Our perfect summer day in La Petite-Nation, from market to beach
Ripon's Saturday market, a Chénéville picnic, a lifeguarded beach on Lac Simon, mini-golf, the lookout at golden hour and soft serve to finish the day.
Guide
With the family
Ideas for getting out with the kids, rain or shine.
25 things to do in La Petite-Nation this fall
A Notre-Dame de Paris organist in Montebello, a square dance in Saint-Sixte, punk in Ripon and a hundred watercolours on Thanksgiving. Our list for October and November.
Where to stay in La Petite-Nation, from inns to teepees
A log château, an 1898 Victorian full of artists, an old post office, teepees next to the wolves. Our rundown of the ways to spend the night out here.
A day in La Petite-Nation with kids, never more than 20 minutes in the car
Parc Oméga's elk, build-your-own ice cream, a giant sundial, a waterfall that's free for kids and sculptures that move. Never more than 20 minutes in the car between stops.
Christmas markets and holiday events in La Petite-Nation
A parade of lit-up tractors, a pine forest full of lights in Ripon, Montebello's European-style market and turkey bingo. Our guide to November and December.
The 12 best hikes in La Petite-Nation
A lookout tower on Mont Grand-Pic, 400-year-old trees, a cable raft across the Preston River. Our 12 favourite trails, from easy family loops to the Sentier national.
IllustrationRestaurant
Aramis Pizzeria
MontebelloSnack bar and pizzeria with an ice cream counter where you build your own treat.
IllustrationArena & sports
Aréna Guy-Lafleur
ThursoThe first covered arena in the Outaouais, built in 1948, where Guy Lafleur learned to skate. Free public skating, minor hockey and figure skating.
IllustrationRestaurant
Au Moulin du Temps
NamurThe oldest restaurant in the village. People come for breakfast, then pizza, poutine and burgers the rest of the day.
IllustrationLookout
Belvédère Denis-Papin
Lac-SimonA lookout above Baie Creuse, named after a former mayor. The whole lake in one view, for free.
IllustrationLibrary
Bibliothèque Albert-Ferland (Chénéville/Lac-Simon)
ChénévilleLibrary shared by Chénéville and Lac-Simon, next to the town hall. Adult book club and story time.
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Bibliothèque de Fassett/Notre-Dame-de-Bonsecours
FassettFassett's library also serves Notre-Dame-de-Bonsecours. It's in the municipal building.
IllustrationLibrary
Bibliothèque de Lac-des-Plages
Lac-des-PlagesGenerous hours for such a small village: six days a week, at the town hall.
IllustrationLibrary
Bibliothèque de Montpellier
MontpellierOne of the few libraries open Sunday mornings. Book drop for returns.
IllustrationLibrary
Bibliothèque de Mulgrave-et-Derry
Mulgrave-et-DerryA young library, opened in 2020 on chemin de la Mine. Closed on statutory holidays.
IllustrationLibrary
Bibliothèque de Namur
NamurNamur's municipal library, open two evenings a week. It shares a phone number with the school next door.
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Bibliothèque de Notre-Dame-de-la-Paix
Notre-Dame-de-la-PaixSmall village library, open Wednesday evening and Thursday afternoon.
IllustrationLibrary
Bibliothèque de Notre-Dame-de-la-Salette
Notre-Dame-de-la-SaletteAt the municipal office, during office hours. It even lends VR headsets and museum passes.
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Bibliothèque de Saint-André-Avellin
Saint-André-AvellinThe library is in the municipal complex next to the arena. No Saturday hours in summer. Book drop for returns.
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Bibliothèque de Saint-Émile-de-Suffolk
Saint-Émile-de-SuffolkLibrary at the municipal office, open Tuesday evening and Saturday morning.
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Bibliothèque de Saint-Sixte/Canton de Lochaber/Lochaber-Partie-Ouest
Saint-SixteOpened in 2020, it serves Saint-Sixte and both Lochaber townships. Book drop for returns.
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Bibliothèque de Val-des-Bois/Bowman
Val-des-BoisAt Val-des-Bois town hall, also serving Bowman.
