Winter in La Petite-Nation, from cross-country skis to snowmobiles
Free ski trails behind the high school, 40 km groomed by volunteers for $15, hundreds of kilometres of snowmobile and ATV trail. Your winter guide, club by club.
Guide
Winter: ski, snowshoe, snowmobile
When the lakes freeze, the region doesn’t go to sleep. Snowmobile trails open and the ice-fishing shacks come out.
Christmas markets and holiday events in La Petite-Nation
A parade of lit-up tractors, a pine forest full of lights in Ripon, Montebello's European-style market and turkey bingo. Our guide to November and December.
Ice fishing in La Petite-Nation, where you can and where you can't
No, you can't drill Lac Simon in January. The four lakes where trout stays open all winter, Duhamel's turnkey package and the rules to know before you pack the auger.
Winter carnivals and festivals in La Petite-Nation
Pancakes served by the town council, a glowing igloo, a torchlit walk to a bonfire and 160 km of cross-country skiing. In La Petite-Nation, winter gets celebrated outside.
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.
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.
IllustrationArena & sports
Aréna Guy-Lafleur
ThursoThe first covered arena in the Outaouais, built in 1948, where Guy Lafleur learned to skate. Free public skating, minor hockey and figure skating.
IllustrationSnowmobile club
Association des motoneigistes de l'Outaouais (794-13)
Hors MRC195 km of trail from Gatineau up to Val-des-Bois. This is the network that gets you from the city up to the Lièvre.
IllustrationSnowmobile club
Association des motoneigistes de la Vallée de la Nation
ChénévilleThe volunteers who've kept up 130 km of trail since 1975, from Montebello to north of Duhamel. Riders coming from Ontario cross the Ottawa River on…
IllustrationLodging
Auberge et Club de golf Héritage
Notre-Dame-de-la-PaixYear-round pine log inn with 30 air-conditioned rooms, four of them apartments, reception halls and an 18-hole course.
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.
IllustrationService
Biffrentals Aventure
DuhamelSea-Doo rentals on Lac Simon from mid-June to September, and guided side-by-side tours 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…
IllustrationAttraction
Gatineau Sled Dogs
Saint-SixteDogsled outings in the Saint-Sixte river valley, summer and winter, pulled by Seppala Siberians, a heritage breed.
IllustrationSnowmobile club
Club de motoneiges Les Maraudeurs (13-760)
Duhamel150 km of mostly forest trail between Duhamel, Lac-des-Plages and La Minerve. Keep an eye out, deer cross all the time.
IllustrationSnowmobile club
Hill and Gully Riders
Mulgrave-et-Derry155 km of trail and a clubhouse north of Lac La Blanche, open weekends, where you can gas up and warm up before heading back out.
IllustrationATV club
Club Quad de l'Outaouais
Hors MRCThe ATV club for the west side of the MRC, La Salette to Bowman: 90 km and two heated shelters. Check their site for trail conditions.
IllustrationATV club
Club Quad Petite-Nation
PlaisanceThe club behind most of the ATV network in Petite-Nation, more than 315 km of trails. You can start near the Ottawa River and ride all the way up to…
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.
IllustrationArena & sports
Dôme de Saint-Émile-de-Suffolk (patinoire)
Saint-Émile-de-SuffolkIts dome keeps the sun off the ice, so it's often the first outdoor rink in the area to open.
IllustrationLodging
En Piste / Trailside Cabins
Lac-des-PlagesRenovated village buildings, including the old 1886 post office, plus cabins by the municipal park, right on the trails.
IllustrationShop
La Destination de Noël
RiponA Christmas shop open all year, with vintage and rustic décor made with local artisans. Christmas market in November.
IllustrationAttraction
La Meute du Wendigo
Lac-des-PlagesDog sledding, bush-survival lessons and a night in a rustic shelter. By appointment.
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…
IllustrationLake
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…
IllustrationLake
Lac Mulet
MontpellierLinked to Lac Croche by trail. Unusual for the area, trout stays open here through the winter.
