The Laurentian Mountains stretch northeast from the Ottawa River through Québec, offering a range of national parks and wildlife reserves. This area provides easy access to the wilderness for people from Montréal and Québec City, many of whom visit for hiking and water activities in the summer or snow sports in the winter. It’s also a great spot to spend a couple of nights on a self-drive tour of the east, with mountain scenery that contrasts beautifully with the low-lying St. Lawrence River Valley.

The two main bases here are the area around Saint-Alexis-des-Monts, which gives you access to the Mastigouche Wildlife Reserve, or Mont-Tremblant, a bustling ski resort in winter and a hub for activities year-round. In autumn, the tree-covered mountains transform into stunning shades of gold, red, and orange, making this a fantastic alternative for leaf-peepers looking to avoid the crowds and costs of New England at this time of year.