Ditch postcard clichés and the tour bus hordes. If you want real Quebec, the kind that whispers stories of voyageurs and maple syrup simmering in sugar shacks, you’ve got to get out of the city. A Quebec winter road trip through Lanaudière and Mauricie? That’s where the magic happens.
Quebec winters. Say the words and images of the cobblestone streets of old Quebec City dusted with snow will drift through your mind. Perhaps your imagination will take you on a date with your amour, clasping steaming mugs of chocolat chaud after a day of skiing the slopes of Mont Tremblant. Or the adventurous types might dream of a wildlife safari through the Boreal Forest followed by a night at one of Parc Omega’s wolf cabins.
Those dreamy spots are the first places to jump to mind for good reason. They’re famous. They’re where the tourists go. You may even have their brochures lying next to you right now. But if you’re looking for something more, something deeper, the kind of winter experience that sticks to your ribs like a bowl of hearty tourtière, then you need to get away from the crowds.
This winter, my family and I were craving something real. No crowded tourist traps, a proper, authentic Quebec experience. We had a craving for raw wilderness, cozy cabins hidden in the woods, and a food scene that was as unpretentious as it was mouth-watering. Instead of going to the popular spots, we did what any self-respecting travelers with a solid sense of adventure would do: we went where the locals go. To the region’s of Lanaudière and Mauricie. This area, just east of Montreal, stretching north from the city or Trois-Rivières, on the ice-covered St. Lawrence River, aren’t just regions on a map; they’re gateways to the authentic Quebec.
And for four glorious days, we hiked, snowshoed, snowtubed, and basically rediscovered the joy of winter. This was more than a winter vacation; it was an immersion into Quebec culture. And it was exactly what we needed. Below, I’ve laid out our itinerary for one of the best Quebec winter road trips you can hope for.
Where Is Lanaudiere and Maurcie
The regions of Lanaudière and Mauricie, Quebec, are, in my opinion, at least, Quebec’s wild heart. These sprawling stretches of rolling hills, dense forests, and frozen lakes lie just a stone’s throw from the noisy streets of Montreal, but they feel like a world away.
Their accessible location and remote feel make them the perfect winter long weekend or spring break escape without having to dedicate days just to travel time. Leave the crowds behind, and within a couple of hours, you’re knee-deep in snow, breathing fresh winter air that’ll scrub your lungs clean.
Beyond it’s ease-of-access, though, it’s the outdoors that truly makes these regions special. Strapping on snowshoes and exploring the quiet trails for La Mauricie National Park, visiting resident elk at an outdoor adventure resort, or ripping through the trails of one of Canada’s greatest snowmobile networks. Lanaudière and Mauricie deliver proper Canadian winters with gusto.
The best part? You don’t have to fight for a spot on the trail or beg for a reservation at a local restaurant. Lanaudière and Mauricie offer an intimate connection with Quebec’s ample nature and a chance for families to slow down and appreciate the simple pleasures of winter travel. The crunch of snow, the smell of woodfires burning, and the rays of sunshine sparkling off of a frozen waterfall. It’s a reminder that winter is magical, not just something that we need to grind through.
Our Quebec Winter Road Trip Itinerary
So, how did my family launch our epic journey through this winter wonderland? Well, I mapped out a four-day road trip itinerary aimed at balancing the rural charms of small-town Quebec with a healthy dose of raw wilderness and untamed outdoors.
This is my personal sample platter of the best things to do in Lanaudière and Mauricie. It took us from the skies of Trois-Rivières to heart-stopping viewpoints in La Mauricie National Park. We skated for hours on frozen trails, snowshoed into the clouds overlooking snow-draped forests, and braved the hills of one of Quebec’s most legendary tubing hills.
