The Laurentian Mountains run northeastwards from the Ottawa River through the province of Québec. The range includes several national parks and wildlife reserves and offers easy access to wilderness for the Montréal and Québec City folk, many of whom spend time here enjoying the splendid hiking and water-based activities in the summer and snow sports in the winter. It is also a lovely place to spend a couple of nights on a self-drive tour of the east, offering mountain scenery in contrast to the low-lying river valley of the St. Lawrence.

The two main places to base yourself while here are either the area around Saint-Alexis-des-Monts, which offers access to the Mastigouche Wildlife Reserve, or Mont-Tremblant, a bustling ski resort in winter and also a hub for activities all year round. In autumn, the tree-covered mountains turn splendid colours of gold, red, and orange, and this beautiful scenery offers an excellent alternative for any leaf-peepers who want to avoid the hustle and expense of New England at this time of year.