3 Days In Lanaudière Mauricie: An Authentic Quebec Itinerary

Have you heard of Lanaudiere and Mauricie regions in Quebec? Lanaudière-Mauricie, also known as Quebec Authentique (Authentic Quebec), lies between Montreal and Quebec City. While many visitors to Quebec will travel to Montreal and Quebec City, I urge you to explore the land between these great cities to experience Quebec's brilliant nature.

Whether you are visiting Montreal, Quebec City, or you're simply looking for new places to explore in Quebec, I highly recommend visiting Lanaudière-Mauricie. It's exceptional for nature lovers and outdoor adventurers with magnificent hiking and paddling opportunities.

You'll also be able to soothe those aching muscles at outdoor spas and baths. Foodies will adore the farm fresh food and distinctive farm experiences. My trip to Lanaudiere and Mauricie was the perfect outdoorsy trip: enjoying nature and pampering oneself.

Getting There

Getting to the Lanaudiere Mauricie region (Quebec Authentique) is easy, whether you're driving, flying or taking the train. If you're traveling from afar, you can fly to the Montréal-Trudeau International Airport. Find the best rates on flights to Montreal on Skyscanner.

Then, you'll need to rent a car to visit this region of Quebec. Many of the attractions and activities are in rural areas without any public transportation or Uber. Rent a car at the Montreal airport. I recommend comparing car rental prices and booking your car hire at Discover Cars. They've got the best rates and excellent customer service.

Day 1 in Lanaudiere Mauricie, Quebec

For day one of this Lanaudiere-Mauricie itinerary, we'll spend the day in Lanaudière region. Our first stop of the day, Terrebonne, is only about 20 minutes from Montreal or Laval. While it's possible to make a day trip to Lanaudière, I highly recommend spending a few days in the Authentic Quebec region. There's so much to see and do here that you'll be just scraping the surface with three days in the area.

Île-des-Moulins and Terrebonne

3 days in Lanaudiere Mauricie, Quebec: Terrebonne and Ile-des-Moulins

Start your road trip to Lanaudière-Mauricie in Vieux-Terrebonne and Île-des-Moulins. I quickly fell in love with this historic old town and picturesque island. There's no shortage of character with its restored 18th and 19th century buildings, informative museums, esteemed restaurants and thriving arts scene.

I recommend spending half a day in Terrebonne if you'd like to walk around town, go for lunch and a coffee, visit some museums, and experience the local parks. If you intend on attending a festival, event, or live theater production, you could easily spend the entire day in Terrebonne, Quebec.

Terrebonne and Île-des-Moulins are very walkable. Walk across a pedestrian bridge from Terrebonne to reach Île-des-Moulins, and then across another bridge to continue to Island Point Park. You can admire a beautiful view of the old mill from the edge of the waterfront here.

In Vieux Terrebonne, there's a pedestrian-only zone, free from cars, with a row of restaurants and cafes. You can't miss the colourful public art splashed across the street. While you're in Terrebonne, I suggest stopping for a coffee at Brûlerie De La Riviere, and later going for lunch or brunch at Le Divin Tandem.

Au Jardin des Noix

Next up in Lanaudiere Mauricie, let's drive to a unique destination that foodies will adore, Au Jardin des Noix. This is a 35-acre hazelnut grove where you can tour the orchard, pick your own hazelnuts, learn about the production process, and enjoy a tasting.

Au Jardin des Noix primarily grows hazelnuts and black walnuts, although they've also planted hickory, oak and chestnut trees. Go for a stroll in the fields to admire the trees up close, see their fruits, and even stumble upon some interesting sculptures in the grove.

You can pick your own walnuts and hazelnuts, depending on the season. There are guided tours where you'll learn how to pick hazelnuts or black walnuts. Au Jardin des Noix also holds workshops about mushrooms, ceremonial cocoa, stone sculptures, and more.

Back in the main building, there are two floors of displays, art, and shopping at your disposal. The boutique features many products made from the nuts grown right on site. There are nuts, oils, snacks, spreads, and even beer made with nuts. Make sure you participate in a tasting where you'll sample nuts, oil, and their "accent" nut topping that will add pizzazz to any meal.

