Our perfect summer day in La Petite-Nation, from market to beach
Ripon's Saturday market, a Chénéville picnic, a lifeguarded beach on Lac Simon, mini-golf, the lookout at golden hour and soft serve to finish the day.
Guide
Lakes, beaches & boat launches
People come here for the lakes. Here are the public beaches and boat launches, so you can swim without knowing someone with a cottage.
Lake associations, the volunteers keeping our water clear
Kayak sentinels on Lac Gagnon, water samples on Lac des Plages, an old guard on Viceroy since 1973. Who watches over our lakes, and how cottagers can pitch in.
20 things to do with kids in La Petite-Nation
Bison outside the car window, a pirate ship, splash pads, trout in Lac Vert and sled dogs. Twenty ideas to keep the kids busy in La Petite-Nation, summer and winter.
The La Petite-Nation campground guide
Over 370 sites behind a 2 km beach, 22 no-hookup sites in the woods, yurts on the Ottawa River. Every campground in La Petite-Nation, sorted by the kind of trip you want.
Where to canoe and kayak in La Petite-Nation
Plaisance's marshes between the water lilies, an ochre-painted rock on Lac Simon, the Lièvre between two dams. Where to paddle in La Petite-Nation, and where to rent a boat.
Boat launches and marinas in La Petite-Nation, ramp by ramp
Lac Simon for $10 with a mandatory wash, the Ottawa River for free in Papineauville, the Lièvre from Val-des-Bois. Where to back in, what it costs and what to know first.
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Aquaventure Petite-Nation
Saint-André-AvellinRiverside outdoor base offering canoe, kayak and paddleboard lessons, with lodging on site.
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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.
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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.
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Camping au Lac Schryer
MontpellierSeasonal and overnight sites with a lake view, fishing and a beach on site.
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Camping au Petit Lac-Simon
Saint-André-AvellinBig family campground with 291 sites, a beach, pool, water slide and splash pad.
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Camping Haut-des-Côtes
Chénéville127 sites on 98 acres with its own lake, and the ATV trails start right from the campground.
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Camping La Pinède
Lac-SimonTall pines, a fine-sand beach, trails and even a mini farm for the kids.
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Camping Lac des Plages
Lac-des-Plages191 sites, 70 of them for overnighters, with a private beach and pool. From May to October, propane and a food truck on site.
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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.
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Camping Paris
Val-des-BoisA campground on the Lièvre River with full hookups, May to September.
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Camping Royal Papineau
Notre-Dame-de-la-SaletteA 326-site campground on Lac de l'Argile with ready-to-camp units, a beach, a pool and the golf course next door. May to mid-October.
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Camping Saint-André-Avellin
Saint-André-AvellinCampground right in the village on the Petite Nation River, with a pool, splash pad, mini golf and canoe, kayak and paddleboard rentals, no booking…
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Camping Thom
BowmanCampground and RV park on Route 307 with power, water and sewer. Mid-May to mid-September.
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Camping Val-des-Bois
Val-des-BoisA big family campground with a beach, splash pad, fishing and ready-to-camp units. 250-plus sites, May to September.
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Centre nautique Lac Simon
ChénévilleLac Simon marina with docking, fuel, and rentals of pontoons, motor boats, fishing boats, kayaks and pedal boats.
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Centre nautique Lac Simon
Lac-SimonThe Lac Simon marina: fill up, rent a pontoon for the day, and leave your boat there for the winter.
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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…
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Chalets aux Crocollines
Lac-SimonSix cottages named after birds, with 150 feet of private beach on Lac Simon.
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Chalets Colibri
DuhamelCottages on Lac Gagnon facing a big, gently sloping beach that suits small kids.
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Chez les Beaudette
Lac-des-PlagesThree-bedroom cottage right on Lac des Plages, in a bay with a gently sloping sand beach. Kayaks, pedal boat and canoe included.
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Débarcadère de la rivière du Lièvre
Val-des-BoisThe ramp onto the Lièvre in Val-des-Bois. A free boat-washing station is right nearby on chemin Legris.
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Débarcadère du lac de l'Argile
Val-des-BoisThe Lac de l'Argile ramp, for lake trout, bass and pike.
