7 Days: A Nature Road Trip Between Montréal and Québec City

In just about 1.5 hours, you leave Montreal’s urban rhythm behind and reach the rolling landscapes of Saint-Jean-de-Matha. Here, Quebec shifts gears: dense forests, quiet roads, the scent of wood, and small gourmet stops set the tone for the first day of this 7-day Quebec itinerary.

If your schedule allows, take time to stop in Joliette. The Joliette Art Museum is well worth a visit for an unexpected cultural break at the start of your trip. Another option, with a more local flavor: stop by the Magasin de l’Abbaye, right next to your accommodation, to pick up a few local products and Canadian souvenirs.

For your first night, Auberge de la Montagne Coupée is a wonderful place to settle in. Come for its flavorful regional cuisine, but also for its spectacular view over the valley. It’s the perfect place to unplug and realize, as the landscape stretches out before you, that for the next week, nature will be both the backdrop and your best travel companion.

For the second day of your Quebec itinerary, head toward one of Lanaudiere’s most beautiful nature detours: Chutes-Monte-à-Peine-et-des-Dalles regional park. With forest trails, footbridges, and impressive waterfalls, this large regional park invites you to start the day to the rhythm of water and woods.

Before getting back on the road, stop at Maison Louis-Cyr, dedicated to the man often described as the strongest man of all time. It’s an original visit, historical, local, and surprising and a great way to add a touch of Quebec legend to your one-week itinerary in Quebec.

In the afternoon, make your way to Auberge du Lac Taureau in Saint-Michel-des-Saints. The road gradually becomes wilder: villages grow farther apart, the forest thickens, and you can feel the trip shifting toward a more expansive kind of nature. When you arrive, Auberge du Lac Taureau welcomes you on the shore of a vast lake, in a peaceful resort atmosphere surrounded by wilderness.

Once there, enjoy the end of the day at your own pace: go kayaking, canoeing, or paddleboarding on the lake; walk through the surrounding forest; relax on the beach; treat yourself to a quiet moment at the spa or Nordic baths.

This is the perfect stop to slow down, breathe deeply, and let Quebec Authentique do what it does best: turn a simple detour into a true nature escape.

There’s no need to take the highway toward Mauricie. The best part of this stretch is found on the smaller roads slower, yes, but far more rewarding. Between country lanes, small villages, forests, and lake views around Saint-Gabriel-de-Brandon, this part of your 7-day Quebec itinerary brings out a more local, down-to-earth side of the province.

Take time to make a few stops along the way, depending on what you’re in the mood for: taste maple products; take a break at a rural microbrewery; stop at Vignoble Saint-Gabriel; enjoy the viewpoints around the lakes of Saint-Gabriel-de-Brandon.

This stretch reveals another side of Quebec: more rural, quieter, and deeply local. Here, the detour isn’t just a way to avoid the highway. It’s a way to taste the land, pass through its villages, and take in the scale and beauty of Quebec’s landscapes.

You then arrive at Pourvoirie du Lac Blanc, a nature resort where slowing down happens almost naturally. The lake, forest, and outdoor activities create the setting for this new stop, ideal for extending the nature immersion that began the day before.

On site, several activities let you make the most of the surroundings: kayaking, canoeing, or pedal boating on the lake; beaver and bear watching; walks on forest trails; a fishing introduction, depending on the season.

After a day spent between scenic food stops and wide-open spaces, Pourvoirie du Lac Blanc is the perfect place to end the day.

On day four, your 7-day Quebec itinerary takes a real turn toward wilder landscapes. After the more rural scenery of the previous days, you head toward Haute-Mauricie, a region of deep forests, vast lakes, and stories shaped by lumberjacks, log drivers, and life in the woods.

As you drive, the scenery gradually becomes wilder. Route 155, one of Quebec’s most scenic roads, crosses wide, forested landscapes before leading you to a secluded dock. Here, the pace of the trip changes completely: the road ends, and the next part of the journey begins by boat. We suggest to spend 2 nights there.

You then reach Seigneurie du Triton, one of Quebec’s most iconic outfitters. Founded in the late 19th century, this historic lodge is accessible only by water and has kept a rare atmosphere that blends heritage, wilderness, and Quebec’s great forest traditions.

Once you arrive, it feels like stepping into another time: a century-old wooden lodge; old photographs that tell the story of the place; warm common rooms; stories shared by guides and people who know the forest well.

