Located in the northern part of the Lanaudière region, the trail crosses the area’s most beautiful natural environments from West to East. The National Trail will make you discover wild nature and diverse landscapes. On your adventure, you will also have the opportunity to visit some other regional parks of the Matawinie region.
• Trail temporarily closed from Km 0 to KM 5.8 (close to the Chemin du 5e rang): the trail must be cleaned up and the footbridge rebuilt after floods destroyed it.
• Trail closed from Km 5.8 to KM 9. We must close down the trail because it crosses a private property. The Northern section of the Chemin du 5e rang (towards the Domaine Bazinet) remains open.
This service is offered by our partner COOP Bonjour Nature, a solidarity travel agency dedicated to the Lanaudière region.
A shuttle service departing from Montreal is available year-long. For more details, click here.
Departure will be near the Radisson metro station at 8 A.M. Stops will be made along the way. Expect to arrive at the Ouareau Forest Regional Park in the served area on the chosen date. Remember to bring a lunch, appropriate clothing for the season and a bottle of water. The activity will end in the afternoon and you will be back in Montreal at around 6:30 P.M.
Want to get to your trailhead or back to your car at the end of your ride? You can contact our local businesses:
Taxi Bruneau: 450-886-2331
Luggage transport service policy
Offered year-long in the Massif Sector ONLY
Want to travel light? We’ll take care of your bags! The Ouareau Forest Regional Park staff can carry your bags to the refuge you booked. Service rates begin at $110$ (taxes included) and must be booked 72 hours ahead of time.
Rules were established to ensure our staff and your belongings will get to their destination safely. You must obey these rules, otherwise, you risk:
• Your luggage (some or all of it) being left in your vehicle or having to carry it yourself
• Paying a luggage overcharge fee
Conditions:
The total weight of all your luggage may not exceed 250 pounds and must be divided into a maximum of six (6) pieces of luggage.
Warning: if these conditions are not respected, we have the right to refuse service or to charge an additional fee.
Accepted types of luggage:
Backpacks:
A sleepingbag may be tied to the backpack as long as it is well secured.
Coolers:
Coolers shouldn’t swing open due to bumps in the road. Make sure they are completely shut with a rope.
Carry-ons:
Carry-ons are accepted for this service.
Miscellaneous equipment:
Miscellaneous equipment can be carried as long as it is securely packed together.
Examples: skis, snowshoes, walking sticks, boots, etc.
Luggage NOT included in this service:
Procedures
Bookings:
You must book your luggage transport service when making your online reservation at least 72h (3 days) in advance. We do not accept last minute bookings.
Schedule:
Your luggage must be dropped off in the ski waxing room located near the main parking lot. The luggage transport service is done at 2 P.M. No transport will be made after this time.
*Exception on Friday: the maximum luggage departure time is 5 P.M. You must mention this while making your online reservation.
When leaving, please leave your luggage outside of your refuge. The luggage return is done at 10 A.M. No transport will be made after this time.
A 50$/hour late fee will be charged if schedules are not respected.
Group booking policy
For camping and refuge stays
CAMPING:
The fee is of 5$/person/night for groups that book a group campsite.
If you want to book a regular campsite, regular fees apply.
REFUGE:
New policy as of 01-01-2025:
Here are the refuges available for group bookings:
• Les Capucines
Regular capacity for 6 people (6 mattresses), max. 8 people allowed
• Le Toussaint
Regular capacity for 8 people (8 mattresses), max. 10 people allowed
• Le Prud’homme
Regular capacity for 8 people (8 mattresses), max. 10 people allowed • Le Pelletier
Regular capacity for 8 people (8 mattresses), max. 10 people allowed
Please remember that the refuge fee is based on regular capacity. There is a 15$/person/night fee per additional guest. You may not exceed the maximum amount of people inside the refuge.
For summer or winter camping on a refuge site:
• The available refuges are mentionned above
• You must book the refuge at regular price
• For guests exceeding the maximum of people allowed in the refuge, there is a 5$/person/night fee
Policy on tidiness and breaks:
• When leaving, the refuge must look like it did when you got there
• Please leave all the objects and pieces of equipment inside the refuge
• If something was broken, please let us know
ATTENTION: You may have to pay up to 1000$ if this policy isn’t respected and if we have to do intensive cleaning and/or repairs and/or if we must replace equipment, which includes furniture.
| Daily Access | Adult | Child (6 to 17 years old) | Family | Group (20 people and more) | School group (6 to 17 years old) | Annual pass* Matawinie Parks |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| General | 8,70 $ | 3,48 $ | 21,74 $ | 5,22 $ | 2,61 $ | 86,97 $ |
| Cross-country skiing | 12,18 $ | 5,22 $ | 30,44 $ | 7,83 $ | N/A |
| Other services |
|---|
| $110,00 (for 4 bags), $20,00 per additional bag. Price for one way or return. $20,00 per additional bag. |
| Snowshoe rental: Including access fee: 18,00$/day With the rental of a refuge: 10,00$/day |
| Canoe, SUP and fatbike rental, half-day block 3 hours available in the morning and afternoon: $30.00/equipment. |
*: This pass grants access to these following regional parks: Forêt Ouareau, Sept-Chutes, Chute-à-Bull, and Lac Taureau. Depending on the park, the following activities are available: hiking, snowshoeing, or cross-country skiing. A family pass is available for $150.