Each night, we sipped wine and hot chocolate in cozy cabins, dined on classic Quebecois fare, and relaxed in steaming hot tubs as snowflakes dusted our hair. Our Quebec winter road trip through Lanaudière and Mauricie wasn’t just ticking off places to see. It was a chance for us to reconnect and create memories. And if you’re looking for that kind of inspiration for your own authentic family winter escape in Quebec, come on along for the ride.
This may be our story, but it’s a chance for you to write your own.
Day 1: Trois-Rivières – Where History Takes Flight
Trois-Rivières. Here’s a city that knows how to wear its past on its sleeve. Founded in 1634, it’s the second-oldest French speaking city in North America, and trust me, it’s got the stories to prove it. Cobblestone streets, centuries-old buildings, a waterfront that’s known the tales of fur traders and explorers… this place oozes history from every pore.
But don’t get the wrong idea; Trois-Rivières isn’t stuck in the past. There’s a energy here, a modern pulse that beats alongside the echoes of bygone eras. And that’s what makes it so captivating. We’d already wandered these historic streets during a road trip back from Havre St. Pierre and the Mingan Archipelago, so this time, we were looking for a new perspective. A bird’s-eye view, if you will. Because sometimes, the best way to appreciate a place is to see it from above, to grasp its full scale and beauty. So we headed to the Hydravion hangar at Trois-Rivières airport.
Hydravion offers year-round flightseeing adventures from their private hangar on the edge of town. We boarded one of their brand-new float planes and took to the skies, getting incredible views, not just of Trois-Rivières, but glimpses of Montreal and the vast wilderness of Lanaudière and Mauricie. For 90 minutes, we followed the Saint Maurice River past dams, snowmobile trails, and forests, learning about the history of the region and getting our bearings for the rest of our road trip.
We were floored by how much wilderness lay just outside of town, the forests, rivers, and wilds seemed to stretch out for eternity, and for the next few days, they’d be ours to explore.
Lunch at Mezcal
When we were wheels down back at the Trois-Rivières airport, hunger hit us hard. Our time in the air worked up an appetite, and it was time for some serious refueling. My friend Karine, a Quebec native who joined us on our flightseeing adventure, knew just the spot: Mezcal Taqueria.
Now, don’t get me wrong, I love traditional Quebecois fare. Poutine and tourtière are never a bad idea anywhere in the province. But Quebec’s culinary landscape is a cultural melting pot. It’s a proud statement to the province’s long history of welcoming people from all over the world. And in Trois-Rivières, we found a little slice of Mexico, bursting with flavor. Mezcal was a hole-in-the-wall kind of place, the kind that locals swear by.
We tucked into tacos, tartars, and a mountain of nachos that would make any self-respecting Mexican Abuela proud. Each bite was a fiesta of flavor, a reminder that even in the heart of winter, life in Quebec knows how to spice things up.
A Skating Trail That Never Ends
Skating for my family, this sport isn’t just a pastime; it’s a way of life. My boys and I, we’re ice addicts. Hockey games in our hometown of Brampton, Ontario, Wednesday night beer league shenanigans… hockey, and skating take up entirely too much of our time. But even our Ontario skating trails, with their respectable kilometer-and-a-half stretches of ice, couldn’t prepare us for what awaited us in the region of Mauricie. Domaine Enchanteur. The name itself sounds like something out of a fairytale. And it felt like it, too.
Compared to what we expected from this quiet region of Quebec, the parking lot was a zoo. School buses overflowing with kids, Montrealers escaping the city, locals bundled up in their finest winter gear… it was a scene. But once we laced up and hit the ice, it was pure magic. The crowds slipped away behind us, and we soon had an entire forest to ourselves.
Domaine Enchanteur doesn’t mess around. They didn’t settle for a short one-kilometer sprint; these trails wind through the forest for a whopping fifteen kilometers. Fifteen! It’s like the ice skating version of Narnia, only with more poutine.
Christina, my lovely Filipina wife, isn’t quite the skating enthusiast that we are. So while the boys and I were carving up the ice trails, she explored the grounds. She tasted the local honey from the on-site apiary, sampled the obligatory poutine at the casse-croute, and made friends with the resident elk, llamas, and emus that sat in pens throughout the property.
