Day Trip to La Mauricie National Park, Québec
- Giselle Benson
- Aug 18, 2023
- 6 min read
Updated: Jun 3, 2024
La Mauricie National Park is a wilderness wonderland home to over 150 lakes and boundless terrain and trails to discover. This natural playground is located about two and a half hours from the city of Montréal, Québec. With so much beauty and adventure to choose from, it can feel overwhelming to decide what to do if you are only planning to visit this park for a day trip. This is why we've created The Ultimate Guide for a Day Trip to La Mauricie National Park, to ensure that you get to experience the marvels of this magnificent ecosystem.
Accessing La Mauricie
Parc National de la Mauricie can be accessed via the Saint-Mathieu du Parc or the Saint-Jean-de-Piles entrance. If you have the time and are curious, we would recommend driving from one end of the park to the other, as both entrances connect to highway 55 (The route you take to arrive at the park). The trails, lakes, and vistas discussed in this guide, however, are all closest to the Saint-Mathieu du Parc entrance. We would suggest beginning your journey at Saint-Mathieu du Parc and driving towards Saint-Jean-de-Piles for your departure.
The price for adult and group day passes are $8.50 CAD and $16.75 CAD, respectively. Depending on the duration of you stay and whether you intend to visit other Parks Canada locations over the following 12 months, you can also purchase a discovery pass which gives you unlimited access to more than 80 destinations across the country for $72.25 per adult or $145.25 per group. If you intend to stay in Québec for the season you can also purchase a seasonal pass and visit the park indefinitely from May 18th until October 29th. For details about the park and how to purchase passes visit this link.
Ideal Time to Visit La Mauricie
The park is an unfolding spectacle all year round, so you are guaranteed to enjoy yourself. If you have the freedom to be flexible with your visit, we would suggest coming here on a warm, sunny, summer's day (with minimal wind) to really maximize both land and water activities. If you are someone who revels in the serenity of Nature's stillness and wonder, we would recommend coming late May or Early June, before North American schools finish for summer holidays. Ideally, a heat wave in the last week of May or first week of June would be wonderful. After this, black flies, deer flies and mosquitos will be breeding in abundance. If you intend to visit the park between mid-late June and July come prepared! If you visit the park mid-late August, black flies will be sparse and mosquitos will only be present in thick forest terrains (if your out in the open or on the water you'll be safe). September through to the closing of the park in October is also a wonderful time. Not only have school holidays finished, but you'll be able to witness the breathtaking colours of Autumn in Québec.
#1 Shewenegan
Shewenegan is a popular tourist attraction for families, couples, and solo-travellers alike. If you intend to visit the Saint-Mathieu du Parc entrance this'll be the first stop on your journey. Shewenegan has a beautiful grassy picnic area, beaches, trails, waterfalls, aquatic activity rental services and a tuck shop. If you plan to rent SUPs this'll be your go-to location. You can also walk a 1.5km trail to get to Esker (the second destination in our guide).
#2 ESKER
Esker is located at the southern basin of Lac Wapizagonke. You can access this vista by car or walk from Shewenegan, as mentioned above. This beautiful sanctuary will feel slightly more intimate compared with the crowds you'll find at Shewenegan. Esker has two lovely small beaches, perfect for swimming or paddle-boarding, as well as a grassy picnic spot. This a great location if you don't want to journey too far into the park. We would suggest stopping by to appreciate the beautiful views as early in the day as possible, and saving your swimming adventures for later on. We visited this spot around 8:00am and had the place to ourselves. The lakes and wind also tend to be calmer earlier in the day. This was the perfect time to marvel at the mirror-like properties of Lac Wapizagonke.
#3 Lac Modène
Lac Modène is the perfect spot for breakfast or morning tea on the jetty. This is a relatively small lake just off the side of the road that journeys through the park, making it the perfect pit stop to refuel or simply appreciate the tranquil bliss of la Mauricie. Having visited the park on numerous occasions we've had the opportunity to enjoy this spot at many times throughout the day and they were all magnificent; so if you're visiting the park from the opposite entrance you could always stop by later on for afternoon tea or to dip your toes in the water. We wouldn't recommend swimming in this lake however, unless you're drifting atop of a floaty or a paddle board.
