Domaine de la forêt perdue and Forêt Ouareau Regional Park
At the heart of Haute-Matawinie, this vast forested territory with more than 120 kilometres of multi-use trails offers hiking, climbing, and canoeing in a setting representative of the transition between farmland lowlands and the Canadian Shield.
The Saint-Côme and Haute-Matawinie region marks the geographical transition between the agricultural lowlands of southern Lanaudière and the vast forest territory of the Canadian Shield that stretches northward to the edges of inhabited lands. The Parc régional de la Forêt Ouareau, with its impressive network of over 120 kilometres of multi-use trails, invites you to immerse yourself completely in this wilderness environment, where hiking trails coexist with rock climbing on the characteristic cliff faces of the Canadian Shield and canoeing-kayaking along the numerous waterways that traverse the territory. This northern portion of Lanaudière, which also includes the nearby attractions of Parc régional de la Chute-à-Bull and Auberge du Lac Taureau, offers a complete four-season outdoor destination, particularly popular for cross-country skiing, snowshoeing, and snowmobiling during the winter season. The relative remoteness of this area from the urban centres of southern Lanaudière, combined with the density of its forest coverage, creates a striking contrast with the heritage and cultural vitality of Vieux-Terrebonne or Joliette, showcasing the remarkable geographical diversity that Lanaudière offers across a surprisingly short distance between its waterfront gateway and its northernmost forest frontiers.