Mont-Laurier
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Mont-Laurier

Mont-Laurier

Hautes-Laurentides town north of Montreal, surrounded by boreal forest, lakes, and cycling trails.

Mont-Laurier is a small town about three hours' drive north of Montreal, serving as the administrative capital of the Hautes-Laurentides region in Quebec. Surrounded by boreal forest, lakes, and the Laurentian Mountains, it draws visitors who come for the outdoor life rather than urban attractions.

A nature trail leads to the summit above town with a panoramic view over Matagami Lake and the surrounding forest. The Route Verte cycling network brings one of its long-distance trails here — a 200 km bicycle route following the former Canadian Pacific railway bed from Saint-Jérôme ends in Mont-Laurier, making the town a popular destination for cycle tourists completing the journey.

In winter, the area is prime cross-country skiing and snowmobile territory.

Guide

Getting There

Mont-Laurier is about three hours north of Montreal by car on Route 117, a scenic drive through the Laurentian Mountains. There is no direct train service; the closest Via Rail station is Saint-Jérôme. Regional bus services connect Mont-Laurier to Montreal and intermediary towns, with a journey time of about four hours.

The 200-kilometre Route Verte cycling trail from Saint-Jérôme provides an alternative arrival that takes two to four days by bicycle. The town's small airport handles charter flights.

Guide

Things to Do

Mont-Laurier's appeal is largely outdoors. The town centre has a Benedictine Abbey, a cultural centre, and a belvedere with views over the Laurentian landscape. The linear park running through town is good for a walk. The surrounding municipalities offer lakes stocked for fishing, and the old mill dam at Saint-Aimé-du-Lac-des-Îles makes a pleasant short excursion.