Les Boisés de la Rivière Noire

Les Boisés de la Rivière Noire offers eight gorgeous cabins in the woods to have a secluded nature experience in pure comfort. Immerse yourself in a tranquil environment for a true escape. I enjoyed my own pod cabin called "L'Hirondelle" in the heart of the Sainte-Émélie-de-l'Énergie forest, perched on the edge of a picturesque river.

This little wooden chalet sleeps up to four people: two in the main bedroom and two up in the loft. This well-equipped, modern cabin features complimentary Wi-Fi, a flatscreen TV with satellite channels and streaming services, and a full kitchenette. There's also a bathroom with a toilet and shower inside the cabin.

The luxury continues outdoor as L'Hirondelle has its own spacious deck with patio furniture and a propane BBQ. The terrace has a private jacuzzi spa where you can admire the river views by day and gaze up into the stars at night. Take advantage of the outdoor fireplace and your own private sauna, too.

Every cabin at Les Boisés de la Rivière Noire comes equipped with two kayaks. Go paddling anytime you'd like throughout your stay. The river is very calm with magnificent views. I really loved kayaking at my leisure here.

I thoroughly enjoyed my getaway at Les Boisés de la Rivière Noire. Please note that there is a two night minimum stay, so you may choose to stay here for your second night in Lanaudiere, too. Additionally, I invite you to read more reviews on Tripadvisor.

Day 2 in Lanaudiere Mauricie, Quebec

Day two in Lanaudiere-Mauricie in this travel guide also takes place in Lanaudière region. Our activities today are an excellent combination of adventure and relaxation. We'll go hiking and kayaking, while at the same time pampering ourselves at the Nordic spa and rejuvenating baths (both at the spa and at our resort for the evening!).

La Source Bains Nordiques

Start the day off at one of the most serene places I've visited, La Source Bains Nordiques. This is a luxurious Nordic spa in Lanaudière-Mauricie in a unique location, carved into the mountains. I truly felt even more connected to nature in this environment, at the edge of the lush Rawdon forest.

While there are many soothing treatments and massages, I had a really enjoyable time at the hot and cold water baths, the sauna, the eucalyptus steam room, and the indoor and outdoor relaxation areas. Visiting a Nordic spa is incredible for your own health and well-being. A few hours at the spa promotes blood circulation, skin cleansing and the elimination of toxins.

Alternate between hot and cold water pools, venture into the steam bath or dry sauna, and follow it up with a dip beneath the cold waterfall. In the winter, you can even lay down in the snow! Then, soak up your beautiful surroundings from the relaxation areas as you take it all in. Make sure you book your reservation in advance to La Source Bains Nordiques to avoid disappointment.

Parc régional de la Chute-à-Bull

Next, let's go for a hike at the Parc régional de la Chute-à-Bull. This park has 6km of trails that range from easy to moderate. On your hike, you'll walk past a covered bridge and through beautiful forest paths until you reach a large staircase. While the views are amazing from the top of the staircase, you'll need to descend down to the bottom to have the best view of the waterfall.

Once you reach the bottom, soak up the magnificent scenery of this 18-metre high waterfall. It's a relatively short hike down to the waterfall and back, making this a great trek for families and beginner hikers. For a longer distance hike, add the Belvédère trail to your journey.

Auberge du Vieux Moulin

Here's another fantastic place to stay in Lanaudiere-Mauricie. While you could spend two nights at Les Boisés de la Rivière Noire, I also had a great time at Auberge du Vieux Moulin. It's an entirely different experience. Auberge du Vieux Moulin is a resort hotel with more amenities, although it's less secluded. I loved staying at both properties, so you can choose which one aligns more with your travel style.

Auberge du Vieux Moulin offers rooms, suites and cottages. My comfortable hotel room overlooked the spa. It had a large bedroom, bathroom and its own private balcony. Some of the rooms have fireplaces and claw foot bathtubs.

When you stay at Auberge du Vieux Moulin, you have access to their Nordic spa. Their relaxation centre includes an indoor swimming pool, one indoor and three outdoor spas, a cold waterfall, a dry sauna and steam bath, and outdoor relaxation areas with fireplaces.

You can also treat yourself to a massage or body treatment. While La Source Bains Nordiques is a bit more luxurious than the Nordic spa at this property, it is really quite amazing to have complimentary water baths and spas right at your hotel.