IllustrationLake
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.
IllustrationFarm
Les sapins du rang Ste-Madeleine
Saint-André-AvellinPick your own balsam fir at the farm and have a hot chocolate by the fire. A December tradition for plenty of families.
IllustrationAttraction
Meute Tanwen, traîneaux à chiens
MontpellierA small family outfit where you drive your own team. Night rides and overnight trips in the woods if you're up for it.
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…
IllustrationGarage
Motosport Petite Nation
ThursoPowersports dealer in Thurso for ATVs, snowmobiles and bikes, with service and parts.
IllustrationAttraction
Observation des cerfs de Virginie à Duhamel
DuhamelIn winter, deer wander right through the village. Mornings or around 4 p.m. are your best bet. Slow down when you drive.
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.
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…
IllustrationArena & sports
Patinoire de Montebello
MontebelloAn outdoor rink with a roof over it, built thanks to a big community fundraising push. Even in freezing rain, you can skate.
IllustrationOutfitter
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.
IllustrationOutfitter
Pourvoirie Légendes des Bois
DuhamelAn exclusive-rights outfitter north of Duhamel, open all year. Trout in summer, ice fishing in winter, and deer, moose and bear come fall.
IllustrationIllustrationLodging
Refuge Boréal
MontpellierRenovated motel in the village with a big lot for trailers and direct access to snowmobile and ATV trails.
IllustrationRestaurant
Rendez-vous du chevreuil
DuhamelSmall chalet-style restaurant in the village serving Canadian comfort food. In winter you can watch deer and wild turkeys out the window. Closed…
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…
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…
IllustrationArena & sports
Sentier de patin en forêt de Lac-Simon
Lac-SimonAn ice trail winding through the woods, lit up at night, with a sliding hill next to it and a heated hut for lacing up.
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…
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…
IllustrationSki & snowshoe
Sentiers de ski de fond et de raquette de Lac-Simon
Lac-Simon16 km of ski and snowshoe trail on private land that owners open up for the winter. Stay on the trails, that's what keeps them open.
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.
IllustrationArena & sports
Complexe Whissell (aréna de Saint-André-Avellin)
Saint-André-AvellinSaint-André-Avellin's municipal complex holds the arena, a hall, the library and the municipal offices. OpenStreetMap calls the rink the…
IllustrationGrocery
Marché des Plages
Lac-des-PlagesThe village general store with an SAQ outlet, serving cottagers and snowmobilers.
IllustrationArena & sports
Patinoire Éric-Trépanier
FassettThe village rink, with tennis, pickleball and pétanque for the warmer months.
Events
Sports
Canadian Ski Marathon
MontebelloFebruary 5–7, 2027Classic cross-country skiing over 15 to 160 km on trails groomed for the weekend. The 2027 edition is being planned around Montebello.…
Sports
Montebello Fatbike Festival
MontebelloFebruary 26–28, 2027Three days of fat biking on the Montebello Vélo de Montagne trails, starting from the Château. The big one is the Fat Papineau challenge…
Festival
Ripon Winter Carnival
RiponMid-February, one weekend · 2027 dates to be announcedThree days that get the whole village out. Supper and a show at the market Friday, a parade and spaghetti supper Saturday, then free…
Festival
Thurso Winter Carnival
ThursoLate February, run by the Knights of Columbus · 2027 dates to be announcedThurso's winter carnival, put on by the local Knights of Columbus. The lineup goes up on the event's Facebook page a few weeks ahead.
Community
Lac-Simon Winter Party
Lac-SimonA Saturday in February · 2027 dates to be announcedSkating and sliding to music, a lit-up igloo, a DJ and fireworks to close. Free hot chocolate, coffee and popcorn. No alcohol sold on…
Outdoors
Kids' Ice Fishing Day at Lac Croche
MontpellierA Saturday in February, from 8 a.m. · 2027 dates to be announcedAn ice-fishing morning to get kids hooked, run by Montpellier with Chénéville and Lac-Simon. Free permits for ages 6 to 17, a free hot-dog…