the village and Lac Écho in the wildlife reserve. About a kilometre from the end you get two big views over…
IllustrationTrail
Sentier de raquette de Saint-Émile-de-Suffolk
Saint-Émile-de-SuffolkThree gentle kilometres of snowshoe trail at the edge of the village. Start across from the Dome.
IllustrationTrail
Sentier du Lièvre
Val-des-BoisAn easy walk through a pine stand along the Lièvre, made for families. There's a free all-terrain wheelchair to borrow, and an outdoor art walk…
IllustrationTrail
Sentier national Iroquois
DuhamelAlong the Iroquois River, with wooden bridges, a cave and falls where logs once came down the chute. The loop comes back to the village on the old…
IllustrationHeritage
Singer Trail
ThursoAlong the old Thurso & Nation Valley Railway bed, a Singer subsidiary: panels and archive photos on a century of history (1925–2025), plus eight…
IllustrationTrail
Sentiers Allons au bois (montagne Roy)
ChénévilleThree kilometres behind Robert-Latour park, up to a lookout over the village. The view is best in November once the leaves are down. In winter…
IllustrationTrail
Sentiers des Pères Montfortains
PapineauvilleTrails laid out by the Montfort Fathers last century, right behind the high school. You'll pass what's left of a grotto to the Virgin Mary. In…
IllustrationLake
Site récréotouristique du lac Croche
MontpellierA stocked lake 14 km from Montpellier with a wood-heated shelter. Better yet, trout fishing stays open in winter here, December 20 to March 31.
Illustration
IllustrationIllustrationPark
Forêt ancienne du Lac-Gagnon
Duhamel58 hectares of old hemlocks near Lac Gagnon, protected since 2002.
IllustrationPark
Halte routière du chemin du Lac-Grosleau
RiponA riverside rest stop on the Petite-Nation, made for picnics. Stop at the public market first and stock up.
IllustrationLake
Lac des Étoiles (île du Canard Blanc)
Lac-SimonA small lake hidden on White Duck Island, said to be a meteorite crater. Get there by boat, then walk in on the Sentier de l'Aube.
IllustrationPark
Parc Caracole
NamurWhere Namur's kids go to burn off energy, not far from the Jardin de la relève.
IllustrationPark
Parc Jean-Paul « Mike » Parisien (jeux d'eau)
PapineauvilleThe village splash pad, for cooling the kids down on hot days.
IllustrationPark
Parc municipal de Boileau
BoileauA quiet stop in Boileau, for the view of the hills around. The Maskinongé River runs close by.
IllustrationPark
Parc municipal de Lac-des-Plages (bateau de pirate et pump track)
Lac-des-PlagesKids head straight for the pirate ship. The bigger ones go lap the pump track behind town hall.
Events
Outdoors
Bowman Forest Torchlight Walk
BowmanA Saturday evening in late February · 2027 dates to be announcedA walk by torchlight to the Cèdre shelter, with a bonfire waiting at the end. 2026 was the 8th year. Simple, pretty, and fine for kids.