As for us? We were lost in a world of frozen wonder. Converging trails, hidden glades, warming huts that smelled of woodsmoke and maple syrup… it was paradise. Hours melted away like snowflakes on a warm tongue. Eventually, Christina managed to wrangle us, prying us off the ice with promises of more adventures to come.
For those witha little more time on their hands, these trails light up at dusk, sunny trails make way for illuminated paths and twinkling lights, transforming the forest into a scene straight out of a Disney movie. Skating, snowshoeing, sleigh rides, even a petting zoo… this place has it all. It’s the kind of winter wonderland that makes you believe in magic.
2800 Du Parc: A Riverside Retreat With A View
Christina finally pried us away from Domaine Enchanteur’s icy embrace. After all, it was Valentine’s Day, and romance was in the air (or maybe that was just the crisp winter air). The next stop on our Quebec winter road trip was 2800 du Parc, a riverside retreat nestled on the edge of La Mauricie National Park near the town of Shawinigan.
Think tiny cabins, epic views, and the kind of food that makes you reach for your suspenders. This was our kind of Valentine’s Day retreat.
2800 du Parc is the kind of place that makes you want to ditch your phone, curl up by a fire, and forget about all of your troubles. Our cabin, overlooking the Saint Maurice River, was straight out of a storybook. Wood-burning stove, cozy beds, the scent of wood fires and pine needles in the air… it was the perfect antidote to the February blahs. And with 200 square miles of Quebec wilderness at our doorstep, we knew adventure awaited.
But first, dinner. 2800 du Parc’s on-site restaurant isn’t just a place to grab a simple bite; it’s a destination in itself. We snagged a highly sought-after table for their Valentine’s Day special, and let me tell you, it was a feast for the senses.
Christina and I indulged in a three-course masterpiece, complete with a charcuterie board that would make a Parisian chef weep and a chocolate fruit dessert that could best be described as a love poem on a plate. The boys, naturally, opted for their usual comfort food trifecta: nachos, poutine, and tacos. Hey, whatever fuels the next adventure, right?
With full bellies and happy hearts, we drifted off to sleep, serenaded by the crackling fire and the gentle flutters of snow falling outside. It was the kind of sleep that makes you feel like you’ve been reborn, ready to take on whatever the world throws your way. And in the morning, with the sun rising over the river, painting the snow-covered landscape in shades of pink and gold, we knew one thing for sure: this was just the beginning of our love affair with Lanaudière and Mauricie.
Day 2: Hiking La Mauricie National Park
We woke with the sun, late and lazy, feeling like we’d slept for a week, but hey, that’s what wood-burning stoves and the quiet of the Quebec wilderness will do to you. A quick breakfast of fruit, toast, and sausages (because who can resist a good sausage in the morning?), and we were off to explore La Mauricie National Park, just a ten-minute drive away.”
La Mauricie is a wilderness wonderland. Think pristine lakes, forests that seem to stretch to infinity, and hills that rise and fall like a frozen ocean. In winter, it’s a playground for the adventurous soul. Snowshoeing, cross-country skiing, ice fishing… you name it, they’ve got it. Karine (remember her from our taco feast?), had tipped us off about the Lac Solitaire Trail. ‘The view from the top is not to be missed,’ she’d told us. Challenge accepted.”
We bundled up for the hike, armed with gloves, toques, hand warmers and a healthy dose of determination. The trail was pristine, a blanket of fresh snow covering everything in sight. It was also a bit of a workout, thanks to the soft, slippery conditions. And the view? Worth every breathless step.
The morning sun sparkled off of the ice of Lac Solitaire. A glistening sheet surrounded by snow-laden trees. We lingered at the top, soaking it all in (and catching our breath), before making our way back down, our legs burning, our hearts full.
