The 12 best hikes in La Petite-Nation

Let's be honest: La Petite-Nation doesn't have a big Tremblant-style mountain. That's fine. What it has is hills that climb just enough, waterfalls all along the river, old-growth forest nobody ever logged, and two stretches of the Sentier national kept up by volunteers. Plenty to walk all fall without repeating a trail.

Here are our twelve favourites, roughly from the one you'll brag about to the one you can do with a toddler. One warning first: October and November are hunting season, and several trails close in part. We flag them as we go.

1. Mont Grand-Pic, Parc des Montagnes Noires, Ripon

Our number one, and not only for the view. The Parc des Montagnes Noires covers 800 acres of hills above Ripon. You climb Mont Grand-Pic, 426 metres, then the stairs of a 12-metre observation tower. From the top you get the full 360. On a clear day you can pick out Tremblant.

Parking is paid, the park is open daily, and dogs are allowed.

2. The Panorama loop, Forêt Bowman

Cliffs, old trees and a view over the Lièvre River and four lakes: Escalier, Desjardins, du Brochet, with the river below. The Panorama loop is rated intermediate. With small kids, La Bagnole and L'Ange are shorter. Trail lengths don't match from one source to the next, so check the map on the park's website before you go. Dogs are welcome, and climbers come for the rock wall.

3. Forêt-la-Blanche, for the 400-year-old trees

One of the last old-growth forests in southern Québec. The ecological reserve covers 2,052 hectares, with about 12.5 km of rustic trail open year-round and 33 signs explaining what you're looking at. Some trees are more than 400 years old.

Two things to know. There's an entry fee with online tickets, and the published prices don't agree, so check their site for this season's rates. And leave the dog at home: it's an ecological reserve and dogs aren't allowed, even on a leash. No bikes either.

4. Plaisance falls

Short, paid, worth it. A 2 km return walk to the lookout, signs about North Nation Mills, the old mill village, and the Petite Nation River dropping more than 35 metres. Sépaq has run the site since May 2024. When we last checked it was $8.50 for adults, free for 17 and under, and included if you've already paid for the national park. Dogs on leash.

5. La Route des Zingues, Duhamel

For when you want to sweat. This section of the Sentier national, certified in 2011, runs from the south beach of Lac Gagnon up to Lac Marie-Lefranc. Along the way: Mont Kajakokanak, the Trou-Malin pass, the Rocher de Sisyphe, and a cable raft to pull yourself across the Preston River. Intermediate to difficult, with several loops so you can pick your distance.

Two rules: no dogs in Parc Pimatina (P1, the Julie trail), and sections P3 to P8 close during big-game season unless you hold the reserve's permit.

6. Sentier national Iroquois, Duhamel

The gentler option. Easy to moderate, it follows the Iroquois River over wooden bridges, past the Jack Wapic cave and a waterfall where logs used to slide down during the drives, with a view of Lac de la Ferme. The loop comes back to the village on the old Singer railway bed. Start at the chemin des Lacs parking lot. Dogs allowed.

7. Sentier de l'Albatros, Val-des-Bois

19.5 km one way, from the village to Lac Écho inside the Papineau-Labelle reserve, by way of the Blanchard shelter and Lac des Feuilles. About 250 metres of climbing, intermediate. They save the best for last: one kilometre before Lac Écho, two lookouts over Val-des-Bois. Free, dogs on leash. It closes during deer season and isn't recommended during spring thaw. Leave a second car at the far end.

8. Lac Croche, Montpellier

Over 30 km of trail, 14 km out of the village on chemin de la Baie-de-l'Ours, with a link to the Lac Mulet shelter. The real draw is the wood-heated pavilion at the end of the road. Pack a lunch. ATV riders stop in too, so expect some chatting.

9. Parc récréatif de la Maskinongé, Lac-des-Plages

Close to 20 km of trail starting on rue de l'Église, next to the cemetery. Free, dogs welcome, rarely busy. Hike it in summer, ski it in winter.

10. Allons au bois, Chénéville

Three kilometres behind Robert-Latour park, up to a lookout over the village. Free, dogs on leash. Small secret: the view is better in November, once the leaves are down. Afterwards, Boulangerie Nouvelle-France is right in the village. Full disclosure: we're regulars.

11. Sentier du Lièvre, Val-des-Bois

The easiest on the list and one of the most accessible. Loops from 0.8 to 4 km through a pine stand on the Lièvre, starting at the community centre. The town lends out a Hippocampe all-terrain wheelchair for free if you book ahead. The eight artworks of the "L'énergie de la Lièvre" route are right next door.

12. The Montfort Fathers' trails, Papineauville

Right behind Louis-Joseph-Papineau high school, trails cut by the Montfort Fathers last century. You'll pass what's left of a grotto to the Virgin. Free, dogs allowed, park at the community centre. In winter it turns into 8.5 km of groomed ski and snowshoe trail.

Bonus round

• Mont-Salettin, Notre-Dame-de-la-Salette: about 200 steps up to a cross that lights up at night. Short, but you'll feel it.
• Parcours Louis-Joseph-Papineau, Saint-André-Avellin: about ten kilometres of stone dust to Saint-Sixte, with two lookouts. The Saint-Sixte end closes during big-game season.
• Papineau-Labelle wildlife reserve: more than 60 km of trail from the Gagnon welcome centre, May to October, outside hunting periods.

Heading out in October or November? Call the town or check the trail's website first. Hunting closures shift from year to year, and it's no fun driving to a trailhead for nothing.

The map

Every hiking trail in our directory, in one place:

Chasing leaves instead? We wrote a whole guide to fall colours. And for winter, here's where to ski and snowshoe.

RiponBowmanMayoPlaisanceDuhamelVal-des-BoisMontpellierLac-des-PlagesChénévilleSaint-André-AvellinPapineauvilleNotre-Dame-de-la-Salette

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