Mont-Tremblant National Park is one of our favorite places to go hiking in the Laurentians. Although our favorite trail within the park is probably the La Coulée loop trail, the national park has several other great trails to discover as well. Notably, there are the Chute du Diable (Devil’s Falls) and the Chutes Croches (Croches Falls) trails, which are quite short and lead to scenic waterfalls. Another popular hike follows the Centenaire Trail (Centenary Trail), which was recently developed in honour of the park’s 100th anniversary. So to help you discover this beautiful area around Mont-Tremblant, we put together this Hiking Guide for those three trails: Chutes Croches, Chute du Diable & Le Centenaire.
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You might also be interested in these pages:
Best Hiking Trails Near Mont-Tremblant
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Quebec Hiking Trails that Are Stunning in Winter
Mont-Tremblant National Park Trail Location and Map
Mont-Tremblant National Park is located in the Laurentians region, roughly 150 km north of Montreal.
How to Get to Mont-Tremblant National Park
The easiest way to national park and the three highlighted trails is by car.
From Montreal: about 2h drive (150 km).
From the Mont-Tremblant area: about a 35-to-45-minute drive, depending if you are leaving from the town of Mont-Tremblant (south of Lac Mercier) or the ski resort area (north of Lac Mercier).
From Ottawa: about a 2h30 drive (195 km).
If you need to book a rental vehicle for your hiking excursion, we highly recommend using Discover Cars to get the best rates on your rental in Montreal.
We also highly recommend Airalo (eSIM card) for your connectivity needs when travelling abroad. Airalo is the world’s first and largest eSIM store with eSIM plans for 200+ countries and regions worldwide.
About Mont-Tremblant National Park
Mont-Tremblant National Park is one of 28 Quebec National Parks, the majority of which are administered by the Société des établissements de plein air du Québec (SÉPAQ) (Nunavik Parks administer the others). Although all provincial parks in Quebec have used the term “national park” since 2002, there is no connection to the federal national park system, administered by Parks Canada.
Taking its name from the nearby Mont Tremblant, this park is Quebec’s oldest national park (created in 1895, and is Canada’s third oldest protected park) and the fourth-largest park in the province. The park is home to six large rivers, over 400 lakes, and is home to over 40 mammal species. It was also recently certified as a Dark Sky Park in 2023. Of all the parks listed on this page, it is the one with the largest selection of hiking trails, with over 20 of them spread over three different park sectors (Le Diable sector, Pimbina-Saint-Donat sector, and L’Assomption sector). The closest sector to Mont-Tremblant is the Diable sector, whose entrance is about a 25-minute drive from Mont-Tremblant mountain and resort.
The Diable Sector’s Visitor Center is located on the beautiful banks of Lake Monroe (Lac-Monroe Visitors Centre). The visitor center is a great place to start your exploration of the park, as the lakeside views are spectacular, and the trailheads to two of our favorite hiking trails are just across the main road.
All Quebec National Parks charge the same access fees and you can buy an annual pass that allows unlimited access to all parks.
Daily access fees and Annual passes
Quebec National Parks are managed by the SÉPAQ, a government agency that manages all provincial parks and wildlife preserves in Québec.
There is a limit to the number of visitors that can enter any Québec SÉPAQ National Park on any given day. It is therefore strongly recommended that you purchase your daily right of access online before a visit or that you acquire an annual pass.
The daily pass ($9.85 (2024)) can be purchased here up to 30 days before a visit.
The annual pass can be purchased here either for unlimited access to a single national park ($49.25 (2024)) or for unlimited access to all SÉPAQ national parks ($88.50 (2024)). Even if you have an annual pass, we still recommend arriving early in the morning or mid-to-late afternoon to avoid showing up to a filled parking lot.
Chute du Diable Trail Access, Fees, and Parking
Trailhead & car park location: Both are found here.
Trail access & parking fees: Québec National Park fees apply (see above) for day visits to the park. There are no additional fees for parking.
Trail opening Hours: 24 hours.
We recommend checking out the park’s official website to see if there are any temporary trail closures.
Parking lot: The car park is relatively small and can fill up quickly on weekends and during the leaf-peeping season. However, since the trail is fairly short, car turnover should be pretty quick.
