Activities
Lac Notre-Dame is situated in an area that has many outdoor activities in all seasons.
Lac Notre-Dame
In summer, the lake is excellent for swimming, fishing, canoe, kayak, paddleboats, sail boards and sailing. No motor boats are permitted, only electric motors are allowed.
The road around the lake is a distance of about 7 km, great for cycling or walking.
In winter, it is possible to snowshoe or cross-country ski when the lake is frozen. The LND/Loon trail is a circuit of about 10.3 km. This trail accesses the magnificent Viking Ski Club network. Some winters the conditions are favorable for transforming the lake into a giant natural skating rink, which is a delight for all ages!
LND/Loon Trail
Maintained each year by volunteers, this trail is largely on private land and is marked by signs showing a white loon on a green background. A dozen access points from chemin Notre-Dame Nord and Sud provide access to the trail.
Please be respectful and courteous to all users of the trail. Snowshoeing (or walking) should be done beside the ski trail!
Viking Ski Club : www.vikingskiclub.ca.
This area is a paradise for fans of cross-country skiing. The Viking Ski Club, founded in 1929 is a non-profit club managed by member volunteers. It offers prorams for youth and adults to learn to cross-country ski or improve their style as well as offering group outings.
The Viking network, on the doorstep of lac Notre-Dame, comprises 60 km of trails, including 10 km of wide tracks for skating and classing skiing, and 50 km of classic tracks in the forest of varying level of difficulty. The trails are machine groomed during the season.
One can access the Crown and Blue trails from the LND/Loon trail east and south.
The club membership ( individual or family ) allows access to the trails. Regular membership provides access to all club activities and facilities. A trail membership is also available and is often purchased by residents of lac Notre-Dame who do not need to use the chalet or parking. Viking membership also provides access to the trails on the Morin -Heights network, including the Aerobic Corridor .
Parc du Corridor aérobique / Aerobic Corridor : www.morinheights.com
The Aerobic corridor may be accessed at 50, chemin du Lac-Écho or in Montfort (at the pavilion)
The trail is open for snowshoeing and skiing in the winter and follows a former railroad line. The ski network connects into the Viking trail system. There are about 20km of snowshoe trails and several are open in other seasons for hiking.
In summer, spring and autumn the corridor is accessible for walking and cycling, with 16 km of trail from Morin-Heights to Lac-des-Seize Îles.
Canoe / Kayak
The Viking Canoe-Kayak Club (www.canoekayakviking.ca), which has many members that are long-time residents of Lac Notre-Dame, has earned a reputation for training champions! Based in Montfort beside the pavilion (church) the club is open to all ages for competition and for instruction. In the summer, the club offers day camp for children from 6 to 12 years.
Sentier des Orphelins / Orphelins Trail : http://pleinairpdh.com/wp/wp-content/uploads/Wentworth-Nord_Pedestre_2018.pdf
The newly-created network of trails in the region des Pays-d’en-haut, the « réseau de sentiers d’interprétation des Orphelins » is also at our doorstep to the north ! This trail starts and finishes on the Aerobic Corridor. From Montfort, one follows the corridor for about 2 km. One then enters the woods by rue Mount to climb up to the heights at the south of lac Saint-François-Xavier. Between lac a la Croix and lac Saint-François-Xavier, it heads towards the north to rejoin a series of trails and up to a lookout, before descending again to the Aerobic Corridor. After 6 km, on may head back towards Montfort by the lake front for 4 km or rejoin route Principale (2km), again by the Aerobic Corridor.
These trails are accessible foot, mountain bike, shoeshoe or cross-country skis.
A new shelter is being constructed near the lookout and mountain bike trails are under development.
From lac Notre-Dame, one may join the sentier des Orphelins near marker 13 of the LND/Loon trail. A straight trail, marked by tape heads north to the Orphelins trail. More markers are being added.
Alpine Skiing
Ski Morin-Heights : https://www.sommets.com/en/ski-mountains/sommet-morin-heights/
Trails of varying levels, ski school, night skiing. Sur le site de la station, on peut aussi pratiquer ski de fond et raquettes.
Accro-Nature (Morin-Heights): https://www.sommets.com/en/ski-mountains/sommet-morin-heights/
This adventure course in the trees includes different circuits of beams, walkways, ladders and zip lines for young people (from 8 years) and adults.
Montfort Pavillon - Recreation and Communitary Centre
https://wentworth-nord.ca/citoyen/loisirs-culture-et-vie-communautaire/pavillon-montfort/
450 226-2428
Situated at 160, route Principale, in Montfort (Wentworth-Nord), the church is used for religious services, municipal council meetings, local art expositions (with a permanent art gallery in the loft). It is also a welcome center for particpants in local outdoor activites and can be rented for events.