Cycling and Dining: A Culinary Bike Tour in Lanaudière
What if your next bike ride took you on a journey that revealed much more than just the scenery?
Less than an hour from Montreal, Lanaudière offers a route that combines scenic roads with gourmet stops. Amid fields, forests, and quiet country lanes, you’ll pedal from one producer to the next, meeting the people who bring the Lanaudière region to life. A ride where the fun isn’t just measured in kilometres, but also in flavours.
The route in detail
- Distance: 75 km loop
- Elevation gain: +558 m / -558 m
- Estimated time: 3 to 5 hours
- Bike type: road bike
- Surface: mostly paved, with a few sections on roads without shoulders
- Start: Parc des Chutes Dorwin (3102 1st Avenue, Rawdon)
Starting point: Dorwin Falls Park
The route begins at Parc des Chutes Dorwin, in the heart of Rawdon. Before you even hop on your bike, take a moment to check out the 18-meter waterfall that plunges into the Ouareau River, surrounded by a century-old pine forest. With picnic tables and the sound of rushing water in the background, it’s the kind of place that instantly puts you in the right frame of mind. Here, you take your time and enjoy the moment.
Once you’re on your way, the loop takes you through Rawdon, Sainte-Mélanie, and Saint-Ambroise-de-Kildare. The route alternates between quiet country roads and farmland, with a notable stretch on Rang du Pied-de-la-Montagne, where the view is worth slowing down a bit.
The tour’s culinary highlights
This is where the itinerary really stands out. Here’s what awaits you along the way:
Land of the Bison — Rawdon
Since 1994, this agritourism farm has been raising bison and elk. There is an interpretive center on site, and simply seeing these animals up close is a breathtaking experience. The gift shop also offers meat and other products directly from the producer.
At the Nut Garden — Saint-Ambroise-de-Kildare
4,000 walnut and hazelnut trees planted across 35 acres in 2007. The result is a productive nut orchard where, at the café-boutique, you can discover nuts you never thought you’d find in Quebec: black walnuts, butternut walnuts, hybrids, and hickory nuts. A stop that’s as unique as it is unexpected.
Les Jardins Arômes et Saveurs — Sainte-Mélanie
Lavender and Provençal herbs grown naturally by young entrepreneurs who practice responsible farming. Several products are also available in their shop, including delicious lavender lemonade. It’s an ideal spot for a picnic stop, especially starting in mid-July when the flowers are in full bloom.
Guy Rivest Farm — Rawdon
The farm offers pick-your-own strawberries, blackberries, blueberries, raspberries, and pumpkins, depending on the season. And in the shop, you’ll find fine fruit wines and spirits, pies, jams, and their famous homemade slush, perfect for cooling off during a day of biking. And to extend your visit, the farm features a massive man-made corn maze.
Local Honey — Sainte-Mélanie
A century-old beekeeping farm with an interpretive center, an observation hive, and free tastings. A hands-on activity featuring a hive opening is available by reservation for those who wish to explore the world of bees up close.
Albion Brewery — Sainte-Mélanie
A tasting room with a direct view of the brewhouse and the cellar. A great way to wrap up the culinary portion of the tour before heading back, with a well-deserved craft beer in hand and a pizza baked in an Italian wood-fired oven.
Where to Eat Along the Way
The route offers plenty of gourmet stops at local producers, but it also passes by good restaurants for those who want to sit down and take their time.
In Rawdon, Le Privilège is a simple yet satisfying option before or after your departure. Along the way, the Auberge du Cheval Bleu in Saint-Alphonse-Rodriguez offers a pleasant stop. And for a more distinctive experience, Huit 100 Vingt in Saint-Ambroise-de-Kildare serves rustic cuisine that changes with the seasons.
To extend your stay
If you want to extend your stay beyond a single day, there are several options available to you.
For a night under the stars, Forêt Ô Cascades, certified “Bienvenue cyclistes!”, offers camping, pods, and mini-cabins along the Ouareau River. For more comfort, Estonia Hébergement Nature offers rooms and mini-cabins with access to a spa area, just a few minutes from Rawdon.
After your ride, La Source Bains Nordiques is the perfect place to unwind: hot and cold baths, a sauna, and a mountain atmosphere, all accessible by bike from the village.
And if you want to mix things up the next day, Arbraska Rawdon or the trails in Forêt Ouareau Regional Park offer a different way to extend your stay.
Map options
On a protected, paved bike path
On a protected, unpaved bike path
On a paved road
On an unpaved road
Section under development
Temporary detour