Facilities: The nearest toilets are located at the park’s Visitor Center, 7km south of the car park and trailhead.
Chute du Diable Trail Details and Map (Devil’s Falls)
Also often referred to as the Devil’s Falls Trail, the Chute du Diable Trail features a short but very pleasant woodland path leading to the spectacular waterfalls.
Distance: 1.4 km
Route Type: Out & Back
Elevation gain: 25 m (cumulative elevation gain: 63 m)
Start point: Car Park
AllTrails rating: (4.7, 230 ratings (2024))
Duration: Most people complete the trail in about 20-30 minutes
Access Fees: SEPAQ daily rate
Not an AllTrails member yet? We highly recommend signing up for either their free or paid membership plans. The free plan allows you to find new trails and plan routes but it can only be used while hiking if you have access to mobile data. The paid membership plan (AllTrails+) allows you to download trail maps for offline use and provides live progress updates and off-route notifications.
If you are still uncertain – you should know that the All Trails mobile application was voted the 2023 iPhone App of the Year by Apple.
Other Chute du Diable Trail Details
– Canine companions: Dogs are NOT permitted on this trail.
– Trail environment: Forest – you will be under tree cover for most of the trail.
– Trail Surface / Technical Trail: This trail is very well-manicured and easy to walk on. Although the trail has some short ups and downs, the trail surface is flat enough for use with strollers and is definitely very family-friendly.
– Average trail slope grade: 8% (overall this is an average slope, but it continuously changes from going up to going down, so there are true “huff and puff” sections here.
– Trail difficulty level: Very Easy.
(based on our personal assessment, taking into account the trail length, slope grade and trail surface – 5-point difficulty scale: Very easy, Easy, Moderate, Moderately Challenging, Challenging)
Chutes-Croches Trail Access, Fees, and Parking
Trailhead & car park location: Both are found here. The trailhead and car park are very close to the Chute du Diable trailhead.
Trail access & parking fees: Québec National Park fees apply (see above) for day visits to the park. There are no additional fees for parking.
Trail opening Hours: 24 hours.
We recommend checking out the park’s official website to see if there are any temporary trail closures.
Parking lot: The car park is relatively small and can fill up quickly on weekends and during the leaf-peeping season. However, since the trail is fairly short, car turnover should be pretty quick.
Facilities: The nearest toilets are located at the park’s Visitor Center, 7km south of the car park and trailhead.
Chutes-Croches Trail Details and Map (Croches Falls)
This trail is even shorter than the previous one, but you will be rewarded with a small yet scenic series of waterfalls.
Distance: 0.8 km
Route Type: Out & back
Elevation gain: 22 m
Start point: Car Park
AllTrails rating: (4.4, 76 ratings (2024))
Duration: Most people complete the trail in about 15-20 minutes
Access Fees: SEPAQ daily rate
Other Chutes-Croches Trail Details
– Canine companions: Dogs are NOT permitted on this trail.
– Trail environment: Forest – you will be under tree cover for most of the trail.
– Trail Surface / Technical Trail: This trail is very well-manicured and easy to walk on. Although the trail has some short ups and downs, the trail surface is flat enough for use with strollers and is definitely very family-friendly.
– Average trail slope grade: 3% (overall this is a very easy slope, but there is one much steeper section (12%), which fortunately only lasts about 100 meters so it shouldn’t present much of a challenge to most people).
– Trail difficulty level: Very Easy.
(based on our personal assessment, taking into account the trail length, slope grade and trail surface – 5-point difficulty scale: Very easy, Easy, Moderate, Moderately Challenging, Challenging)
Le Centenaire Trail Access, Fees, and Parking
Trailhead & car park location: Both are found here. Whereas both the previous trails were located near the northern end of the park, the Centenaire trail is located towards the south end, 15km south of the other trailheads.
Trail access & parking fees: Québec National Park fees apply (see above) for day visits to the park. There are no additional fees for parking.
Trail opening Hours: 24 hours.
We recommend checking out the park’s official website to see if there are any temporary trail closures.
Parking lot: The car park is relatively small and can fill up quickly on weekends and during the leaf-peeping season.