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Val-des-Bois–Bowman Library
Val-des-BoisThe library Val-des-Bois shares with Bowman lends passes to the big Ottawa-Gatineau museums and for cross-country skiing in Gatineau Park. Handy…
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Montebello Public Library
MontebelloBooks, a board-game library, passes for regional attractions and an art hive stocked with free supplies. Part of the Réseau BIBLIO de l'Outaouais.
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Papineauville Public Library
PapineauvilleA Réseau BIBLIO library run largely by volunteers, with access to the network's digital resources.
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Plaisance Public Library
PlaisanceBooks, e-books, magazines and museum passes to borrow. Open two evenings a week.
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Ripon Public Library
RiponA small village library in the Réseau BIBLIO network, with interlibrary loans. Open Mondays, Thursdays and one Saturday a month.
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Thurso Public Library
ThursoStory time for kids 0 to 5, a book club, free Internet stations, and two little free libraries in town. Free card for Thurso and…
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IllustrationSugar shack
Cabane à sucre Chez Ti-Mousse
PapineauvilleAll-you-can-eat sugar-shack meals, maple taffy on snow, weekend music and horse-drawn sleigh rides.
IllustrationCafé
Café Passe ton temps
Saint-André-AvellinA board-game café: more than 100 games and as many puzzles, plus knitting and wood painting. Toddlers welcome.
IllustrationLodging
Camp Ozanam
Saint-Émile-de-SuffolkA charity family camp that hosts low-income families in summer and rents simple cabins the rest of the year. Beach, trails and a thrift shop.
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Camp SAJO
Saint-SixteYouth organization on 250 acres of forest, with a lake, pool, water slides, trails and four cabins for rent year-round.
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Camping au Petit Lac-Simon
Saint-André-AvellinBig family campground with 291 sites, a beach, pool, water slide and splash pad.
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Camping Haut-des-Côtes
Lac-SimonFamily campground near Lac Simon with 127 sites, serviced and unserviced, and a 250-person community hall.
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Camping La Pinède
Lac-SimonTall pines, a fine-sand beach, trails and even a mini farm for the kids.
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Camping Lac des Plages
Lac-des-Plages191 sites, 70 of them for overnighters, with a private beach and pool. From May to October, propane and a food truck on site.
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Camping Montagnard
Val-des-BoisFull-hookup sites, trailer rentals and a heated pool, up in the hills.
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Camping Royal Papineau
Notre-Dame-de-la-SaletteA 326-site campground on Lac de l'Argile with ready-to-camp units, a beach, a pool and the golf course next door. May to mid-October.
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Camping Saint-André-Avellin
Saint-André-AvellinCampground right in the village on the Petite Nation River, with a pool, splash pad, mini golf and canoe, kayak and paddleboard rentals, no booking…
IllustrationCampground
Camping Val-des-Bois
Val-des-BoisA big family campground with a beach, splash pad, fishing and ready-to-camp units. 250-plus sites, May to September.
IllustrationMuseum
Quebec Folk Art Centre
PlaisanceSelf-taught makers from all over Quebec who turned wood, fabric, metal and everyday junk into art. Moving sculptures, larger-than-life characters…
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Centre touristique du Lac-Simon (Sépaq)
DuhamelSépaq's centre at the top of Lac Simon. In winter it runs a ready-to-go ice-fishing package on Lac de la Ferme: you show up and the holes are…
IllustrationLodging
Chalets Colibri
DuhamelCottages on Lac Gagnon facing a big, gently sloping beach that suits small kids.
IllustrationLodging
Chez les Beaudette
Lac-des-PlagesThree-bedroom cottage right on Lac des Plages, in a bay with a gently sloping sand beach. Kayaks, pedal boat and canoe included.
IllustrationAttraction
Gatineau Sled Dogs
Saint-SixteDogsled outings in the Saint-Sixte river valley, summer and winter, pulled by Seppala Siberians, a heritage breed.
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ChocoMotive
MontebelloA chocolate shop and economuseum in the old train station. Organic, fair-trade chocolate, made where you can watch.
