Our backyard has become our favourite destination lately. While Montreal is opening up, we’re staying pretty close to home. But, it’s getting boring! So last weekend we finally ventured out of the city to Tremblant National Park. In searching for a Montreal day trip with kids, I also had to factor it being dog-friendly. The Pimbina section of the park proved to be our ideal destination.

About a two hour drive from the city, this portion of the park is actually an hour away from Tremblant village without the typical case-croutes along the way. We packed up a cooler full of snacks and lunch, as well as our bathing suits and running shoes.

Do Go Chasing Waterfalls

Our first destination was the dog-friendly Chute-aux-Rats waterfall. We had pre-purchased a day pass to the national park which can be done online. Kids under 12 are free so it was only $17 for the two of us. Our plan was to take the 4.5KM stroll to the falls but we ended up driving directly to them accidentally. With plenty of picnic tables (and even firepits) nearby we had an early lunch before exploring the park further.

The waterfall was spectacular and there were lots of exploring opportunities for the kids. They climbed rocks above the falls as well as dipped their toes and skipped rocks in the stream beneath.

Bathroom Breaks

Being out of the house for 8 hours was a first for us since March, so bathroom breaks were a concern. By the falls, there was a public bathroom. With no one inside, mask requirements and hand sanitizing upon entry and exit, we felt quite comfortable using these facilities.

Take Me to the Beach

After taking in the magnificent views, we drove back down to the beach at Lac Provost. Dogs actually aren’t allowed here so we split up and I went for a walk with our puppy while my husband stayed with the kids. It was a cloudy day so the beach wasn’t too busy. The water was warm and there was a playground too. Boat rentals were available – canoes, kayaks and pedal boats – for either an hour or 4-hour block.

With plenty of trails and walking paths you could spend days discovering this portion of the park, and if you’re lucky might be able to score one of the camping spots for an overnight.

Rain cut our visit short so we decided to drive to Tremblant Village, another idea for a Montreal day trip with kids. Once we pulled up to the pedestrian walkway we thought about getting some ice cream but it was swarmed with people, all of whom were mask-less, so we stayed put.

The Sepaq website is a wealth of information about the three different Tremblant parks, dog-friendly trails and the types of amenities available. Another great resource was the All Trails website which details hikes by length, family-friendliness and pictures too.