Auberge du Vieux Moulin has several activities that are included with your stay. There's a small lake with a sandy beach, beach volleyball, petanque and beach games, mountain bikes, and watercrafts like rowboats, kayaks, canoes, paddleboards and pedal boats. I took a kayak out on the lake and river and it was very scenic, relaxing and pretty.

After a morning at La Source Bains Nordiques and an early afternoon of hiking, treat yourself to a rejuvenating day and night at Auberge du Vieux Moulin. Their on-site restaurant has tasty vegan options, too! Check out more reviews of Auberge du Vieux Moulin on Tripadvisor.

Day 3 in Lanaudiere Mauricie, Quebec

For our final day in Lanaudiere-Mauricie region, also known as Authentic Quebec, we'll be exploring a bit of Mauricie region. Although Mauricie region is massive and extends far north into the wilderness, we'll be visiting Lac Saint-Pierre and Trois-Rivières to the south.

Café La Bezotte (Yamachiche)

After a relaxing morning soaking up the last bit of serenity at Auberge du Vieux Moulin, make the drive to the Mauricie region of Quebec. I stopped in Yamachiche for lunch at the cozy Cafe La Bezotte. This is a cute cafe inside one of the historic red brick homes of Yamachiche. It also has an excellent patio for warm, sunny days.

On the menu, you'll find local and seasonal flavors, along with delicious coffee beverages and beers from local microbreweries. I ordered a flavorful oat milk latte and the vegan tostadas. My dish came with onion bhajis, tons of veggies, and a yummy sauce. I highly recommend stopping for lunch at this great find.

Domaine du Lac St-Pierre

Domaine du Lac St-Pierre is not only where I rested my head for the night, but it's a whole destination in itself. Located in Louisville on the banks of Lac St-Pierre, you can participate in many outdoor activities at Domaine du Lac St-Pierre. I went glamping for the night, and another main attraction is their Bayou Safari.

In the afternoon, embark on their Safari on the Bayou adventure. Glide across the waters of Lake Saint-Pierre in a motorized boat until you reach the calmer narrow channels of this waterway. Drift through the rushes, swamps, flooded forests and wetlands spotting birds and plants along the way. You'll discover native flora and fauna on this unique journey. We saw bald eagles, blue heron, hawks, kingfishers and more.

For an elevated eco-camping experience, stay at the Domaine's glamping tent. This combines nature with luxury as you'll be staying in style in a rural setting. This glamping accommodation includes a comfy king bed, a sofa bed, a kitchen, a bathroom, a waterside terrace, an outdoor fireplace, a table picnic and a BBQ.

Trois-Rivières

For the rest of the afternoon and evening, drive to the city of Trois-Rivières. Go for a walk around the pedestrian-only streets lined with cafes and restaurants. Continue walking down by the waterfront and past historic buildings. I loved this bustling city that feels more like a vibrant small town.

Craft beer lovers will adore the microbrewery, Le Temps d'une Pinte. Choose your favourite pint from their long list of beer or perhaps you'd be more interested in a fragrant cup of coffee? I loved stopping here for a beer before going out for dinner.

Update: Sadly, Cafe Frida has closed.

For dinner, I visited the only vegan restaurant in Lanaudiere Mauricie, Cafe Frida. This delightful cafe has walls filled with local art, innovative vegan meals, and third wave coffee that's eco-friendly and responsible.

I ordered the not-chicken meal, homemade seitan croquettes breaded and coated with homemade buffalo sauce served with tater tots, homemade coleslaw and vegan salad. It was the ultimate comfort food meal! Then, I ordered a pistachio milk latte, which was the first time I'd had one and it lived up to the hype.

Looking for More Places to Stay?

You may decide to stay in one place across your three nights in Lanaudiere-Mauricie as a home base. Any of the above accommodations that I've listed are incredible hotels and cabins in nature. If you decide to stay in the city, you may consider staying at a hotel in Trois-Rivières.

Using the map below, you can compare the properties in Trois-Rivières. Enter your travel dates for more accurate information, and click on each hotel to learn more. Choose the one you like the most and book your stay.

3 Days In Lanaudière Mauricie: An Authentic Quebec Itinerary

Getting There