Your quad bike adventure will take you through an incredible diversity of scenery. Stop off at a lookout, where the panoramic views will take your breath away. Get on your four-wheeler, safely equipped, and follow the well-marked trails. The great outdoors beckons: whether you’re up for a thrilling outing, an adrenaline-packed ride or a leisurely day trip, the Outaouais is ready to reveal its secrets! 

The Outaouais is adjacent to Ontario to the south, and the cities of Gatineau (Quebec) and Ottawa (Ontario) are directly across the Ottawa River from each other. The region is bordered to the north and west by Abitibi-Témiscamingue and to the east by the Laurentians. Its elevation varies from 37 metres at the Ottawa River to 610 metres at the Cabonga Reservoir. There are many ways to discover the hidden charms of the Outaouais! To explore every corner of the region, a good option is to use the trails managed by the Fédération Québécoise des Clubs Quads (FQCQ). A trail pass, sold online by the FQCQ, is compulsory. The trails are marked and maintained by local clubs, including the Club Quad de l’Outaouais, the Club Quad Vallée-de-la-Gatineau, the Club Quad Petite-Nation and the Club Quad du Pontiac. For short trips, you can ride in the Outaouais Zecs (Zones d’Exploitation Contrôlée, or environmentally managed areas) under certain conditions. The Club Quad Vallée-de-la-Gatineau is based in Maniwaki, about 130 km north of Gatineau. It maintains 340 km of federated trails, which are linked to other trails that offer even more opportunities to get away from it all. Three heated shelters are available for visitors to enjoy a break in the heart of nature. Most of the trails take you through wooded areas such as the Forêt de l’Aigle. You can follow the Route des Draveurs (“log drivers’ trail”), named for the men who drove logs down the river in the heyday of the lumber industry. Further north, the Baskatong Reservoir will delight you with its many inviting beaches and vast expanse of water. 

Maniwaki is a good starting point for quad biking. There are several hotels, restaurants and bars in the area, including the Auberge du Draveur and its restaurant, Resto pub Le Rabaska. The Château Logue Hotel is another popular destination, with its indoor pool, spa, fitness centre and restaurant. Lac des 31 Milles Regional Park, in Bouchette, offers nature lovers an inn, ready-to-camp units and rustic camping. Head north towards Grand-Remous along Trail 20. Further south, stop off at Mont Morissette Regional Park to admire Lac Blue Sea and the vast Outaouais forests from the lookout at the summit. Quad riders are allowed to use the service road to reach the mountaintop shelter and lookout. 

You can also take Trail 02 to Lake Cayamant, some 30 kilometres farther down. Stop in at Rustik 55 for a drink or a hearty meal in a cozy setting. Farther south, the Club Quad de l’Outaouais is located in L’Ange-Gardien, at the corner of Chemin Industriel and Chemin Henri-Chartrand. The club’s large parking lot is a convenient starting point for many rides. The trail leads to the Moto Gatineau shelter at kilometre 24, then to the Gauvreau shelter at kilometre 48: two heated rest stops where you can recharge along the way. 

There are many tour routes in the Outaouais: for detailed information, visit the Facebook pages of the partner quad clubs and Outaouais Tourism. 

The FQCQ’s iQuad app lets you check which trails are open and create your own routes (some features require a subscription). There’s a tour of the Pontiac that starts at the parking lot of the Shawville arena. Before setting off, stock up on homemade soups, smoked meat sandwiches or pastries at the Pontiac Home Bakery. The 117-kilometre route is at its most spectacular during the autumn foliage season, but can be enjoyed throughout the summer. The federated trail passes through the surrounding villages of Thorne, Doherty and Clarendon. 

Another trip worth trying starts from the Otter Lake recreation centre parking lot and passes through Leslie Park, which has a campground with an inviting**, shallow** beach. You can stay at Aventure Coulonge, which offers riverside cottages in Mansfield-et-Pontefract. Return to Otter Lake via the Picanoc Trail. The loop is 115 km long.

In Petite Nation, Saint-André-Avellin is a good starting point as you head up the 321 towards Chénéville. The trails in this area are maintained by the Club Quad Petite-Nation. Your destination is Duhamel, where deer roam free. Treat yourself at Carbo Barbecue, where brisket, pulled pork and ribs are slow-cooked in the smoker, unless you want to push on to the Auberge Couleurs de France, a spacious, welcoming log chalet offering room and board. Don’t have a quad? In Duhamel, Biffrentals Adventure offers guided buggy and side-by-side excursions to explore the forest trails and take in the area’s viewpoints with local guides.

Quads and side-by-sides are attracting a new clientele who aren’t always familiar with the spirit and rules of the trails. The first reminder concerns speed, which must never exceed 50 km/h. Near residential areas, the speed limit is reduced to 30 km/h for safety and noise reasons. Trails are not divided highways: remember that traffic flows in both directions. Be careful not to take excessively wide turns, as head-on collisions can happen very quickly. If you see deer or other animals, slow down and don’t chase them or force them to run. Keep in mind that side-by-sides aren’t allowed on every club’s trails: check with the club before heading out, and check trail conditions on the interactive map. There are several ATV dealers in the Outaouais, including Équipements Maniwaki, a Can-Am dealer, who are ready to help if you need it. 

After a day on the trails, enjoy a good meal at one of the region’s restaurants, then settle into the accommodation that suits you, from campgrounds to cozy cottages and country inns. The next day, change pace in the region’s parks, reserves and outdoor centres or along the Chemins d’eau, the tourist route that runs along the Ottawa River. And when snow covers the trails, the adventure continues in a different way: explore our snowmobile routes in the Outaouais.

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For even more ideas, browse the official 2026–2027 Outaouais Tourist Guide and plan your route based on the area you want to explore.