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Débarcadère du lac Vert
Val-des-BoisA small ramp for canoes, kayaks and pedal boats on Lac Vert. No gas motors.
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Domaine du Lac-des-Plages
Lac-des-PlagesTwelve two- to four-bedroom cottages lined up on a private sand beach, with a shallow swimming area for kids.
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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.
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Échappée Bleue
RiponStand-up paddleboard lessons and guided outings, mostly around Ripon on Lac Viceroy and the Petite Nation River. They go out summer and winter on…
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Fassett Marine
FassettBoat sales and rentals on the Ottawa River, storage and winterizing, plus lofts for rent.
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Lac Blais
MontpellierA stone's throw from Lac Croche and known for its wind. Unlike Croche, it closes to fishing on December 20.
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Lac Britannique
Mulgrave-et-DerrySouth end of Mulgrave-et-Derry. Closed in winter, like most lakes around here.
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Lac de l'Argile
Val-des-BoisA lake shared by Val-des-Bois and Notre-Dame-de-la-Salette. Lake trout, bass, pike and bullhead, with lake trout protected at 55 cm. Fishing wraps…
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Lac de la Carpe
Lac-des-PlagesNorth of Lac-des-Plages. Summer fishing only: the season closes December 19.
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Lac de la Ferme (pêche blanche)
DuhamelTwo kilometres south of the village, and one of the few lakes around where you can ice fish for brook trout. Bring folding chairs; the log shelter…
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Lac des Plages
Lac-des-PlagesThe lake that shares the village's name. It's on the list of lakes closed to fishing from December 20 to March 31.
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Lake
Lac Gagnon
DuhamelNorth of Duhamel, right at the wildlife reserve's door. Same deal as Lac Simon: lake trout 55 cm minimum, closed from December 20.
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Lac Iroquois
DuhamelNorthwest of Duhamel village. Closed December 20 to March 31, so this one's a boat lake, not an ice lake.
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Lac la Rouge
Lac-des-PlagesA Lac-des-Plages lake under zone 10's special rules: closed in winter.
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Lac Lady
Mulgrave-et-DerryAnother Mulgrave-et-Derry lake on the exceptions list: no winter fishing.
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Lac Mulet
MontpellierLinked to Lac Croche by trail. Unusual for the area, trout stays open here through the winter.
Lake
Lac Papineau
BoileauA lake trout lake the province watches closely: 55 cm minimum, and no winter fishing. Rainbow trout stocking stopped in 2019 to give the lake trout…
Lake
Lac Preston (Réserve faunique de Papineau-Labelle)
DuhamelA 770-hectare lake inside the reserve, open for day fishing through the Gagnon check-in. Lake trout and walleye in spring, with bass added from June…
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Lac Saint-Sixte
Mulgrave-et-DerryBetween Mulgrave-et-Derry and Montpellier. The season stops December 19.
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Lac Simon
Lac-SimonThe big lake of La Petite-Nation. Lake trout here has a 55 cm minimum size, and the season shuts on December 20, so no ice fishing on Simon.
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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…
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Lac Vert
Val-des-BoisThe little lake right in Val-des-Bois village. Stocked every year, no gas motors, and open for trout summer and winter.
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Lac Viceroy
RiponBetween Ripon and Lac-Simon. Lake trout 55 cm minimum, and the season ends December 19.
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LaLièvre Nature, camping du lac La Blanche
Mulgrave-et-Derry22 rustic, no-hookup sites in private forest with water access for canoeing and fishing. Bring everything.
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Location Sport Duhamel
DuhamelPontoon, power boat, canoe and kayak rentals on the beach next to the Lac-Simon Sépaq resort.
Campground
Marina-Camping de Montebello
MontebelloA municipal campground with room for about thirty campers on the Ottawa River, beside the marina.
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Marina du Château Montebello
MontebelloThe Fairmont's marina on the Ottawa River. The hotel also rents kayaks, canoes and SUPs.
Marina
Marina et camping de Montebello
MontebelloTown marina on the Ottawa with 58 boat slips and a small campground. Power and water at the docks.
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Marina municipale de Papineauville
PapineauvilleThe town marina on the Ottawa River. Call the town hall for slips and rates.
