Eastern Canada’s forest offers mountains, lakes and forests to explore. The Laurentian Mountains, between Montreal and Quebec City, were once logged. Now protected, La Mauricie National Park features 150 different lakes and a boreal forest for hiking and camping, with or without a tent. Read on for Fun Things to Do in La Mauricie National Park.
9 Fun Things to Do in La Mauricie National Park
Stop by the Visitor Center
Hike in La Mauricie
Canoe or SUP in La Mauricie
Bike in the Park
Find a Red Chair
Naturalists Programs
Kids Programs
Pack a Picnic
Camp in La Mauricie
Is La Mauricie National Park Worth Visiting?
As a longtime fan of the U.S. National Parks, I wanted to visit the Parks Canada sites. During my road trip to Quebec and Montreal, I added La Mauricie National Park since it was a few hours from Montreal’s City Center.
I drove along the scenic St. Lawrence River and enjoyed seeing a new-to-me part of North America. This is part of the Canadian Shield in the St. Lawrence lowlands and it features dense evergreen and deciduous trees along with many lakes.
La Mauricie is a recreational park with hiking, canoeing and camping. During my stay, I reserved an oTENTik, an A-frame structure found in Parks Canada sites that my kids enjoy.
If you were in the area, I would most certainly add La Mauricie National Park, However, it is not a park destination like Banff, Waterton Lakes or Jasper National Parks.
La Mauricie National Park At a Glance
|
Year Established: 1970 |
|
Located: Quebec Province Between Montreal and Quebec |
|
Size: over 132,000 acres |
|
Top Features: The Laurentian Forest and over 150 lakes |
Top Things to Do at the Bay of Fundy National Park
Stop by the Visitor Center
La Mauricie National Park offers two visitor centers: Saint-Jean-des-Piles Visitor Reception and Interpretation Centre and Saint Mathieu-du-Parc Reception Centre. This is where you will find information, like maps and brochures. It is also where the restrooms and potable water are located.
Each is open seasonally from mid-May to the end of October. Open daily from 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
Hike in La Mauricie National Park
One of the best ways to see a park is to take a hike. La Mauricie National Park offers a network of trails from easy to hard, many originating near each of the park’s main entrances.
Ruisseau Brodeur–An easy-rated 1.4 km loop departing from the Ruisseau Brodeur trailhead near the Saint Mathieu du Park Entrance
La Tourbière–An easy-rate 300-meter boardwalk departing from the Esker Picnic Area near the Saint Mathieu du Park Entrance
Les Cascades–An easy-rated 2.4 km loop departing from the Shewenegan Picnic Area near the Saint Mathieu du Park Entrance
Lac Gabet–An easy-rated 3 km loop departing from the Lac-Gabet Parking lot near the Saint Mathieu du Park Entrance
La Caché–An easy-rated 3.1 km loop departing from the Lac-du-Fou parking lot near the Saint-Jean des Piles Park Entrance
Familiale Trail–An easy-rated 4 km loop departing from the Rivière à la Pêche Service Centre near the Saint-Jean des Piles Park Entrance
Lac Etienne–A 1.4 loop departing from the Lac-Édouard Picnic Area near the Saint-Jean des Piles Park Entrance
Fun Things to Do at the Anne of Green Gables Heritage Site in Prince Edward Island
Water Sports in La Mauricie National Park
With 150 lakes, La Mauricie National Park is perfect for canoeing, kayaking and more. It offers lakes and streams for all levels, and you don’t have to bring your own watercraft.
There are rentals in the park. The Aqua Trek program even helps visitors with a self-guided water trail around one of La Mauricie’s lakes.
Canoeing and Kayaking
The possibilities for canoeing and kayaking are endless at La Mauricie National Park. For those new to canoeing or kayaking, Parks Canada offers the Aqua Trek on Wapizagonke Lake.
It offers a booklet to complete a 5 km circuit around the lake, explaining its history, flora and fauna of the area. Best of all, this program is free (with boat rental).
Paddleboarding
For those looking to SUP, La Maurice National Park offers calmer water lakes. However, weather can change and affect the water conditions with little or no warning.
- Alphonse Lake
- Bouchard Lake
- Lac du Fou
- Wapizagonke Lake–Esker sector
Watercraft Rental
La Mauricie National Park also offers boat rental, by the hour or by the day.
The rental boats are available seasonally at Shewenegan Picnic Area, Wapizagonke Picnic Area and Lac Edouard Picnic Area. The rental price includes life vests and paddles.
- Canoes
- Kayak—single and double
- SUP (stand-up paddleboard)
- Pedal boats
Bike in La Mauricie
La Mauricie National Park features 55 km of gravel trails, perfect for biking. These trails are great for families and newcomers to the sport.
Vallerand Trail–An easy 3 km loop trail
Family Trail #11–An easy 4 km loop trail
Multipurpose trail #3--An easy 15 km loop trail
La Mauricie National Park also offers more challenging trails, ranging from 15 km to 44 km.
Note: Pedal-assist E-Bikes are allowed on gravel bike trails. Throttle-assisted bikes are prohibited and can only be used on roadways.
Out of this World Places to Camp in Canada
Find a Parks Canada Red Chairs
Parks Canada features red Adirondack Chairs across its parks. They are positioned in spots of scenic beauty so if you find one, sit down and savor a special view handpicked by the park.
You can find a pair of Parks Canada red chairs in La Mauricie National Park. The special chairs are available at the following locations. There is also a Giant Red chair, which moves locations each year and makes for a great picture.
