Notre-Dame-De-La-Merci

Forest trails, scenic loops, and a riverbank shape the experiences available in Notre-Dame-de-la-Merci. Three sectors of Parc régional de la Forêt Ouareau are located within the municipality. If you enjoy spending time outdoors, you’ll find a range of options here, from hiking and cycling to cross-country skiing, climbing, snowshoeing, and Hébertisme. When planning your trip, you can decide which activities should be the focus for your group.

Trails and activities in Parc régional de la Forêt Ouareau

The multi-use trail network in the three sectors is 120 kilometers long in total. The range of activities offers different ways to experience the landscape: you can focus on a hike or bike ride, or explore winter sports, climbing, and snowshoeing. Hébertisme is also on offer. These options suit different interests; you don’t have to combine all the activities into a single outing.

Parc régional de la Forêt Ouareau is accessible through the Massif, Pont Suspendu, and Contreforts sectors. These names can help you find your way when planning a visit to the park’s different access areas. The park also has a certified climbing wall, managed by the Fédération québécoise de la montagne et de l’escalade. For guests who want to include climbing in their trip, it offers a separate point of interest alongside the trails.

One specific trail option is the Sentier des Murmures. From Notre-Dame-de-la-Merci, you can reach it via Chemin de la Forêt Ouareau. The trail runs for 5.5 kilometers along the Ouareau River through the forest, connecting the Pont-Suspendu and Grande-Jetée areas of Parc régional de la Forêt Ouareau. Its length and the two areas it connects can help you plan your day; you can consider the Sentier as a standalone activity.

Views of Lac Blanc and the village

The Les points de vue du Lac Blanc loop offers views of Lac Blanc and the mountains to the north. If you enjoy taking in several perspectives on an outing, this loop is a good option to consider alongside the trails in Parc régional. Another viewpoint awaits on the loop to Belvédère de la Croix: in autumn, you can see the village of Notre-Dame-de-la-Merci and its deciduous forest from there. The two loops offer different scenery: one features the lake and mountains, the other the village and autumn foliage.

By the Dufresne River

The Dufresne River is also part of the local landscape. In the town center, at the intersection of Routes 125 and 347, there is a regional rest area where you can picnic by the river and relax. There is also a public beach on the banks of the Dufresne. You can reach it on foot from the rest area; by car, take Chemin du barrage. These details can help you plan time by the river as a separate outing.

Local history and accommodation

If you’d like to learn about local history as well as enjoy the landscape and activities, you can watch the historical documentary “Notre-Dame-de-la-Merci se raconte,” available through a provided link. For a specific accommodation option, Kabania offers 17 heated wooden cabins on stilts in a coniferous forest by the Dufresne River in Notre-Dame-de-la-Merci. It’s a distinctive accommodation option, described in clear detail. When choosing a vacation rental or vacation home, you can also consider whether your plans will focus mainly on forest trails, viewpoints, or time by the river.

More local pages: Saint-Jean-De-Matha, Entrelacs, Saint-Damien, Saint-Michel-Des-Saints, Saint-Côme, Saint-Alphonse-Rodriguez, Sainte-Béatrix and Saint-Zénon.

For the broader travel overview: Matawinie.