Home to the largest single log cabin in the world, the Fairmont Le Château Montebello, Montebello is one of the most popular tourist destinations in the Outaouais region of Quebec. Situate in the Papineau County at a 50-minute drive from Gatineau, Montebello offers a wide range of activities to do all year round. From the famous Parc Omega to the Manoir Papineau, you are sure to find something to do that will please everyone in your family. Here’s my list of awesome summer activities to in Montebello (Québec):
1. Visit the Manoir Papineau National Historic Site
Built in the mid-19th century by Louis-Joseph Papineau, a prominent and famous politician that marked Canada’s and Quebec’s political landscape, you can take a tour of the grounds and of the estate while learning about this important political figure. This makes for a great first stop in Montebello. Here, you will learn about the creation and development of the municipality which was established and named by Papineau.
Parks Canada offers guided tours of Papineau’s manor allowing visitors to take a step back into time and appreciate the lifestyle of a 19th-century bourgeois family. Parks Canada’s guides are well informed and provide tones of interesting facts about the manor and on Papineau’s life and legacies. You can walk around the estate for free. You must take a paid guided tour to enter inside the manor which is offered in both English and French. For more information on pricing and on Parks Canada’s offering, visit the Manoir Papineau’s website.
Location: 500 Rue Notre Dame, Montebello, QC J0V 1L0
2. Unique experience at Parc Omega
Parc Omega is probably one of the most well-known tourist attractions in the entire region. While Parc Omega offers a wide range of activities, their most popular one is the 12 km self-driven safari. You can discover Canada’s wildlife from the comfort of your vehicle like bison, bears, deer, etc. You can even feed the animals with carrots if you wish to. At night, the park lights up and becomes an immersive illuminated walking trail. Visitors can enjoy amazing sounds and lights on a 1.5 km trail which finishes with the wolf exhibit. Both these activities require separate tickets. For more information on these activities, on prices, and to purchase your tickets online, visit Parc Omega’s website.
Location: 399 Route 323 Nord, Montebello, Québec J0V 1L0
3. Go for an awesome hike at Kenauk Nature
Kenauk Nature is one of the largest privately owned nature reserves in North America with over 65 000 acres of protected land and more than 60 lakes. While Kenauk Nature is better known for its amazing accommodations, they also offer a wide range of fantastic hiking trails. From amazing views to fire towers, these trails are perfect for hikers of all levels and offer a tranquil location to explore. It is important to note that if you are not staying in one of their accommodations, there is a $20 entry fee per person into the park for the day. I personally recommend exploring the Baldy trail which is an 8.5 km round-trip difficult trail that takes around 4 hours to complete and leads you to a fire tower that you may climb at your own risk. For a list of all the trails and maps, visit Kenauk Nature’s website.
Location: 1000 Chem. Kenauk, Montebello, QC J0V 1L0
4. Taste some delicious cheeses at the Fromagerie Montebello
The Outaouais region is known for having some amazing local cheese makers. The Fromagerie de Montebello is an unavoidable stop for any cheese lover or someone looking to discover some amazing treats from the Outaouais region. Not only can you purchase some delicious cheeses, but you can also get some local goods like bread, sausages, jams, etc. Why not stop here and make yourself a little picnic to have on the side of the Outaouais River in the Manoir Papineau’s estate? They are open 7 days a week from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. (except on Fridays when they close at 6 p.m.).
Location: 687-A Rue Notre Dame, Montebello, QC J0V 1L0
5. Sample artisan chocolates at Chocomotive
Why not combine some cheese with delicious artisan chocolates from Chocomotive. This is one of my favourite places to visit in the region because they produce absolutely delicious chocolate products. They are located in the old Montebello train station in the heart of the town. While there, you can also purchase other local and regional products such as oils, spices, jams, etc.
Location: 502 Rue Notre Dame, Montebello, QC J0V 1L0
6. Hike or bike the Montebello Loop
Situated on the Manoir Papineau’s estate, you will find a multitude of great well-maintained trails that are perfect for an easy stroll, bike ride, or running. Don’t have a bike, you can rent an electric bike from Scootrek which is located at the Fairmont Le Château Montebello. One of the trails I recommend is the Montebello Tour which is a 5 km loop around the estate. For more information on this trail and for a map, visit AllTrails website.
7. Book a spa day at the Spa Fairmont Le Château Montebello
At the famous Château Montebello, you can book great spa treatments and take advantage of their facilities including an indoor pool with 2 whirlpools and a dry sauna. This is a perfect activity after a long day on the trails or for an indoor activity on a rainy day. Learn more about their packages and treatments by visiting the Spa Fairmont Le Château Montebello’s website.
Location: 392 Rue Notre Dame, Montebello, QC J0V 1L0
8. Sample a flight of beer at the Les Brasseurs de Montebello
This microbrewery makes for a perfect evening stop after a long day on the trails. They offer a wide variety of in-house beers. A great way to test a few out is with their flight of beer. Here, you can get some sushi with your beer thanks to the new Souche-i. For more information on the menu, beers, or hours of operation, visit Les Brasseurs de Montebello’s website.
Location: 485 Rue Notre Dame, Montebello, QC J0V 1L0
That was my list of awesome summer activities to do in Montebello (Québec). While there are other things still to do in this town like go mountain biking with Montebello Vélo de Montagne, these 8 activities should keep you busy for a great weekend in the Outaouais region of Quebec. From here, venture off to nearby towns like Plaisance to visit the Plaisance Waterfalls or Ripon for the Parc des Montagnes Noires.