- Lac aux Chevaux Lookout
- Le Vide-Bouteille Point
- La Rosoy Lookout
Naturalist Programs
La Mauricie National Park offers seasonal naturalist programs during the summer and fall seasons. Take a hike or attend an evening program at the campground. Learn to track animals or enjoy a guided canoe trip with the Parks Canada naturalists.
Check-in at the Saint-Mathieu Visitor Center for the weekly schedule. All programs are in French only and don’t take reservations
What to Do with Kids in La Mauricie National Park
La Mauricie National Park offers the Parks Canada Xplorers Program. Designed for kids 6 to 11, it is similar to the Junior Ranger Program in the National Park Service in the U.S.
Kids pick up a booklet at the visitor center to complete. It takes about an hour, and kids receive a collectible dog tag charm with the park’s name imprinted on it.
Pick up an Xplorer booklet at the Saint-Mathieu Visitor Center and the Saint-Jean-des-Piles Visitor Reception and Interpretation Centre. Best of all, it is free of charge.
In the past, Parks Canada has offered programs for teens and toddlers. Nature Biokit was developed for teens, and the program combines hikes, observation and games to explore the park with all five senses.
Club Parka is for younger kids. Grab a Club Parka booklet for the younger kids. This booklet offers age-appropriate activities to do while enjoying the park with their families.
Top Things to Do in Saint John New Brunswick
Where to Picnic in La Mauricie
With limited food service, pack a picnic for your trip. Besides everyone loves a picnic, especially kids.
La Mauricie National Park offers picnic areas in the following spots.
- Shewenegan Picnic Area
- Esker Picnic Area
- Wapizagonke Picnic Area
- Lac Edouard Picnic Area
Lodging in La Mauricie
The park offers several lodging options, perfect for those who want to explore the outdoors during the day and then retreat to a cottage with running water and electricity at night.
Domaine Wabenaki-Andrew
On the edge of the Lac à la Pêche, Le Chalet Wabenaki and La Maison Andrew were part of the Laurentian Club, a prestigious hunting and fishing club that used to host the American elite, including the Kennedy family.
Now, it offers basic accommodations for groups with many lake activities nearby. Reservations are required, and it is managed by Aventure Éco-Parc Mauricie.
Saint-Jean-des-Piles Cottages
New for 2024, the Saint-Jean-des-Piles Cottages are fully accessible and have two fully equipped cottages that accommodate up to 10 people. They have a basement and a loft.
Amenities include an air conditioner, Wifi, a washer and dryer, a fully-equipped kitchen and a propane BBQ grill. It is fully furnished with a mix of bedding configurations, from queen-sized to bunk beds.
Multi-day reservations are required. Linens are not included.
oTENTiks
An oTENTik is an A-frame structure with sleeping space for five or six and a series of platform beds. Inside, there is a table, four chairs and a bench, along with solar lighting.
Inside, each oTENTiks provides a lantern, a wood stove, a coffeemaker, and most cooking utensils. Outside, the oTENTiks feature a picnic table, a fireplace and a grill for outdoor cooking.
Bathhouses are a short distance away. All cooking is done outside. There is wood available for purchase.
Find 13 oTENTiks at the Rivière à la Pêche campground. Another 12 oTENTiks can reserved at the Mistagance campground. Reservations are suggested and multi-night stays might be required during holidays.
Campgrounds
Find 500 campsites across La Mauricie National Park for your getaway. The majority of the campsites are open seasonally from mid-May to mid-October. All the campgrounds feature an amphitheater and a bathhouse with showers and toilets. Each campsite also features a picnic table, a fireplace and a tent pad.
Rivière à la Pêche Campground
- Seasonal
- Reservations Accepted
- 222 sites, some with hookups
- Dump station
- Potable Water with Showers
- Kitchen Shelter
- Playground, a beach and boat rental close by.
Mistagance Campground
- Seasonal
- Reservations Accepted
- 91 sites, some with hookups
- Dump station
- Potable Water with Showers
- Kitchen Shelter
- Playground, a beach and a boat rental nearby.
Wapizagonke Campground
- Seasonal
- First Come First Served
- 188 sites, some walk-in
- Potable Water with Showers
- Kitchen Shelter
- Boat rental nearby.
Canoe Camping
Take camping to the next level by canoeing to your site. La Maurice National Park offers a campground only accessible by canoe. Some sites have fireplaces, and some do not.
Each site offers a picnic table and a bear-proof food hanger nearby. These campgrounds feature vault toilets only.
Be Bear Aware
La Mauricie National Park is home to black bears but not Grizzly bears. Stay safe in bear country.
- Make noise while hiking.
- Look for fresh tracks or scat.
- Hike in groups.
- Give bears 100 meters if you encounter one.
- Keep a bare campsite by storing food and equipment when not preparing or eating food in a bear-proof storage container.
Lyme Disease
The Black-legged tick is found throughout the eastern Canada. To prevent Lyme disease use the following precautions.
- Wear light-colored clothing, including long pants and long-sleeved shirts.
- Use insect repellant with DEET.
- Stay on trails and avoid long grass and brush.
- Take a shower shortly after hiking.
- Put clothes in a hot dryer for 10 minutes to kill ticks.
Where’s La Mauricie National Park
Located in-between Montreal and Quebec City, La Mauricie National Park is two hours from each. It’s north of Trois-Rivières. It offers three entrances: the Saint Mathieu du Park Entrance, the Saint-Jean-des-Piles entrance and the Saint-Gérard entrance.
Adult admission is $9 CAN and kids 17 and younger enter for free. A family can enter for $17.50. Camping rates start at $28.50 CAN per night. The park is open seasonally from mid-May to the end of October.
Comments are closed.