7 Incredible Things to do Mont-Tremblant, Quebec

Looking for the best adventures and experiences in the adorable Quebec mountain town of Mount Tremblant? From scenic rides through the sky to where to find the best crepes, read on for things to do in Mount Tremblant!

Why this blog? My name is Maddy and I’ve worked as an outdoor guide and travel writer since 2018! I’m here to help you streamline your travel and make trip planning easier, all will the goal of helping match you to the best possible activities for your trip.

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Best Things to do in Mont-Tremblant, Quebec

Looking to visit the beautiful mountain town of Mont-Tremblant in Quebec, but not sure where to begin your adventure? Mont-Tremblant is best known as an incredible ski town north of Montreal, but the mountains and adjacent National Park also make for an exciting summer destination, where outdoor adventures meet chic mountain town charm.

Here are a few quick things to keep in mind when visiting Mont-Tremblant:

• French is the spoken language here! While many people also speak English due to proximity to Ontario, it goes a really long way for English speakers to learn how to say please and thank you in French, as well as how to order food (trying is better than nothing!).
• Mont-Tremblant’s summer temperatures are typically pretty comfortable, only occasionally hotter than 80 F (27 C) and dipping down to the 60s and 50s in the evening (10-15 C). Keep in mind that this is a mountain town, so you can expect shifting weather throughout the day typical of mountains.
• Keep in mind that the closer you are to Mont-Tremblant the mountain village, the more expensive things are. Consider staying outside of town and popping in for daytime activities.

1) Ride the Gondola to the top of the mountain

The number one can’t-miss thing to do in Mont-Tremblant is to ride the panoramic gondola to the top of the mountain then hike up the observation tower. Purchase tickets at the ticket office in Mont Tremblant, and enjoy the ride up!

This is a fun and very scenic ride! When we visited, my grandparents all in their mid-80s did it and waited at the Grand Manitou Cafe while we hiked to the 360 Observation Tower. I recommend doing this early on your first day in Mont-Tremblant to help you get the lay of the land and decide what you’d like to do next.

2) Explore the village

The Mont-Tremblant pedestrian village is adorable and has a distinctly European quality to it. It reminded me a lot of the village in Beauty and the Beast! There are so many interesting cafes, shops and places to eat here that you could probably spend a whole day walking and shopping if you want to.

Several of the evenings in town had live music, and the village is a great jumping off point for a lot of adventures up the mountain. There’s also a gondola through the pedestrian village (this one is free!) that takes you from the bottom to the top of the village and vice versa — worth considering because from the parking lot to the “top” of the village is a decent uphill gradient if you plan to walk.

Parking in Mont-Tremblant Village:

The parking situation in Mont-Tremblant to access the village can be a little confusing, especially if you don’t read French. You can find the parking lot at this Google Maps pin. The back lot, a little farther from the village is free to park in, but first-come, first-serve with a someone there to monitor cars in and out. If you’d like to snag a free parking spot, you’ll need to arrive earlier in the morning at least before 10 am.

The closer lot is paid parking and decently pricey, but less likely to fill. I believe in the two or so hours my sister and I spent parked there to shop we paid nearly $20 CAD. Needless to say, we woke up earlier the next day.

3) Hike to a waterfall

You can find a lot of fun activities from the top of Mont-Tremblant village including alpine slides and the Tonga Lumina night walk but personally I think the best thing to do from here (and a totally free thing to do) is to hike and explore some of the waterfalls on the lower side of the mountain.

Hiking trails criss-cross the lower mountain, with views of the village as you climb and several waterfalls. Check out the Ruisseaux trail waterfall, and find other hiking trails that leave from the Mont- Tremblant village here.

READ: Best Hiking Boots & Shoes

4) Eat a Crepe at La maison de la crêpe

If I’m being totally honest, a breakfast crepe was the thing I was most looking forward to about visiting Mont-Tremblant. There is something just so magical and quaint about a sleepy little breakfast at a beautiful cafe in a gorgeous town.

My mom and I got up early this morning for breakfast and this was one of my favorite parts of the trip, highly recommend a morning stroll through the town followed by a breakfast crepe. Also, these crepes were HUGE I think I got three more meals out of just one order.

5) Kayak the River Rouge via Pause Plein Air

If you’re looking for a fun, full-day adventure on the scenic River Rouge organize a kayak rental and shuttle with Pause Plein Air. Single and double kayaks are both available as well as canoes, and this shuttle service drops you off at a put in to the north. From here, you’ll paddle about six miles back to Pause Plein Air. Life jackets and paddles are also provided.

This is an especially nice place to spend a full day kayaking as the bottom of the river is sandy and great for swimming. You’ll wind through river bluffs with mountains in the distance and experience clear water and gorgeous views.

Keep in mind that this paddle will likely take 4+ hours, and wear sunscreen! Bring snacks if needed as well. Current in the water is dependent on time of year and water levels, but when I visited in mid-July the current was mild but still strong enough to pull you along. I would consider this a kid-friendly adventure, so long as your kid doesn’t mind the length of the paddle and they are in a tandem kayak or canoe with an adult who doesn’t mind paddling for them if needed.

6) Guided Via Ferrata Trip in Mont-Tremblant National Park

If you’re looking for a true, heart-pounding adventure experience in Mont-Tremblant check out the guided Via Ferrata trip. Via Ferrata is a rock climbing trip where you are clipped into preexisting ropes and wires. You’ll climb sheer cliff faces via ladders, bridges and good old fashioned careful footing. Thing of this as an extra scenic, extra exciting hiking trip.

7) Hike to the top of Mont-Tremblant

Tackle the Vertigo trail and climb from the base of Mont-Tremblant to the summit! While this trail is just 3.5 miles (5.6 km), you’ll tackle nearly 2000 feet of elevation gain (600 m), making for a challenging ascent. At about seven miles round-trip, you also have the option to take the the gondola back down (you’ll need to purchase a ticket for this!) and just do the 3.5 miles up.

I would NOT recommend just doing the 3.5 miles down. This might sound easier, but downhill like that is going to be brutal on your knees. While uphill might be a harder workout, downhill is harder on your actual body and more painful.

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Other things to do and trip planning resources for Mont-Tremblant:

• The Mont-Tremblant visitors website can be a helpful tool! I found it to be a little hard to navigate, but it has great information.
• Your Matie Katie has an excellent guide to visiting the nearby Mont-Tremblant National Park
• Book a ziplining tour at Mont Tremblant

Looking for other unique adventure in Canada? Check out…

• Backpack Killarney’s La Cloche Silhouette Trail
• Explore British Columbia’s Desolation Sound
• Sea kayak the Gulf Islands

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