Facilities: The nearest toilets are located at the park’s Visitor Center, 7km north of the car park and trailhead.
Le Centenaire Trail Details and Map (Centenary Trail)
Created in 1995 on the slopes of La Vache Noire Mountain to celebrate the national park’s 100th anniversary, this trail features several viewpoints, including an impressive one of the meandering Diable River.
Distance: 8.4 km
Route Type: Out & Back with Partial Loop
Elevation gain: 310 m (cumulative elevation gain: 385 m)
Start point: Car Park (small lot, arrive early)
AllTrails rating: (4.5, 783 ratings (2024))
Duration: Most people complete the trail in about 2h30-3h
Access Fees: SEPAQ daily rate
Other Centenaire Trail Details
– Canine companions: Dogs are NOT permitted on this trail.
– Summit: The Montagne Noire Nord summit has an altitude of 645m.
– Trail environment: Forest – you will be under tree cover for most of the trail.
– Number of viewpoints: The trail boasts several viewpoints from various rocky outcrops along the trail.
– Trail Surface / Technical Trail: Though not perfectly flat (several segments are more rocky and have tree roots), the trail isn’t considered very technical, at least not to the point of slowing you down. Certain sections are also prone to being muddy after recent rain.
– Average trail slope grade: 9% (although this is a slope of average difficulty, this value is a bit misleading as the first 1.5 km of the trail is fairly flat, and for the next 2.5 km, you will ascend on a slope of 15-20% until you reach the trail’s highest point).
– Trail difficulty level: Moderately Challenging.
(based on our personal assessment, taking into account the trail length, slope grade and trail surface – 5-point difficulty scale: Very easy, Easy, Moderate, Moderately Challenging, Challenging)
Trail Description
From the parking lot, the trail first goes around the Sablionnère campground and ascends very slowly for the first 1.5 km, with fantastic views of the Diable River around the 1.5 km mark.
Then the trail starts to climb more steeply for the next 2.5 km until you reach the Vache Noire Mountain’s northern summit, where shortly after that you will come across two fantastic viewpoints (large open rock faces) of the surrounding mountains and Bagsly Lake to the east.
Note that around the 3.5 km mark, you will come across an intersection: this is the start of the loop portion, head left to tackle the steepest portion of the loop first. The forest in parts of the loop section was quite pretty with several rock faces covered in moss.
Between both loop viewpoints, around the halfway mark of the loop, you will come across another intersection, with a path that will take you to the Montagne de la Vache Noire’s main summit, which is another 2km away (4km with return). Keep right at this intersection to stay on the trail.
Chutes Croches, Chute du Diable & Le Centenaire Trail Hiking & Trail Tips
– During the peak summer and fall months, the parking lots can fill up quickly, particularly on weekends. Try to arrive early in the morning or late afternoon to guarantee a spot.
– Mosquitoes and black flies can be a nuisance at certain times during the year. The exact dates vary from year to year, but they are generally most present from mid-May to mid-July. Regardless of when you come, it’s always a good idea to carry some bug spray with you, just in case.
– Stick to the designated path to protect the surrounding environment. Not to mention that there are a lot of private properties around the trail.
– Best time to visit: We tend to prefer hiking in this area from mid-August to early November. The weather will be pleasant and the likelihood of being harassed by bugs is significantly reduced. Moreover. Note that trails are quite busy during the weekends of the leaf-peeping season (typically from late September to mid-October), so it’s best to arrive early or to try to come on a weekday.
Hiking Packing List
All Trails subscription – This comes in really handy for areas with little or no cell reception, as the annual subscription allows you to download trail maps for offline use.
External Battery – If you are using your phone to track your progress along the trail or to help with navigation, you certainly don’t want your phone to die on you. That’s especially true in the unlikely event that you might get hurt or need assistance.
Hiking poles – These can be particularly useful in steep trails or muddy/boggy trail conditions.
Some of Our Other Nearby Favorite Hiking Trails
There are so many great hiking around the Mont-Tremblant area. One of our nearby favorites (also located within the National Park) is the La Coulée loop trail. The trail takes you to two fantastic viewpoints followed by a beautiful lakeside path.