We stopped for some poutine and hot chocolate (with whipped cream AND marshmallows) at 2800 du Parc (because, priorities), and we were back on the road, heading towards Lanaudière and a resort that promised to be unlike anything we’d ever seen.
Outdoor Adventures at Auberge Du Vieux Moulin
As we drove into the parking lot of Auberge du Vieux Moulin, located on the edge of the town of Lac Lasalle, we knew we’d stumbled upon something special. This was more than a cozy log cabin in the woods. It was a haven for outdoor enthusiasts. Snowmobiles zipped down trails and through the parking lot, families trekked through the snow-covered hills, and a handful of brave souls sat on the icy waters in pursuit of elusive fish.
The air here crackled with energy, a mix of excitement and that peaceful calm that only comes from being surrounded by nature. We were in our zone. Cohen, our resident adventurer-in-chief, was practically bouncing off the walls. Ice fishing, he demanded, would be our first activity!
So, armed with fishing rods and a healthy dose of optimism, we headed down to the lake. We dropped our lines in the pre-drilled holes and waited. And waited. The fish, it seemed, had other plans. But even without a catch, the experience was pure gold. The sun on our faces, the crisp winter air, the camaraderie… it was a reminder that sometimes, the just being together, enjoying the sunshine is perfection.
But our day was far from over. We embarked on a gentle hike to the on-site Cabane à Sucre, a rustic cabin nestled deep in the woods. Here, the magic of Quebec’s famous maple syrup industry unfolded before our eyes. We learned how the sugar water, collected from hundreds of tapped trees, is transformed into that liquid gold that Canadians adore. And then, the pièce de résistance: maple taffy. Imagine thick, gooey syrup cooled on fresh snow and twirled around a wooden stick. It’s like a winter wonderland in your mouth, and trust me, it’s worth braving the cold for.
As the sun dipped below the horizon, painting the sky in a fiery farewell, we gathered at the Auberge’s restaurant. Pasta, gnocchi, all those carb-loaded delights that taste like heaven after a day in the snow… we devoured it all. After a delicious dessert, the boys, fueled by sugar and adventure, were ready to crash.
But Christina and I had one more stop: the spa. An indoor pool, a hot tub, three outdoor spas… it was a haven of relaxation. In winter, it’s the perfect way to warm up and unwind. During the summer, this collection of pools transforms into a Nordic spa, with hot and cold baths to enjoy under the stars. We soaked in the warmth, letting the stress melt away as the fresh snowfall began to dust our hair, and knew that Auberge du Vieux Moulin had captured a piece of our hearts.
Day 3: Snowshoeing, Tubing, And A Quiet Cabin In The Woods
The night’s falling snow had blanketed everything in sight. It was like stepping into a scene from a snow globe, the kind you shake and watch with childlike wonder. And it was still falling. We visited the Auberge’s restaurant for a hearty breakfast to fuel a day of adventure and decided to embrace the winter wonderland with a snowshoeing expedition to one of the resort’s viewpoints.
We had brought our own snowshoes, but for those who don’t have their own, the resort has a free loan program for bikes, cross country skis, and fat bikes. Once we were geared up, we set off into the snowy wilderness. The crunch of fresh powder beneath our feet was the only sound, a rhythmic beat accompanying our journey. The trail wound through a frosted forest, each tree a masterpiece of icy artistry.
We stumbled upon a clearing, where the resorts resident elk and deer grazed peacefully in their pens, their breath misting in the cold air. A brief exchange of nose boops (because who can resist a furry friend?), and we were back on our way.
Wild animals in enclosures can be a controversial topic. Even our visits to Parc Omega and some of Canada’s incredible zoos have drawn mixed reactions. The truth is, we prefer seeing Canada’s wild creatures roam free in their natural habitat. But as far as private animal experiences go, the elk and deer at Auberge du Vieux Moulin seemed genuinely content, well-cared for, and maybe even a little spoiled. And for those who might not have the opportunity to experience wildlife in the wild, it’s a chance to connect with nature in a unique way.
