The way points of this bicycle route:
1 km from start of ride is the first climb, it's a short but steep one.
Go straight. This road =goes to St-Gabriel de Brandon and Ste-Damase (ste-Damase has a famous steep hill climb testpiece... u-turn at top - if you make it!)
Dirt-road to St-Damase for good route finders only.
North on Rt 131 until village de Lac noire
take Chemin de Lac Noir between lake and little mountain
Turn left on Rang Ste-Catherine, cross Rt 131 and continue on Rang Ste-Catherine
Cross Rt 131, continue on Rang Ste-Catherine
Framboise for sale - stop and eat lots!
First big hill of ride.
At very top of hill the town of Ste-Beatrix has built a scenic lookout with benches, take a break, eat a snack, stretch and enjoy the great view.
Turn left (why is there no Catholic church in this town? The church burned down in 2007). Notes: 1) Ste-Emilie is last place for any services (i.e. food) until Ste-Beatrix. 2) Turn right and follow signs 100 M to go to tourist info/mini museum, and excellent outdoor river- and lake-side park for rest stop. 3) Rt 131 north from here is an excellent bike ride.
Turn left on Rang de la feuille d'Erable at bottom of BIG hill on Rt 347. (Do NOT continue on BIG hill on Rt 347)
The second major climb of the ride. At the top is a GREAT descent.
Excellent descent starts now.
If you want a shortcut to Chemin de Belle Montagne, turn right and cross bridge, turn left on other side.
Turn right on Rt 337. NOTE: for a shortcut back to the start of the ride, turn left.
The descent to the river ahead is a good place to test your maximum speed: pedal hard and go for it
Scenic high-valley area
Cross bridge and go to Ste-Beatrix on Rang Ste-Cecile
Grocery store across from church. three shortcuts here: 1) Skip waterfalls at ran des dalles and turn from 337 direct to Ste-Joseph at village edge, 2) South on Rue de l'eglise to other end of rang st-Joseph, 3) go back to St-Jean de Matha on Rt 337 (option to visit waterfall on Rang des dalles)
Turn on Rang des Dalles to cross bridge over waterfalls
bridge at entrance to parc regional des chutes et dalles...
Trrn left on rang St-Joseph
Good views to the east
Turn left on to Rang Jolimont
Fun climb?
Do not go straight, turn left on to Route de la chute
Turn left on to Rang du Pied de la Montagne. This is the border between the Laurentian mountains and the St-Laurence river valley.
Turn right on rang St-Albert. Scenic.
Turn left on Route 348 and cross the Assomption river again (3rd time)
This is the last "big hill" to climb.
Turn left on Rt 131. (New asphalt in 2008 and wide shoulders. )
Turn right on Rang St-Guillaume. (yes you are super close to St-Jean de Matha), but when you turn here you will get a much-improved end of ride and a much more scenic and happy ending to this ride.
Turn left on Rand du Sacré Coeur. Here you rejoin road used at start of ride.
Turn left on to Rue Ste-Louise est. Last stage before village. THose climbs are now descents!
Welcome to Bikely, take a step by step tour of this path:
Press Start Tour - then use the navigation buttons below to move along the path.
Favorite northern Lanaudiere hills ride, scenic and entertaining
Tagged with: Recreational, Training, Onroad, Smooth, Steep, Intermediate, Difficult, Low traffic, Safe, Rural, Scenic