If you've hiked the Montagnes Noires, you've been to Ripon. The village officially dates from 1861, though squatters were already working along the Petite-Nation River around 1846, making potash and paddling it down to Papineauville to sell. The name likely comes from Ripon in Yorkshire. Village and township merged into one municipality in 2000.
It's an odd mix, in a good way. Lots of organic farming. Enough artists and craftspeople that Tourisme Outaouais calls it an arts community. And some serious wood processing too: Element5 builds mass-timber panels on chemin de Montpellier. Weekend hikers and Ottawa day-trippers fill in the rest.
What makes Ripon
Parc des Montagnes Noires
Over 24 km of trails for hiking, mountain biking, snowshoeing, cross-country skiing and fatbiking, with a lookout tower at 426 m. Open year-round and free.
Festival Ripon Trad
A traditional music festival in September, with some shows held right in residents' homes. The 2026 edition ran September 17 to 20.
Falls on the Petite-Nation
The Petite-Nation River marks Ripon's eastern edge, with Chute du Diable and Chutes à Joubert. There are 27 officially named lakes on top of that.
Chemin du Lac-Grosleau
A family farm on the same land since 1927, an organic sprout grower, a ceramic studio and a winery, all on one back road.
Place du Marché
A co-op public market on rue du Marché with live music and a Friday happy hour.
A few local businesses in Ripon
- Café des Orties · café-restaurant · rue Principale
Organic food, a liquor licence and local art on the walls, in a former rectory. Open year-round. - Auberge Montagne Noire · inn and bar · rue Principale
Rooms, a pool table and a terrace in the middle of the village, per the town's business directory. - Domaine Mont-Vézeau · winery and pick-your-own · Route 321
Fruit wines plus strawberries and raspberries: 9,000 vines and 8,000 raspberry canes, according to Terroir et Saveurs. - Ferme À Sabourin · family farm · chemin du Lac-Grosleau
Same land since 1927. Maple syrup in spring, then chicken, lamb and Thanksgiving turkeys, ordered ahead and picked up at the farm. - Les Moulins de Ripon · flour mill · montée Meunier
Stone-ground organic buckwheat, rye and wheat. La Fille du Boulanger bakery shares the address. - Atelier Galerie d'Art Solart · art studio and gallery · chemin du Lac-Grosleau
Ceramics, sculpture and jewellery by Michelle Lemire, who opened the studio in 1999. - La Destination de Noël · Christmas shop · rue du Rivage
Rustic and vintage Christmas decor made with about thirty regional artisans, plus a Christmas market in November.
Getting found in Ripon
In Ripon, half the customers never drive past the door. The Ottawa family checking whether strawberry picking has started, the hikers coming down from the Montagnes Noires looking for lunch, the cottager who wants to order a lamb for September. They search on their phones, often in English, and they land on a Facebook page where the hours are buried three months back, or on a site that's been under construction for a while. What we'd do: a current Google profile with the season and hours, and one page that says what you sell, when, and how to get it, in both languages. We're in Montpellier next door, so we can drop by.
Ripon has a population of 1,857 (2026), according to the Quebec government's population order.
Petite Nation Numérique is not affiliated with the municipality or the MRC; this information comes from public sources.
Our most requested services in Ripon
AI Consulting & Assessment
Find where AI saves time in your business, and where it doesn't belong.
DetailsLocal SEO & Google Business Profile
Get seen on Google Maps in your town and the towns next door.
DetailsSmall Business Websites
The essential business site: who you are, what you offer, how to reach you.
DetailsFunding Applications
Prepare clear, complete applications for support programs.
DetailsEmail Newsletters
The channel you own: talk directly to your loyal customers.
DetailsGoogle Ads Management
Ads on the searches that turn into calls and bookings.
DetailsFrequently asked questions
Most of my sales are pre-orders at the farm. Why bother with a site?
So you stop answering the same questions in Messenger. One page with what's available this season, prices and how to order means people show up ready.
How do Montagnes Noires hikers find me?
On Google Maps, searching café, wine or near me once they're in the area. A complete profile with recent photos and exact hours does more than any ad.
Do you come to Ripon?
Yes. We are based in Montpellier and meet clients in person anywhere in the MRC de Papineau, including Ripon. We can also work entirely online.
My business is small. Is an online presence worth the investment?
Yes, particularly in a rural region. A complete Google profile and a simple site are often enough to stand out from competitors who aren't online. We start with what pays off most for your budget.