Lookout
Chutes de Plaisance (Chutes du Moulin)
PlaisanceThe Petite-Nation River drops more than 35 metres right next to the remains of North Nation Mills, the old mill village. A 2 km return walk, some…
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Circonflexe, prêt-pour-bouger
MontpellierBorrow outdoor gear for free instead of buying it. The Montpellier library is one of the lending points.
IllustrationCafé
Crèmerie Café Notre-Dame
Notre-Dame-de-la-PaixFamily business making Italian gelato on site, with sorbets that change with the season and homemade brownies.
IllustrationCafé
Crèmerie Les Délices d'Alice
ThursoThe ice cream stop on rue Victoria, with gelato and sorbet too.
IllustrationLodging
Domaine du Lac-des-Plages
Lac-des-PlagesTwelve two- to four-bedroom cottages lined up on a private sand beach, with a shallow swimming area for kids.
IllustrationWinery
Domaine Mont-Vézeau
RiponA 75-acre vineyard at the foot of Mont Vézeau, with more than 14,500 cold-hardy vines and pick-your-own strawberries and raspberries in summer.
IllustrationArena & sports
Dôme de Saint-Émile-de-Suffolk (patinoire)
Saint-Émile-de-SuffolkIts dome keeps the sun off the ice, so it's often the first outdoor rink in the area to open.
IllustrationService
École Adrien-Guillaume
ChénévilleChénéville's elementary school, which also takes kids from the surrounding villages.
IllustrationService
École de la Montagne
Notre-Dame-de-la-SaletteNotre-Dame-de-la-Salette's elementary school, on the same street as the town hall.
IllustrationService
École Maria-Goretti
ThursoThurso's elementary school on rue Victoria, one of the biggest in the MRC.
IllustrationService
École Providence / J.-M.-Robert, immeuble J.-M.-Robert
Saint-André-AvellinSaint-André-Avellin's small high school building, across from the Providence building. About fifty students.
IllustrationService
École Providence / J.-M.-Robert, immeuble Providence
Saint-André-AvellinThe elementary building of Saint-André-Avellin's school on rue Villeneuve.
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École Saint-Michel (Montebello)
MontebelloMontebello's elementary school on rue Bonsecours, next to the library.
IllustrationService
École Saint-Pie-X
PapineauvillePapineauville's elementary school on rue Jeanne-d'Arc, near the town hall.
IllustrationService
École Sainte-Famille / aux Trois-Chemins
ThursoThurso's high school on rue Galipeau, next to the arena.
IllustrationService
École secondaire Hormisdas-Gamelin
Hors MRCBig high school in Buckingham that the MRC's citizen guide counts among the schools serving the area.
IllustrationService
École secondaire Louis-Joseph-Papineau
PapineauvilleLa Petite-Nation's main high school. Most teens in the MRC finish high school here in Papineauville.
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Ferme Jacques et Ginette Trépanier & Fils
PapineauvilleA family farm on Route 323 with pick-your-own in season.
IllustrationFarm
Ferme Oréflore
RiponPick-your-own highbush blueberries, with a crêpe stand on site. Check their Facebook before heading out to see if picking is on.
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Hébergement insolite Parc Oméga
Notre-Dame-de-BonsecoursTeepees, prospector cabins, a stilt house and cottages with a view of the wolves.
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Jardin de la relève (Ma cabane au Canada)
NamurArtists' cabins set up in the village park in 2013. A good place to stretch your legs, and kids love them.
IllustrationCafé
La Crémerie 321
Saint-André-AvellinIce cream shop opened in 2021 in a fully renovated house: soft serve, hard scoop, slush, and a small lunch menu. Seasonal, from late March into the…
IllustrationShop
La Dent Sucrée
Saint-André-AvellinA candy shop full of imported and hard-to-find sweets. The kind of place kids won't leave.
IllustrationIllustrationLake
Lac de la Ferme (pêche blanche)
DuhamelTwo kilometres south of the village, and one of the few lakes around where you can ice fish for brook trout. Bring folding chairs; the log shelter…
IllustrationLake
Lac Vert
Val-des-BoisThe little lake right in Val-des-Bois village. Stocked every year, no gas motors, and open for trout summer and winter.