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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…
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Petit lac Preston
DuhamelA small Duhamel lake with big-lake rules: lake trout 55 cm minimum, closed in winter.
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Plage municipale de Lac-Simon
Lac-SimonThe village beach, with three lifeguards from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. and free parking. The self-serve kayaks and boards are booked from your phone.
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Pourvoirie de la Lièvre
BowmanCabins on the Lièvre with a boat ramp and game storage. Walleye, pike and bass in the river, and dogs are welcome at no charge.
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Quai de pêche de Thurso
ThursoA dock put in just for anglers, near the ferry. Cast into the Ottawa without needing a boat.
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Quai public de Papineauville
PapineauvilleFree launch onto the Ottawa River. The easiest spot to drop a boat in at the south end of the MRC.
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Quai public et débarcadère du lac Simon
Lac-SimonLac-Simon's municipal launch. Boat washing is mandatory before every launch, at the station at 105 chemin du Parc.
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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…
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Réserve faunique de Papineau-Labelle, accueil Gagnon
DuhamelThe reserve's northern gateway, at the end of chemin du Lac-Gagnon. This is where you check in to fish Preston, Montjoie or Marie-Le Franc.
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Rivière de la Petite Nation et rivière Preston (Duhamel)
DuhamelCheck before you cast in Duhamel: two stretches of river, on the Petite Nation and the Preston near the Route 321 bridge, are closed to fishing all…
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Rivière du Lièvre (secteur Val-des-Bois)
Val-des-BoisThe Lièvre means bass, walleye and even muskie. From Val-des-Bois you can run the river between the Rapides-des-Cèdres and High Falls dams.
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Rocher Manitou
Lac-SimonOn the west shore, a rock sacred to the Algonquin, with red ochre paintings. You see it from the water. Look, don't touch.
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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.
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Débarcadère public de Papineauville
PapineauvilleThe town's boat launch onto the Ottawa River is free. Handy for a fishing run or a paddle.
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Descente de bateau de la rivière du Lièvre
Notre-Dame-de-la-SaletteA launch onto the Lièvre along Route 309 in Notre-Dame-de-la-Salette.
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Descente de bateau du chemin de la Grande-Baie
DuhamelA municipal boat launch north of Duhamel, shown on the regional map. Check the sticker and access rules with the town before you go.
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Descente de bateaux de Thurso
ThursoThurso's public ramp onto the Ottawa River. The national park's marshes are right next door.
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Lac de l'Argile
Notre-Dame-de-la-SaletteThe lake gets its name from its clay bottom. Camping, a beach and fishing a few minutes from the village.
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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.
Lake
Lac La Blanche
Mulgrave-et-DerryThe best known of Mulgrave-et-Derry's 130-odd lakes. Its east shore belongs to the protected old-growth forest.
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Natur Yoga
MontpellierYoga that actually happens outside: on a paddleboard in summer, in the snow in winter. Léna runs group classes, paddle outings and two-hour private…
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Quai et descente de bateaux de Fassett
FassettA boat launch onto the Ottawa at the end of rue Millette, on the regional launch map.
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Quai et descente de bateaux de la route 307
BowmanDock and launch along Route 307 on the Bowman side.
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Quai municipal de Fassett
FassettA free dock for boaters. Tie up, grab a poutine in the village, head back out.
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Rampe de mise à l'eau du lac au Loup
BoileauTown ramp on Lac au Loup in Boileau. Check with the municipality for access conditions.
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Rampe de mise à l'eau du lac du Poisson Blanc
BowmanBowman's way onto the Poisson Blanc reservoir: a ramp, a dock, and the whole regional park's water in front of you.
Events
Sports
Lac Simon Crossing
DuhamelEarly August, a Saturday · 2027 dates to be announcedAn 11.5 km open-water swim from the Sépaq beach in Duhamel to the Lac-Simon beach, plus 500 m, 2 km and 4 km races and a family relay. It…
Sports
Petite-monnaie Triathlon
RiponLate August, a Sunday · 2027 dates to be announcedA sprint triathlon: 800 m swim in Lac Viceroy, 20 km bike through Ripon's back roads, 5 km run. Solo or as a team. Proceeds go to the…