Another one of our favorites is the combined Montagne Verte and Nez-de-l’Indien trail. This trail boasts some of the best panoramic 360-degree viewpoints of the entire area. This trail is free and is located a few kilometres west of Mont-Tremblant near the village of Labelle.
For a more complete list of our favorite trails in the area check out our guide on the Best Hiking Trails near Mont-Tremblant.
Other Activities In and Around Mont-Tremblant
If you are looking for other fun activities to do in the Mont-Tremblant area there are several great options including boat cruises, white water rafting and visiting a tree-top observatory.
Where to Stay in the Mont-Tremblant Region?
Though many visit the area as a day trip, spending a weekend (or longer) here can be a rewarding experience and would allow you to visit more of the region (and try out several of the beautiful hiking trails in the area).
There are four different areas you can stay in when in the region:
-The Mont-Tremblant Resort Village: This is where you will find the most restaurants and accommodations, with direct access to the mountain ski resort (which is primarily used for hiking activities outside of ski season). One of our favorite hotels (in the mid-range budget) to stay in here is the Ermitage du Lac. Another good option is The Westin Tremblant.
-The Old Mont-Tremblant Village (which used to be the tourist center in the area before the development of the ski resort): This is actually our go-to area when we want to spend a weekend in the Mont-Tremblant area. The Village is tucked away between the scenic Mercier and Moore lakes, a short 5 km west of the ski resort. It’s also the starting point of one of our favorite easy scenic walks in the area, the Lac Mercier trail. We can highly recommend the Suites du Lac Moore Hotel, one of the better bangs for your buck in the area.
-The Town of Mont-Tremblant (formerly known as the town of St-Jovite): Located 12 km south of the Resort Village, this is a proper town and is less geared towards tourism. Though it does have a nice main street for shopping and restaurants, there are few accommodation options here and they tend to be less expensive than in the other two areas. The most central location and one of the better options here is the Comfort Inn and Suites Mont Tremblant.
–Mont-Tremblant National Park: The scenery within the park is quite beautiful, but the accommodation options are limited to campsites and small self-catering cabins.
Alternatively, if you are looking to stay outside of the main tourist areas but without having to camp or stay in a cabin, we can also highly recommend staying in the Chateau Beauvallon. Located between the resort village and the town of Mont-Tremblant, the hotel is situated on a vast private lakeside property where guests can relax and enjoy indoor, and outdoor pools & hot tubs.
Want to Discover More Hiking Trails In Southern Québec?
You might be interested in these pages:
Best Hiking Trails Near Mont-Tremblant
Best Hiking Trails Near Montreal
Best Hiking Trails in the Eastern Townships
Quebec Hiking Trails that Are Stunning in Winter
Photography Gear
If you like our photography, you might be interested in some of the gear we use to shoot our travel and hiking destinations.
Camera Body – Nikon Z 6ii Fx-series Mirrorless Body
Main Lens – NIKON 24-120mm F/4G ED VR AF-S
Zoom Lens – Sigma 745-306 150-600mm f/5-6.3
Polarizing filters – Urth Circular Polarizing (CPL)
Camera Tripod – K&F Concept 64-inch Camera Tripod
Mini-tripod – Lammcou Flexible Camera Tripod
Camera/hiking backpack – Vanguard Alta Rise 48 Backpack
Universal Travel Adapter – VYLEE Universal International Power Travel Plug
Other Travel Essentials
Travel Insurance
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Car Rentals
Discover Cars is our go-to website for car rentals. We almost always find our preferred rate there.
Transfer from Airport
Welcome Pickups is our favourite private transfer service, which you can pre-book at a fixed price. Currently available in 220 cities all over the world (mostly in Europe, but with several major cities in Asia, the Middle East and the US).
Kiwitaxi is another private transfer service – we haven’t tried it yet, but it’s currently available in a few more countries (102 as of 2024).
Hotels and Accommodations (coming soon)
Photography Prints
If you found this blog useful, you can help support our blog by purchasing low-cost digital prints. Printed physical prints are also available for purchase.
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Well, that wraps it up! We hope you enjoyed our Chutes-Croches, Chute du Diable & Le Centenaire Hiking Guide and that it will prove useful for planning your hiking trip.
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