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Five Design–forward Quebec Cabins for Your Next Getaway

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Enjoy the great outdoors – or cozy up inside while appreciating it – at these stylish retreats.

One the most dominant design trends of late is biophilia, which celebrates human interaction with nature, and uses natural materials and plants to bring the outdoors inside. There is perhaps no better place in Canada to experience this design than in the province of Quebec.

“I think Quebec is a very creative province, and there's a lot of creative people who want to express themselves through tangible things,” says Jean–Daniel Petit, co–founder and president at Beside Habitat, a nature–focused property. “And we're starting to realize how privileged we are to have so much nature. We should start taking care of it and giving people more access to it.”

From staying in cabins that power conservation efforts to glamping beside a flourishing farm in summer months, those who love nature and design will have a hard time checking out from these options.

Travel Inspiration, Winter, Quebec, Mont-Tremblant, Eastern Townships, Chalets, Family
By Maryam Siddiqi
Photo by Maxime Brouillet
January 10, 2024
Two Nordic–inspired A–frame cabins during early winter at Farouche in Mont-Tremblant
Farouche   Photo: Fabrice Giguère

Farouche

Mont–Tremblant
 

Just outside the boundaries of Mont–Tremblant National Park, Farouche’s seven minimalist, Nordic–inspired A–frame cabins sit steps from Devil’s River (Rivière–du–Diable). The land is the focus here, and the floor–to–ceiling windows provide a spectacular view of the forested park. Owners Geneviève Côté and Jonathan Casaubon first started a farm on the property, then opened the lodgings in 2022, which includes Buvette, a communal space and restaurant featuring fresh ingredients from their farm across the road – think zucchini loaf and generous charcuterie boards for daily happy hour service. They also sell produce for guests to cook on the grill at their cabins. “We’re hoping to bring city people to nature and have them experience living outside more,” says Côté. Guests have access to paddleboards, fat bikes and a rooftop hot tub to soak in more of the region. (Note that this is closer to glamping, with washrooms located outside the cabins, adjacent to the main building.)

Exterior of a Beside Habitat cabin during the winter with chairs surrounding a firepit
Beside Habitat   Photo: Maxime Brouillet

Beside Habitat

Chertsey
 

The team at Beside Habitat launched cabins as a means of funding their land conservation work, and they were intentional about the stunning designs. “Nature has the power to change people and to make us feel better, but we need to find ways of making nature more attractive,” says Petit. “If we can attract you with a beautiful place and you appreciate nature in that place, I think that can have an effect on how people care for it.” The first site, with 45 cabins, is in Lanaudière, and the design direction was exploration, says Petit. Ranging from one– to four–bedrooms, each cabin sits on at least two acres of forested land, giving guests privacy to enjoy their space, both inside and outdoors. Wood features heavily in the exteriors and interiors, with much of the design and manufacturing done locally.

Sun shines into a cozy cabin bedroom at Le Baluchon in Saint-Paulin
Le Baluchon   Photo: Baluchon Eco Resort

Le Baluchon

Saint–Paulin
 

On a sprawling 1,000–acre estate in the province’s Lanaudière and Mauricie regions, Le Baluchon is a celebration of all things active. Dubbed an “eco–resort,” the property is a hub for outdoor activities – hiking, mountain biking, snowshoeing, cross–country skiing, skating, horseback riding and more. There are four inns, with a total of 88 rooms, and two chalets available for private rental. All the furniture in the suites is made from wood on the property (Le Baluchon has its own mill), and ingredients for the two restaurants on–site are sourced from local farms – “the goal is to have it sourced within 50 kilometres,” says co–owner Patricia Brouard. To help reach that goal, Le Baluchon is part of a local coop in which small producers of pork, chicken or maple syrup, for example, “borrow our land to farm,” says Brouard. The resort buys what’s produced to use on site from the neighbourhood coop.

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The interior of a luxurious Hinter cabin in Mont-Tremblant overlooking the hills during winter
Hinter   Photo: Robert Pilichowski

Hinter

Mont–Tremblant
 

Hidden among the forests of the Laurentians, Hinter has four design–focused spaces (three architectural houses and one prefabricated cabin) that welcome visitors who want to seclude themselves in nature. Some of the sleek exteriors are made of sustainable forested cedar, while inside it’s floor–to–ceiling windows, calming (and heated) concrete floors and a fireplace to warm the open–concept living space. Each property is awash in natural light intentionally, a conscious decision was made to not install blinds so that the line between outside and indoors is blurred. Homes range from two to three bedrooms, each comes with a fully equipped kitchen, and depending on the location they choose, guests will enjoy a river or lake to themselves, mountain views, outdoor firepit, sauna or outdoor tub.

A man and woman enjoying a coffee on the front porch of their cabin on a sunny winter day at EXP Chalets
EXP Chalets   Photo: SÉPAQ

EXP Chalets

SÉPAQ provincial parks (parcs national)
 

Quebec’s provincial parks agency, SÉPAQ manages 23 provincial parks and 13 wildlife reserves. EXP Chalets’ four–season cabins, each with a fully equipped kitchen, a dining area and a bathroom, were first introduced in two parks in 2013. Today, there are 47 chalets in seven provincial parks, including Jacques–Cartier and Mont–Mégantic. SÉPAQ designed the chalets in–house, with a focus on contemporary simplicity and harmony with the environment. “Our architectural approach aims for symbiosis with nature. We wanted the architecture to blend well with the natural environments,” says Simon Boivin, media relations manager. The mid–century modern inspired exterior features sliding doors to maximize natural light in the cabin. This contributes to SÉPAQ’s conservation mission, as well as the use of natural materials, like wood and stone, in their construction.