Note 1- The park is patrolled at all times. When the front desk area is closed, you must pay the access fee at the parking meter located near the parking lots or via the online ticketing system. At any time, patrollers may ask for your access fee. Thank you for respecting this fee.
Note 2: Prices exclude taxes and can change without notice.
| Hébergement | Rates |
|---|---|
| Rustic campground | 39,14 $ / 43,49 $ |
| Extra tent / night | 30,44 $ |
| Camping visitor (without overnight stay/per day) | 8,70 $ |
| Visitor or additional person (with overnight stay) | 13,05 $ |
| Camping rustic / full season | 1087,19 $ |
| In exclusivity | |
| Refuge Prud’homme (max. 8 persons) | 143,50 $ |
| Refuge Loutre (max. 2 persons) | 100,02 $ |
| Refuge Pelletier (max. 8 people) | 143,50 $ |
| Refuge Corbeau (max. 6 persons) | 121,76 $ |
| Refuge Toussaint (max. 8 people) | 143,50 $ |
| Refuge Capucines (max. 6 persons) | 121,76 $ |
| Refuge du Pont-Suspendu (max. 4 persons) | 100,02 $ |
| *Accommodation rates include daily access fees. | |
Booking
To book your stay, you can use the online reservation center or call 1 866 266-2730
Notes:
Le Massif and Pont-Suspendu sectors
• Hikers/dog owners can now come enjoy the winter with their furry companions, starting at the entrance of Notre-Dame-de-la-Merci (Massif sector). However, they are ONLY allowed in the colored loops. It is strictly prohibited to walk or snowshoe in the ski slopes during the winter season.
Grande-Jetée sector
• Once past the visitor center, the Chemin du Castor is now closed to ATVs. In order to respect the peace and quiet of other campers, we ask that ATV riders go directly to the federated ATV trail. Thank you for respecting the rules!
ACCESS AND STAYING FEES
DOMESTIC ANIMALS
CAMPING/SHELTER STAY
CAMPING SITE
CURFEW AND QUIET TIME
SPECIFIC MEASURES FOR DRONES
NOTE: For a map of the trail to the Capucines, Pont-Supendu, Haut-Perché and Contreforts refuges, see the Contreforts Trail map (National Trail section).
2007, chemin du Massif
Notre-Dame-de-la-Merci,
Québec J0T 2A0
819 424-1865 / 1 866 484-1865 (Year-long)
Schedule: from Friday to Sunday, 8 A.M. to 4 P.M.
Note: The registration center will be open during the winter holidays, spring break and other major holidays. Opening hours of the registration center may vary during the low season. Please call to check if the registration center is open. When the registration center is closed, you must pay your access fee at the pay station or online. Please note that the registration center schedule may also vary depending on the weather and park attendance.
Chemin de la Forêt Ouareau
Notre-Dame-de-la-Merci
514 668-1218 (summer only)
Schedule: from Sunday to Thursday, from 9 A.M. to 5 P.M., Friday and Saturday from 9 A.M. to 8 P.M. (patrols vary at night)
The registration center is closed during the winter season as the access road is not plowed, but the refuges are available for lodging and the trails are open. When the registration center is closed, you must pay your access fee at the pay station. Please note that the registration center schedule may also vary depending on the weather and park attendance.
chemin de la Forêt Ouareau , jct route 347
Notre-Dame-de-la-Merci
819 424-1865 (winter only)
Access to the Haut-Perché, Capucines, Pont suspendu, Héron and Lièvre refuges. NOTE: The registration center is CLOSED during the WINTER SEASON. When the registration center is closed, you must pay your access fee at the pay station or online.
Road 347 (chemin Saint-Côme)
Notre-Dame-de-la-Merci
450 803-5661 (Summer only)
Schedule: from Friday to Saturday, from 9 A.M. to 8 P.M., Sunday 9 A.M. to 5 P.M. (patrols vary at night)
Note: The registration center’s hours vary during the low season. Please call to check if the reception area is open. When the registration center is closed, you must pay your access fee at the pay station or online. Please note that the registration center hours may vary depending on the weather and park attendance.
Avenue du Castor
Chertsey
450 898-1457 (Summer only)
Schedule: from Sunday to Thursday from 9 A.M. to 5 P.M., Friday and Saturday 9 A.M. to 8 P.M. (patrols vary at night)
The registration centre is closed during the winter season as the access road is not plowed. When the registration centre is closed, you must pay your access fee online. Please note that the registration center schedule may also vary depending on the weather and the attendance of the park. ***Warning***: When using Google Maps, do not follow the route through the row 9. This road is not suitable for cars.
Rue des Pâquerettes
Chertsey
Schedule: varies depending on the season (patrolled area).
When the registration center is closed, you must pay your fee at the pay station or online.
Route 125
Entrelacs
Schedule: varies depending on the season (patrolled area).
Note: the schedule varies depending on the season. When the registration centre is closed, you must pay your access fee online. Please note that the registration center schedule may also vary depending on the weather and the attendance of the park.
Société de développement des parcs régionaux de la Matawinie.
Société de développement des parcs régionaux de la Matawinie.
