Located in Mont-Tremblant National Park in the northern Laurentians, the loop trail that combines the La Coulée, La Roche & La Corniche Trails is one of our favorites to do in the national park. The trail leads to two fantastic belvederes offering stunning panoramic vistas of the surrounding landscape, and part of the return trail follows the very scenic Lac Monroe. So to help you discover this beautiful area near Mont-Tremblant, we put together this Hiking Guide for the La Coulée, La Roche & La Corniche Trails.
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La Coulée, La Roche & La Corniche Trail Location and Map
The combined loop trail of La Coulée, La Roche & La Corniche is located in the Laurentians region of Québec, within Mont-Tremblant National Park.
How to Get to the La Coulée, La Roche & La Corniche Trail
The easiest way to reach the loop trail 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.
La Coulée, La Roche & La Corniche 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. Alternatively, you can in the much larger car park at the visitor center across the road.
Facilities: Toilets are available by the car park – larger and better toilets are available in the nearby visitor center.
La Coulée, La Roche & La Corniche Trail Details and Map
The La Coulée, La Roche & La Corniche Trail is a loop trail that combines the shorter La Roche and La Corniche trails, along with other trail segments to form a loop trail. Both the La Roche (5.4 km, including return) and La Corniche (3.4 km, including return) trails are out-and-back trails, each leading to its own belvedere and viewpoint. Although they are both fantastic in their own right, we highly recommend doing the combined loop with La Coulée, as you will enjoy both viewpoints with very little extra effort (you will have already done most of the climbing after reaching one of the two viewpoints, which is particularly true of the La Roche viewpoint).
Distance: 8.2 km
Route Type: Loop
Elevation gain: 240 m (cumulative elevation gain: 351 m)
Start point: Car Park (alternatively, you can park at the visitor center across the road)
AllTrails rating: (4.6, 868 ratings (2024))
Duration: Most people complete the trail in about 2h30-3h
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 La Coulée, La Roche & La Corniche Trail Details
– Canine companions: Dogs are permitted on leashes and under certain conditions.
– Summit: Although you will be reaching an altitude of 604 m, you won’t be topping any summits during this trail.
– Trail environment: Forest – you will be under tree cover for most of the mountainous portion trail. The return leg along the lake will be a mix of forest and open exposed areas.
– Number of viewpoints: The trail boasts 2 main viewpoints from wooden belvederes. However, there are also several scenic spots along the lake during the return leg.
– Trail Surface / Technical Trail: Though not perfectly flat (several segments are more rocky and with tree roots), the trail isn’t considered very technical and is rather quite family-friendly. The La Coulée section, which connects the two Belvederes is prone to being a little muddy after recent rain. The final portion along the lake follows a smooth and flat multipurpose trail.
– Average trail slope grade: 9% (overall this is an average slope, neither very steep nor very flat; however the first and steepest section of the trail averages nearly a 15% slope until the first viewpoint).
– Trail difficulty level: Moderate.
(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)
La Coulée, La Roche & La Corniche Trail Description and Summary
The recommended direction to hike the trail is counterclockwise, which enables you to hike up (and not down) the steepest portion of the trail. It just so happens that this steepest and most challenging part of the trail is right at the beginning: you’ll be ascending a fairly steep trail over the first two kilometres.
Although this section of the trail isn’t very steep, it remains a challenging ascent as it is fairly non-stop will few opportunities for rest. The good news is after that point you will have no more climbing to do, mostly flat and descent sections.
All of this climbing is to get you to the trail’s first viewpoint, the La Roche belvedere, which provides you with stunning views of Lake Monroe’s glacial valley below and of the Mont Tremblant highlands in the distance.
After the first viewpoint, the trail will mostly be flat for about one kilometre, and then gently descend over the next half kilometre, taking you to the second viewpoint, the La Corniche belvedere.
After your stop at the Belvedere, the trail then goes more sharply downhill, passing a small waterfall along the way, after which it connects with a multipurpose path that follows the roadside and the shores of Lac Monroe.
There are several spots along the lake where the scenery is just stunning. You are likely to see several canoes, kayaks and paddleboards pass by.
Trail Alternatives and Tweaks
If you are short on time or don’t think you can walk the full trail, you do of course have the option of hiking either just the La Roche or La Corniche trail.
La Roche Trail
Distance: 4.7 km
Route Type: Out & Back
Elevation gain: 240 m (cumulative elevation gain: 258 m)
Start point: Car Park (alternatively, you can park at the visitor center across the road)
AllTrails rating: (4.6, 258 ratings (2024))
Duration: Most people complete the trail in about 1h45-2h
Access Fees: SEPAQ daily rate
La Corniche Trail
Distance: 3.2 km
Route Type: Out & Back
Elevation gain: 150 m (cumulative elevation gain: 181 m)
Start point: Car Park (small lot, arrive early)
AllTrails rating: (4.7, 167 ratings (2024))
Duration: Most people complete the trail in about 1h15-1h30
Access Fees: SEPAQ daily rate
If you are a group coming with two cars, another option is to hike both the La Roche and La Corniche trails, including the trail segment that connects them both, but skip the return leg along the lakeside trail segment. You can do this by leaving a car in the car park of each trail. Some people opt to do this as they aren’t fans of the flat return lakeside trail, which parallels the park road. But we don’t mind this part at all as there is honestly little traffic that goes by and you get amazing lakeside views.
La Coulée, La Roche & La Corniche 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 Centenaire Trail.
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 La Coulée, La Roche & La Corniche Trail Hiking Guide and that it will prove useful for planning your hiking trip.
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