Covering a little over 150 km², the Ouareau Forest Regional Park is the perfect territory for outdoor enthusiasts to enjoy. It can be accessed from the following sectors: Massif, Grande-Jetée, Grande-Vallée, Pont Suspendu, and Contreforts. The park has over 120 km of mountainous massif, incorporating a network of multifunctional trails which can be enjoyed by hiking, biking, cross-country skiing, and snowshoeing. But the fun doesn’t end there: numerous shelters and rustic camping sites allow hikers to extend their stay! Crossed by a magnificent river, the Ouareau Forest highlights many wilderness lakes and a climbing wall recognized and managed by the Fédération québécoise de la montagne et de l’escalade (FQME). The Ouareau Forest Regional Park is sure to satisfy any outdoor lover!
Parks
Ouareau Forest Regional Park
Chertsey | Notre-Dame-de-la-Merci | Entrelacs | Saint-Côme
Trail conditions
Hikes: All the other trails are open at all times.
When the front desk is closed, you must pay your daily fee at the parking meter.
Have a good day!
Last update :19 January 2026
Activities
Lodging
Services
Pricing
Regulations
Maps
Contact
Activities
Winter season
Summer season
Lodging
Lodging
Services
Services
Massif Sector registration centre
- Sanitary block/heated space (toilet and drinking water)
- Winter schedule: The Massif sector front desk is open from 8 A.M. to 4 P.M. from Friday to Sunday. Schedule may vary depending on weather conditons, customer traffic and holidays.
- Summer schedule: The Massif sector front desk is open from 8 A.M. to 4 P.M. from Friday to Sunday. Schedule may vary depending on weather conditons, customer traffic and holidays.
- Winter equipment rental: Snowshoes, ski Hok (snowshoe-ski) and crampons can be rented from Friday to Sunday between 8 A.M. to 1 P.M. The equipment must be returned by 3h30 P.M. maximum.
- Firewood, snacks, coffee, bottled water, beverages, mosquito repellent, crampons, and hiking accessories are available for sale.
Pont-Suspendu and Contreforts registration centres
- Dry toilets
- Equipment rental: canoes, paddle board, and kayak
- Firewood, snacks, coffee, bottled water, beverages, and mosquito repellent are available for sale.
- Pont-Suspendu | Summer schedule: Sunday to Thursday from 9 A.M. to 5 P.M., Friday and Saturday from 9 A.M. to 8 P.M. Schedule may vary depending on weather conditons, customer traffic and holidays.
- Contreforts | Summer schedule: Sunday to Thursday from 9 A.M. to 5 P.M., Friday and Saturday from 9 A.M. to 8 P.M. Schedule may vary depending on weather conditons, customer traffic and holidays.
- Septic tank emptying station for RVs: This service is not offered in the park. However, it is available in the Saint-Donat and Saint-Côme municipalities. To know where they are located, check the camps and refuges section.
Grande-Jetée and Grande-Vallée registration centres
- Dry toilets
- Equipment rental: bicycle, paddle board (Grande-Jetée only)
- Firewood, snacks, coffee, bottled water, beverages, and mosquito repellent are available for sale.
- Summer schedule: Sunday to Thursday from 9 A.M. to 5 P.M., Friday and Saturday from 9 A.M. to 8 P.M. Schedule may vary depending on weather conditons, customer traffic and holidays. / The Grande-Jetée Sector is closed during the winter season.
- Septic tank emptying station for RVs: This service is not offered in the park. However, it is available in some nearby municipalities. To know where, check the camps and refuges section.
Shuttle service from Montreal
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.
Taxi service
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
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:
- Hockey bags and other oversized bags
- Boxes or luggage that aren’t closed or secured
- Opened grocery/tote bags
- Barrels
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$/hour late fee will be charged if schedules are not respected.
Groups
Group booking policy
For camping and refuge stays
CAMPING:
The fee is of 5$/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.
Pricing
Pricing
| 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:
The rustic camping and the refuges are without services (no water, electricity, or wastewater), except for the Canard Blanc and Haut Perché refuges, which have solar panels.
The camping rate allows one piece of equipment (tent or RV) per site.
A fee of 30.44$ is charged for a second tent when the site allows it.
Site reservation includes 2 adults and children. For additional adults sleeping in your equipment, a fee of 13.05$/person/night will be charged upon arrival. For visitors (without overnight stay), the fee is of 8.70$/day.
Regulations
Regulations
IMPORTANT NOTICES
Le Massif and Pont-Suspendu sectors
• Hikers/dog owners can now come and enjoy the winter with their furry companions at the entrance of Notre-Dame-de-la-Merci (Massif sector). However, they are ONLY accepted in the pink and yellow 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
- All persons accessing the regional park and using infrastructures or services for which a fee applies must register and pay the required fees.
DOMESTIC ANIMALS
- Domestic animals are accepted in a regional park, provided that they are kept on a leash not exceeding two (2) meters in length at all times, with the exception of public beaches, as well as on the cross-country ski trails of the Ouareau Forest Regional Park during the winter period.
- At all times, the owner must pick up their animal’s droppings and dispose of them in an appropriate place.
- The animals must not enter the buildings (reception area, sanitary block, shelter, etc.) at any time.
- Animals must be under the constant supervision of their owner.
CAMPING/SHELTER STAY
- Camping in a regional park is prohibited other than in areas specifically designated for that purpose.
- It is forbidden to camp in a regional park without having paid the camping fee.
- The arrival time for short stays is between 3:00 P.M. and 10:00 P.M.
- All persons camping in the park must vacate their campsite by 12:00 noon or their refuge by 11 A.M. on the last day of their stay. The site must be left in the same condition as when you arrived.
CAMPING SITE
- A campsite may contain one (1) piece of camping equipment and two (2) vehicles, with the exception of sites determined by the park administration, which which may receive additional equipment.
CURFEW AND QUIET TIME
- The curfew is from 11:00 P.M. to 8:00 A.M. During that time period, no noise that could be heard from the neighboring sites is allowed within the campsites.
SPECIFIC MEASURES FOR DRONES
- In order to minimize the impact on the guest experience and wildlife, the use of drones for recreational purposes is not permitted in regional parks.
Maps
Maps
NOTE: For a map of the trail to the Capucines, the Pont-Supendu and the Haut-Perché refuges, see the Contreforts Trail map (National Trail section).
Trail map – Ponts Suspendu and Contreforts sectors
This map is also associated with the National Trail and gives access to the Capucines and Pont-Suspendu refuges (winter only).Mountain Ski map – Grande-Ourse Sector
**New location** for mountain skiing in partnership with the FQME.Trail maps – Grande-Ourse Sector
***New sector***: this map includes the Mont-Beauregard trail.Campground Map – De la Rivière Sector
This sector links the Pont-Suspendu and Grande-Jetée sectors.Contact
Contact information
Massif sector
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.
Pont Suspendu sector
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.
Pont-Suspendu Sector (winter only)
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.
Contreforts Sector (National Trail)
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.
Grande-Jetée sector
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.
Grande-Vallée Sector
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.
Grande-Ourse Sector
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.
