Page 64 - 2025-2026 Travel Guide to Canada

QC
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©ZIPTREK
©TOURISME LAURENTIDES
©SEPAQ PARC NATIONAL DU MONT-TREMBLANT/STEVE DESCHÊNES
Québec’s
Laurentians
A vast boreal beauty of recreation and resorts
BY ROCHELLE LASH
The Laurentian region, a 1-hour drive north
of Montréal, is a near-boundless territory
of boreal beauty and dramatic contrasts
that is well-known as a ski destination with
its international resort Tremblant.
More than nine million visitors a year
are drawn to four seasons of captivating
experiences: high-octane sports, low-key
luxury, eco-environments and endless
family recreation.
Nature is the backdrop for this amazing
playground—9,000 crystalline lakes and
100 rivers that shimmer through dense
forests of maples and evergreens, all part
of an ancient mountain range.
ROOTS: THEN / NOW
La Route des Belles-Histoires chronicles the
heritage of the pioneers of the late 1800s,
travelling 284 kilometres from Saint-Jérôme
to Mont-Laurier. Fast-forward to the interac-
tive app, BaladoDiscovery, which maps sites
like the Laurentian Ski Museum, Théâtre Le
Patriote, and vintage train stations.
The Linear Park of Le P’tit Train du Nord,
a family-friendly cycling path, parallels La
Route des Belles-Histoires, so you can plan
inn-to-inn tours on two wheels, as well.
TO DO: EASY / EXIGENT
The great outdoors inspires adrenaline-
pumping rafting, kayaking and hiking, as
well as Mont Tremblant’s downhill luge or
the daunting Ziptrek Écotours Tremblant,
plus summer skiing and tubing on the
school slope.
On the tamer side, Tremblant’s Tonga
Lumina is a magical 1.5-kilometre after-
dark stroll through the forest—with music
for mood and lights twinkling in the trees.
Or you can opt for a day-time jaunt to the
summit via the Panoramic Gondola.
Another breathtaking vantage point high
over the treetops is the unusual Sentier des