La Mauricie is a classic Laurentian landscape of rolling forested hills and glittering lakes in the heart of Quebec, a canoe-tripper’s paradise laced with quiet waterways and portages, ablaze with color each autumn. A scenic parkway ties together beaches, waterfalls and lookouts, making it as welcoming to a family day out as to a multi-day wilderness paddle.
Ancient, rounded Laurentian hills cloaked in maple, birch and conifer forest cradle scores of lakes and streams, with waterfalls tumbling between them. This gentle but genuine wilderness shelters black bears, moose, loons and beavers, and the classic mix of hardwood and evergreen makes it one of the great fall-foliage destinations in eastern Canada.
Summer is prime for paddling, swimming and camping, and fall is spectacular, when the maples turn and the lakes mirror the color. Spring is quiet and muddy with high water; winter transforms the park into a snowshoeing and cross-country skiing destination, with warming huts and reduced services.
The park sits off Highway 55 between Shawinigan and Grand-Mère, with entrances at Saint-Jean-des-Piles and Saint-Mathieu feeding a scenic parkway through the park. A vehicle brings you to the trailheads, beaches and canoe launches along the parkway; the interior is explored by paddle and portage or on foot.
Canoe the interconnected lakes and portages on day or multi-day trips, the park’s signature adventure, and hike trails to waterfalls and lookouts like the Les Falaises and Waber Falls routes. Swim the lake beaches, drive the parkway for the color and views, and in winter ski or snowshoe the quiet forest.
Lake water stays cold and storms can rise fast, so wear a life jacket and carry a map and compass for the maze of shorelines. Black bears are present, so store food properly; ticks and mosquitoes are common in the warm months; and trails can be slick. Carry water and dress for changeable weather.
A Parks Canada pass is required, and camping, especially canoe-in sites, should be reserved ahead. This page is a general overview, not a live conditions report; always confirm current conditions, reservations and closures with Parks Canada before your trip.
Set this declination on your compass, then align it to the map's north lines; it is the angle between true north and magnetic north, refreshed each year.