Our snowy hike led us to a scenic overlook, where, unfortunately, the heavy snow had decided to play a game of hide-and-seek with the view. But honestly, it didn’t matter. The serenity of the snow-covered landscape, the heart, racing exercise, the feeling of being completely immersed in nature… it was more than enough to make up for it.
We descended the trail, our hearts full, our bodies buzzing with that post-adventure glow. Auberge du Vieux Moulin had woven its magic once again, reminding us that sometimes, the most beautiful moments are the ones we least expect.
Tubing At Matha Super Glissades
Early in the afternoon, we made the short drive to Matha Super Glissades, an outdoor resort that transforms from a golf destination in the summer to one of Quebec’s premier tubing experiences during the winter. But first, sustenance. Bistro Matha, the on-site eatery, was calling our names. Burgers, poutine, all the good stuff that fuels a proper tubing adventure… we were in.
Mother Nature had decided to throw a bit of a curveball in the form of heavy snow. While picturesque, the snowhad turned the usually lightning-fast tubing lanes into a bit of a slog. But hey, when life gives you snow, you make snow angels, right? Or, in our case, you improvise.
The tubing crowd, a motley crew of families, friends, and adrenaline junkies, banded together. We chose a single lane, a steep beast, and turned it into our own personal speedway. Down we went, one after another, a chain of laughter and shrieks echoing through the snowy air. Each run packed down the snow a little more, building up speed until we were practically flying. It was teamwork at its finest, a testament to the human spirit’s ability to adapt and overcome (and have a heck of a lot of fun in the process).
A Quiet Cabin In The Woods: A Perfect Ending to a Winter Adventure
I love a good outdoor resort as much as the next adventurer. But sometimes, you just need to unplug and recharge. After all the thrills and spills of our Lanaudière and Mauricie adventure, we were craving a bit of peace and quiet. Enter Les Boisés de la Rivière Noire, our cozy cabin hideaway for the final night of our Quebec winter road trip.
We hit up the Bonichoix market in Sainte-Émélie-de-l’Énergie, grabbing supplies for a proper cabin feast. The cabin was perfect. Fireplace? Check. Full kitchen? Check. Enough space for the boys to have their own little slice of heaven? Double-check.
But the real MVP was the outdoor hot tub. Snowflakes falling, steam rising, and four happy humans soaking it all in. Well, two happy humans and two smaller ones, who decided that a hot tub is best enjoyed as a launching pad for snow angels. Boys will be boys, I guess.”
As the fire crackled and the stars twinkled, we settled into that comfortable silence that only comes from being surrounded by loved ones. No need for grand pronouncements or deep thoughts, just the simple joy of being present. It was the perfect way to end our adventure, a reminder that sometimes, the best moments are the ones where nothing much happens at all.
Putting The Wraps On Our Quebec Winter Road Trip Through Lanaudière and Mauricie
Our winter escape to Lanaudière and Mauricie? It was like hitting the reset button on life. We traded the February blahs for a whirlwind of outdoor adventures, sunshine-filled days, and the kind of memories that stick with you long after you’ve unpacked your bags.
We soared above the wilderness, trekked through snowy forests, and conquered icy hills. We feasted on poutine, maple taffy, tartar, and all the culinary delights that Quebec has to offer. We laughed, we explored, we reconnected, and we fell head over heels for the magic of winter in Quebec.
This was more than a road trip. It was a reminder that sometimes, the best way to rediscover yourself is to simply get outdoors. So, if you’re feeling the winter blues, do yourself a favor: pack your bags, head north, and let Lanaudière and Mauricie work their magic. Trust me, you won’t regret it.
Disclosure: This trip was made possible with the support of Quebec Authentique, which represents both Lanaudiere and Mauricie, Quebec. All opinions remain my own.
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