IllustrationLodging
Le Colibris
MontpellierWaterfront family cottage with a private sand beach and hot tub. Plenty of bass for anglers.
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IllustrationFarm
Les sapins du rang Ste-Madeleine
Saint-André-AvellinPick your own balsam fir at the farm and have a hot chocolate by the fire. A December tradition for plenty of families.
Heritage
Manoir-Papineau National Historic Site
MontebelloLouis-Joseph Papineau's four-towered manor, its gardens and the big red oak where the family used to gather. Parks Canada opens it mid-May to…
IllustrationAttraction
Ma cabane au Canada (art public)
NamurFive cabin-sculptures made in 2013 by professional artists in the village park's garden. A good stop to stretch your legs.
IllustrationMarket
Marché public de Bowman
BowmanA summer market in Parc du Centenaire with Outaouais producers and stuff for the kids.
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Meute Tanwen, traîneaux à chiens
MontpellierA small family outfit where you drive your own team. Night rides and overnight trips in the woods if you're up for it.
Museum
Pioneers Museum
Saint-André-AvellinSaint-André-Avellin's story from seigneury days to the 21st century, told through 1,000-plus objects and 600 photos, with old farm machinery in the…
IllustrationService
Namur Intermediate School
NamurThe only English-language school inside the MRC, in Namur, run by the Western Québec School Board.
IllustrationAttraction
Observation des cerfs de Virginie à Duhamel
DuhamelIn winter, deer wander right through the village. Mornings or around 4 p.m. are your best bet. Slow down when you drive.
IllustrationPark
Parc de l'Amitié (mini-golf de Lac-Simon)
Lac-SimonAn 18-hole mini-putt and a handful of courts. Good for after the beach, when the kids still have energy to burn.
Attraction
Sundial Park
PapineauvilleA big metal armillary sphere sitting right on the 75th meridian, the line that sets Eastern Standard Time. Designed by Montreal sundial maker André…
IllustrationHeritage
Seigneurial Mill Park
PapineauvilleUnder the bridge, on the site of Papineauville's old flour mill: a view of the creek and the mill ruins, plus a few works from the 2023 art symposium.
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Parc Joseph-Roy
Saint-Émile-de-SuffolkThe village park: a bit of everything, from tennis in summer to skating in winter.
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Parc national de Plaisance
PlaisanceBays, marshes and little peninsulas along the Ottawa River. Thousands of Canada geese stop here in spring, and in summer it's flat, easy cycling and…
Attraction
Parc Oméga
Notre-Dame-de-BonsecoursThe drive-through safari: moose, elk, bison, wolves and bears along a 10 km road. Open all year.
IllustrationArena & sports
Patinoire de Montebello
MontebelloAn outdoor rink with a roof over it, built thanks to a big community fundraising push. Even in freezing rain, you can skate.
IllustrationTrail
Piste cyclable familiale de Duhamel
DuhamelAn easy 10 km on the old Singer railway bed between Lac Simon and Lac Gagnon. The town even lends out bikes.
IllustrationTrail
Piste du parc national, secteur Thurso
ThursoOne of the national park's entrances is in Thurso. From there it's 21 km of riding along the Ottawa River, with turtles, groundhogs and a lot of…
IllustrationBeach
Plage municipale de Lac-Simon
Lac-SimonThe village beach, with three lifeguards from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. and free parking. The self-serve kayaks and boards are booked from your phone.
IllustrationBoat launch
Quai de pêche de Thurso
ThursoA dock put in just for anglers, near the ferry. Cast into the Ottawa without needing a boat.
IllustrationIllustrationFarm
Ranch Équinoxe
Notre-Dame-de-la-PaixWestern riding lessons right up to reining, and a self-serve farm stand from June to October with garlic, syrup, eggs and pastured chicken.
IllustrationPark
Réserve écologique de la Forêt-la-Blanche
MayoOne of the last old-growth forests in southern Québec, with trees over 400 years old. Leave the dog at home: it's an ecological reserve and dogs…
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Restaurant-Bar La Villa du Bifteck
ChénévilleFamily restaurant for seafood, steak, BBQ chicken, pizza and subs, with a 40-seat patio and craft beer. Closed Monday and Tuesday.