Once visited by figures such as Winston Churchill and Franklin D. Roosevelt, Seigneurie du Triton still has the kind of character only places with a long history can offer. You don’t come here just to sleep. You come here for the experience.

Depending on the season and your interests, you can enjoy classic Quebec activities: canoeing on the lake; hiking in the forest; fishing; wildlife watching; relaxing by the water.

This stop often becomes one of the most memorable parts of a 7-day Quebec itinerary. It’s quiet, immersive, deeply local, and especially appealing to travelers looking for more than just another hotel night.

After a night that feels completely outside of time at Seigneurie du Triton, the journey picks up gently. You leave the same way you arrived: by water. The boat ride back creates a natural transition between the remote feel of Haute-Mauricie and the next part of your one-week Quebec itinerary farther south.

On the way, plan a stop in Shawinigan, a city with a strong industrial past along the Saint-Maurice River. A visit to La Cité de l’Énergie gives you a better understanding of Quebec’s energy history and the important role this region played in it. It’s a worthwhile cultural stop before returning to nature.

It’s an ideal stop for travelers spending 7 days in Quebec: immersive enough to keep the nature theme going, but comfortable enough to recharge before exploring La Mauricie National Park the next day.

From there, continue to Saint-Jean-des-Piles, at the gateway to La Mauricie National Park, and check in at Nature Nature. This eco-conscious property offers a very different experience from the night before: more contemporary, more minimalist, but still deeply connected to the surrounding landscape.

The focus here is on simple comfort, clean design, and relaxation: sleek micro-cabins; modern cabins surrounded by nature; outdoor spas and saunas; terraces overlooking the Saint-Maurice River.

Just minutes from Saint-Jean-des-Piles, La Mauricie National Park is one of the top nature highlights of this one-week Quebec itinerary. The day unfolds among wide lakes, dense forest, scenic drives, and dramatic viewpoints.

Depending on your pace and the season, you can enjoy the park in several ways:
- walk accessible trails such as Les Cascades or Les Falaises;
- stop at the lookouts along the scenic parkway;
- take a quiet break by a lake;
- enjoy the natural beaches in summer.

In summer and fall, the park’s scenic drive offers some of the most beautiful landscapes in Mauricie. With lake reflections, colorful maples, rocky cliffs, and forest as far as the eye can see, this day captures exactly what makes a one-week nature itinerary in Quebec so memorable.

Later in the day, head to Trois-Rivières, one of the oldest cities in Quebec. After several days in the forest, arriving in town brings a welcome change of pace: lively streets, historic buildings, restaurants, riverfront views, and an easygoing atmosphere.

Check in at Hôtel Oui GO! or Delta Trois-Rivières, then spend the evening walking along the waterfront promenade. For dinner, head to Rue des Forges, where you’ll find several restaurants for a relaxed evening of local food, patios, and a more urban vibe.

Delta Trois-Rivières offers a magnificent view of the St. Lawrence River.

For the final day of this 7-day Quebec itinerary, take time to explore Trois-Rivières, a manageable, historic city set between the St. Lawrence River and several centuries of Quebec history. After the wide-open landscapes of Mauricie, this last stop brings you back to heritage, culture, and local flavors before you continue on to Montreal or Quebec City.

Depending on your interests, several visits are worth adding to the day:
- explore the Boréalis museum, dedicated to the history of paper, former pulp mills, and working-class life in Trois-Rivières;
- visit Musée POP, especially for a deeper look at Quebec popular culture through the Attache ta tuque! exhibition;
- discover the Forges-du-Saint-Maurice National Historic Site, where you can see the remains of Canada’s first ironworks and admire metal pieces once produced at the Forges;
- follow a heritage walk or self-guided route through old streets, historic buildings, and lesser-known corners of the city.

The last day wraps up the itinerary gently: a little culture, a little history, a little maple, a few riverside villages, and the feeling that you’ve discovered a more intimate side of Quebec far from the crowds, yet close to everything.

To reach Montreal or Quebec City, take the King’s road. This historic route follows much of the St. Lawrence River and passes through several picturesque villages. It’s slower than the highway, but far more enjoyable a final stretch of river views, heritage, and charming stops before the trip comes to an end.

Before leaving the region, stop at Cabane à sucre Chez Dany, just a few minutes east of Trois-Rivières. It’s a fitting way to close out this one-week Quebec itinerary with a tradition that feels unmistakably local: maple, warm hospitality, long shared tables, and that little touch of sweetness that says a lot about how Quebec welcomes visitors.