#4 ÃŽle-Aux-Pins
ÃŽle-Aux Pins, our fourth vista in this guide, offers panoramic views of the southern region of Lac Wapizagonke. The viewing point is about a 450 metre out-and-back walk down a relatively steep (yet accessible) trail to the viewing point. There are several picnic benches where you can sit down and leisurely take in the pristine surrounding sights, smells, sounds, and sensations. If you have the flexibility in your schedule, we would suggest coming here in the afternoon to truly appreciate the sun illuminating the lake and the eastern hills skirting the lakeside.
#5 Vide-Bouteille
Vide-Bouteille is a vista directly along the road through the park. Gift yourself a moment to stretch your legs and look out at the rolling hills of La Mauricie. This location is also home to one of Parks Canada's classic giant red chairs (for the photography enthusiasts) - not pictured here.
#6 Lac Gabet
Lac Gabet is another beautiful lake to visit throughout your travels. This peaceful forest walk is a gentle 3km out-and-back trail through the lush greenery of La Mauricie. This is the perfect path to stretch your legs and enjoy the serenades of the surrounding seasons. Lac Gabet offers a beautiful opportunity to nourish the breath, mind, and body as you journey throughout this spectacular national park. At the end of the trail (the halfway point) you’ll arrive at the pristine Lac Gabet where you can rest atop of a lone picnic bench or lounge on some shoreside rocks. We visited this lake shortly after the park opened and had the space to ourselves. This a great spot for a moment of mindful meditation or a tasty snack.
#7 Wapizagonke
Wapizagonke is our favourite location at Parc National de la Mauricie, heavily suited to water enthusiasts. Although we brought our own inflatable paddle-board, this is also the perfect location to rent canoes and kayaks. While there are two small patches of sand for beach-goers, the real fun begins when you get onto the water. There is much blue to discover. If you are ready for a full day of water-filled adventure, you can pack a waterproof bag including dry shoes, clothes, nourishment, and hydration and paddle your way along the upper basins of Lac Wapizagonke. Here you will have access to waterfalls and trails that can only be reached by water (about a 4.5km paddle up the lake). If you intend to perform the aforementioned activities check out this guide to Lac Waber & Lac Anticagamac. Rest assured, you can also choose to swim, paddle, and drift along the body of water surrounding the Wapizagonke tourist stop. For our land-going friends this destination also offers ample picnic tables and barbecues.
#8 Le Passage
After a full day of fun under the sun you are probably ready to round off your adventure. This is the perfect stop to visit as you begin your journey home for the evening. This unparalleled view of Lac Wapizagonke snaking the surrounding shores can be seen from your car as you enjoy the comforts of your transportation. If you want to take a moment to once again enjoy the fresh air and wilderness, there is a small viewing spot where you can park your car and reap the healing benefits of La Mauricie's lush terrain.
#9 Lac Alphonse
If you are ready for one last snack (judging by the amount of times we've mentioned a snack-stop in this guide, you can tell that we enjoy a good meal or two on our outdoor adventures) or just moment of sunshine, Lac Alphonse is the destination for you. Another small lake with a single jetty, this peaceful paradise is perfect to embrace a moment of doing nothing after a day of activities. We haven't tried it, but we imagine this would be a great lake for lounging atop of the water if you have your own inflatable SUPs.
We hope this guide to a single-day adventure at Parc National de la Mauricie inspires you to discover the marvels of this magical wonderland. Pick and choose what tickles your curiosity and feel free to get creative and explore any of the Parks Canada destinations not mentioned in this guide. Whether you choose to leave via Saint-Mathieu du Parc or venture towards the other entrance to the park, you'll be blessed with an abundance of beauty and nature-filled fun. Stay tuned for a Saint-Jean-de-Piles blog post as there is still so much more of this park to be discovered.