IllustrationIllustrationPark
SAJO (Service d'animation jeunesse de l'Outaouais)
Saint-SixteA youth organization with 250 acres of woods, two lookouts and a lake. You can get there along the Louis-Joseph-Papineau trail, and its four cabins…
IllustrationArena & sports
Sentier de patin en forêt de Lac-Simon
Lac-SimonAn ice trail winding through the woods, lit up at night, with a sliding hill next to it and a heated hut for lacing up.
IllustrationTrail
Sentier du Lièvre
Val-des-BoisAn easy walk through a pine stand along the Lièvre, made for families. There's a free all-terrain wheelchair to borrow, and an outdoor art walk…
IllustrationTrail
Sentiers Allons au bois (montagne Roy)
ChénévilleThree kilometres behind Robert-Latour park, up to a lookout over the village. The view is best in November once the leaves are down. In winter…
IllustrationLake
Site récréotouristique du lac Croche
MontpellierA stocked lake 14 km from Montpellier with a wood-heated shelter. Better yet, trout fishing stays open in winter here, December 20 to March 31.
IllustrationCidery
Verger Croque-Pomme
Lochaber-Partie-OuestAn organic orchard with about thirty apple varieties, fall pick-your-own and cider made on site.
IllustrationIllustrationLibrary
Chénéville / Lac-Simon Library
ChénévilleThe shared Chénéville and Lac-Simon library, wheelchair accessible, with a book drop outside Centre St-Félix-de-Valois.
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Halte routière du chemin du Lac-Grosleau
RiponA riverside rest stop on the Petite-Nation, made for picnics. Stop at the public market first and stock up.
IllustrationPark
Parc Caracole
NamurWhere Namur's kids go to burn off energy, not far from the Jardin de la relève.
IllustrationPark
Parc Jean-Paul « Mike » Parisien (jeux d'eau)
PapineauvilleThe village splash pad, for cooling the kids down on hot days.
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Parc municipal de Boileau
BoileauA quiet stop in Boileau, for the view of the hills around. The Maskinongé River runs close by.
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Parc municipal de Lac-des-Plages (bateau de pirate et pump track)
Lac-des-PlagesKids head straight for the pirate ship. The bigger ones go lap the pump track behind town hall.
IllustrationArena & sports
Patinoire Éric-Trépanier
FassettThe village rink, with tennis, pickleball and pétanque for the warmer months.
Events
Festival
Ripon Winter Carnival
RiponMid-February, one weekend · 2027 dates to be announcedThree days that get the whole village out. Supper and a show at the market Friday, a parade and spaghetti supper Saturday, then free…
Festival
Thurso Winter Carnival
ThursoLate February, run by the Knights of Columbus · 2027 dates to be announcedThurso's winter carnival, put on by the local Knights of Columbus. The lineup goes up on the event's Facebook page a few weeks ahead.
Community
Lac-Simon Winter Party
Lac-SimonA Saturday in February · 2027 dates to be announcedSkating and sliding to music, a lit-up igloo, a DJ and fireworks to close. Free hot chocolate, coffee and popcorn. No alcohol sold on…
Outdoors
Kids' Ice Fishing Day at Lac Croche
MontpellierA Saturday in February, from 8 a.m. · 2027 dates to be announcedAn ice-fishing morning to get kids hooked, run by Montpellier with Chénéville and Lac-Simon. Free permits for ages 6 to 17, a free hot-dog…
Outdoors
Bowman Forest Torchlight Walk
BowmanA Saturday evening in late February · 2027 dates to be announcedA walk by torchlight to the Cèdre shelter, with a bonfire waiting at the end. 2026 was the 8th year. Simple, pretty, and fine for kids.
Outdoors
Torchlight Snowshoe Walk
Saint-Émile-de-SuffolkOne winter evening, date set by the municipality · 2027 dates to be announcedA torch-lit snowshoe outing run by Saint-Émile's recreation department. A village thing, put together by volunteers.