Notre Dame Mountains
Mountains Low mountain range in Quebec, part of Appalachians
A range of low mountains in Quebec that form part of the Appalachians. Tourists come for provincial parks, hiking trails, winter skiing and seasonal leaf-peeping across rolling ridges and forested valleys.
How to Get to Notre Dame Mountains #
The range stretches across much of southern Quebec; the most accessible sections are a one- to three-hour drive from Quebec City or from Rimouski depending on which block of the range is chosen. Major approaches use Autoroute 20 and provincial routes that run parallel to the St. Lawrence; once off the main highway, expect secondary roads and logging tracks. Public transit access is very limited-visitors usually reach trails and lookouts by car.
Tips for Visiting Notre Dame Mountains #
- Bring insect repellent in summer-the low valleys host mosquitoes even on sunny days.
- Explore side roads: the best views of the range come from provincial Route 132 and secondary forest roads, not the highway viewpoints.
- If planning backcountry hiking, hire a local guide-the maps are littered with logging roads that confuse even experienced walkers.
Best Time to Visit Notre Dame Mountains #
Best visited late spring through fall for road access and views; winter is deep and quiet but requires snow-ready planning.
Weather & Climate near Notre Dame Mountains #
Notre Dame Mountains's climate is classified as Warm-Summer Continental - Warm-Summer Continental climate with mild summers (peaking in July) and freezing winters (coldest in January). Temperatures range from -20°C to 22°C. Abundant rainfall (1073 mm/year), wettest in July.
January
January is the coldest month with highs of -10°C and lows of -20°C. Moderate rainfall (78 mm).
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February
February is freezing with highs of -8°C and lows of -18°C. Moderate rainfall (63 mm).
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March
March is freezing with highs of -2°C and lows of -12°C. Moderate rainfall (70 mm).
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April
April is cold with highs of 5°C and lows of -4°C. Moderate rainfall (71 mm).
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May
May is cold with highs of 14°C and lows of 2°C. Regular rainfall (98 mm).
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June
June is cool with highs of 20°C and lows of 8°C. Regular rainfall (99 mm).
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July
July is cool with highs of 22°C and lows of 11°C. The wettest month with heavy rain (117 mm).
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August
August is cool with highs of 21°C and lows of 10°C. Significant rainfall (104 mm).
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September
September is cool with highs of 16°C and lows of 6°C. Regular rainfall (95 mm).
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October
October is cold with highs of 9°C and lows of 0°C. Significant rainfall (103 mm).
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November
November is freezing with highs of 1°C and lows of -6°C. Regular rainfall (93 mm).
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December
December is freezing with highs of -6°C and lows of -14°C. Regular rainfall (82 mm).
