Do you ever feel like you need a break from your daily routine? Well, you do need a break, my friend. Sure, you could visit the same place you’ve been to dozens of times before, stay at the same hotel, eat the same food. Whatever.

Or not! Do something different this time around. Go on a road trip to a little-known gem that’s worth the ride. Start the car and head for Les Chemins d’eau tourist route, in the Outaouais region, for a true adventure that fuels our sense of pride and unites us in our love of culture, history and unparalleled nature itself.

The Ultimate Guide for a Memorable Road Trip along Les Chemins d’eau Tourist Route: 

Where is this magical place?

Credit: oneland.media - Charles-Edouard Carrier

It’s a place that few people take advantage of, yet it’s in our own backyard. Navigate Les Chemins d’eau by land; the Outaouais tourist route that winds along the Ottawa River from Petite Nation to Gatineau, traversing the Collines-de-l’Outaouais and Pontiac regional county municipalities.

Pack your bags and start the car, and you can see with your own two eyes what it was like for the people who settled along the shores of the waterway. Plus, discover the natural heritage of the Outaouais region. The adventure begins on Route 148, which runs parallel to the Ottawa River from the Petite Nation and the city of Gatineau to the Pontiac. Don’t worry, you can’t get lost, just follow the canoeist on the blue signs, he’ll guide you along Les Chemins d’eau, the first tourist route in the Outaouais.

Bonus Tip: When entering Les Chemins d'eau, look for info terminals to scan a QR code and listen to podcasts on the heritage of the Outaouais and its territories. If you are curious, you can listen to them directly on the website before hitting the road.

Discover the history of the region:

Credit: Myriam Baril-Tessier

Head to George Bryson Cultural House for a peek into history. Originally from Scotland, George Bryson played an active part in the economic expansion of the Pontiac logging market after he settled in the Pontiac in the late 1830s, setting up a sawmill with a log slide on the Chutes Coulonge to transport the wood. Twenty years later, he built an exquisite house on the banks of the Coulonge River, which was designated a historic monument by the Quebec Ministry of Culture and Communications in 1980. Today, it’s a museum dedicated to the family who lived there and the logging history of the region.

Bonus Tip: Are you a romantic? Head across the street to the Félix-Gabriel-Marchand Bridge, the longest covered bridge in Quebec

Tour an herb farm:

Credit: Apothecary - La Fée des Bois

Discover a world of herbs at Apothecary – La Fée des Bois, an amazing place to take in the herb gardens and medicinal plant gardens. Participate in an immersive workshop, or enjoy a guided tour, which includes information about the history of the farm, and the use, cultivation and medicinal properties of more than two dozen plants. Then enjoy a tasting of herbal teas, herbal salts and other local products grown on the farm. Visit the rustic boutique for everything from herbal teas to ointments. 

Get Outside! 

Credit: Myriam Baril-Tessier

Thrill seekers will love Chutes Coulonge Adventure Park, where they can take a self-guided tour on tools and logging techniques used in the 1800s, before taking in the falls and zip-lining over the Coulonge River.

For the ultimate white water rafting experience, bet your paddles on Rafting Momentum, where you can ride the waves in with world-class rapids. Adventure, classic and family rafting are all available here. 

Show off your lumberjack skills with axe throwing or take a walk along a trail, then hop on a raft for a lazy river ride, and float as long as you like at Aventure Hélianthe. If you like sleeping under the stars, check out the camping facilities as well. 

Take a hike! On the Oiseau Rock Hiking Trail, a 10-km hike through the forest in Sheenboro, for breathtaking views high above the Ottawa River. Dip your feet in the river and or take a swim in the lake at the summit. Note: This trail is for experienced hikers, as it is challenging and unmarked in some places.  

A Girl (and Guy) Needs to Eat – and Drink!

Credit: Camille Labonté

Le sweets, c’est chic at Pontiac Home Bakery because there is nothing quite like fresh-baked goods from a sweet bakery, especially when you walk in and the aroma of freshly baked bread fills the air. Choose from yummy cupcakes and delicious pies to homemade soups and famous smoked meat sammie.

It’s an easy vibe, listen to live music while sippin on a coffee or drinking a beer from a local brewery. Then dig in for pizza, soups, sammies and pastries at Café Downtown, located in a 1940s building in Fort-Coulonge.

Vive le vin! Tour a winery and discover wines made from northern grape varieties at Little Red Wagon Winery. Enjoy a glass while you watch the ducks waddling in the pond outside. Or maybe you feel like partying? Check out live music and dinner nights you can book on the website. 

OK, you need a place to stay

Credit: Hillhaus Dômes Pontiac

Auberge Spruceholme Inn offers a spot of traditional elegance at the heritage home, built in 1875 by George Bryson Jr. and his bride, Helen. Lots to do here, just minutes away, including a golf course, a bike path, and rafting and canoeing centres, all just minutes away.

For a true nature experience, how about a geodesic dome with a hot tub, AC, heat, kitchen, luxury bathroom and private outdoor space at your very own lake? You can book at Hillhaus Dômes Pontiac right here. 

Get away from it all and curl up in a cosy cabin nestled in 75 acres of forest with lake access. Awesome views, superior architecture and beautiful interiors are a trademarks of Chalets Prunella in Thorne (Ladysmith). 

Here is the map to consult for all addresses and routes! Safe travels and bon voyage!

 

 

We have so much to offer in the Outaouais. Discover our eight national museums, where you can immerse yourself in art, nature, history, technology, science or aviation. In the city or in nature, escape for a walk and admire the scenery. Relax at the spa and sample the local flavours. The Outaouais invites you to make the most of every season.