La Mauricie National Park in Quebec, Canada - map, photos and visitor information

La Mauricie National Park brings together forested hills, lakes and waterways north of Trois-Rivières, Quebec. A visit can center on a forest walk, a summer paddle or a winter ski trip. The first planning decision is the entrance: seasonal road closures can separate places that look close on a map.

Highlights among the Laurentian lakes

• Lakes and mixed forest: The park protects a Canadian Shield landscape with 150 lakes and a forest that changes with the seasons.
• Rivière à la Pêche: This sector provides a service center and access to hiking and winter trail networks.
• Paddling and canoe camping: Summer trips can link lake travel with designated overnight sites.
• Cultural landscapes: Indigenous travel routes, logging and former recreation clubs have all shaped the land.

Know before you go

Fees, hours, and seasonal access

Prepare for uneven trails and changing weather

Wooden structures can become slippery. Backcountry paths may have roots, rocks and mud, with less infrastructure than developed areas. Carry a map and choose a route that matches your group's ability. Cell reception covers only parts of the park.

On the lakes, wind and storms can develop quickly. Each person needs a life jacket or personal flotation device, along with the required boating safety equipment. Rescue can take longer at remote lakes or in difficult weather. Swimming is unsupervised throughout the park.

Do not plan a through-drive on the Parkway during its seasonal closure. The official bulletin closes the section from Saint-Mathieu to Lac Bouchard through October 25, with specific exceptions that require confirmation. Other notices cover the M bridge, Le Passage lookout area and a permanently closed riverside section of the Mekinac Trail. Read the closure notices before choosing a route.

Pet limits and lake protection

Pets are allowed only in developed campgrounds and the Parkway corridor, including its rest stops and picnic areas. They must remain leashed and attended. Pets are not allowed on trails, beaches, in boats or backcountry areas, or in the park's roofed accommodations. Clearly identified service animals have a separate access policy.

Gas and electric motors are prohibited on park waterbodies. Clean, drain and dry boats and equipment before launching. Do not land on or walk around lake islands, including their shores. Buy firewood in the park rather than bringing it from outside, and use authorized fire pits only when restrictions allow.

Match the booking to the trip

Book normal-season frontcountry camping, backcountry camping and roofed accommodation through the Parks Canada Reservation Service. Select the correct category and campground. Backcountry sites have occupancy limits and maximum departure times, so read the conditions for the exact lake and campsite.

Rivière à la Pêche offers late-season campsites without electricity or drinking water from October 12–25. Reservations for those sites must be made on-site. This arrangement differs from the normal summer booking process. Confirm remaining availability before arriving with an RV or tent.

Maps, location, and access

La Mauricie National Park is in Quebec, north of Trois-Rivières. For Saint-Jean-des-Piles, leave Highway 55 at exit 226 and follow signs for Chemin du Parc-National. For the seasonal Saint-Mathieu entrance, use exit 217 and follow signs toward Saint-Mathieu-du-Parc.

Saint-Gérard is a separate entrance. From exit 217, follow the Saint-Mathieu-du-Parc directions, then Route 351 and signs for the Saint-Gérard sector. It does not connect to the Parkway. Choose a sector before setting navigation; the park name alone does not identify an appropriate trailhead.

The park is revising trail names and signs. Use the current hiking maps and linked trail conditions, rather than relying on an older printed itinerary. Download the route before entering an area with limited reception.

Other parks for a regional road trip

• Parc national du Mont-Tremblant: A Quebec provincial park west of La Mauricie. Its L'Assomption sector is approached through Saint-Côme on Route 343. Choose that sector specifically when planning the drive.
• Parc national de la Jacques-Cartier: A Quebec provincial park toward the Quebec City region. The main valley entrance is reached from Route 175, exit 182, on Chemin du Parc-National.

Build the day around one sector

Rivière à la Pêche provides a starting point for forest walks and longer hill routes, including Lac-Solitaire. The park also maps La Cache, Lac-Étienne, Les Cascades and other routes in different sectors. Access to a named trail depends on road openings and local closures; do not assemble an itinerary from the route names alone.

In summer, canoeing, kayaking and paddleboarding offer access to lakes and designated backcountry sites. Choose a lake suited to your skills and allow time for the return journey. Canoe camping needs overnight equipment and a confirmed campsite, rather than just a boat rental.

Winter activities include cross-country skiing and snowshoeing from the Rivière à la Pêche sector. Consult the winter map and service calendar. A summer hiking route does not automatically become an appropriate winter outing.

Service-center amenities and accessible sites

The Rivière à la Pêche Service Centre is 6 km from the Saint-Jean-des-Piles entrance. Its facilities include restrooms, changing rooms, paid showers, a dining room with a microwave, Wi-Fi and electric-vehicle charging. Seasonal equipment rentals operate separately from general park access.

During normal campground operations, Rivière à la Pêche, Mistagance and Wapizagonke provide service buildings with toilets and showers. Some sites have electricity. Seasonal shutdowns can remove services, especially drinking water, so the campground's dated operating notice takes priority over a general amenities list.

The service center has accessible toilets and reserved parking. Rivière à la Pêche sites D9, E11 and E13 have adapted picnic tables and paths to service buildings. The F7 oTENTik has an access ramp and adapted interior. Confirm the unit, season and usable facilities when booking.

About La Mauricie National Park

Water routes, forestry and park establishment

The Saint-Maurice basin is part of the Atikamekw homeland. Lakes and streams served as travel routes, and archaeological finds record a long history of Indigenous use. Later logging and hunting and fishing clubs changed parts of the landscape.

The federal and provincial governments signed the park agreement on August 22, 1970. La Mauricie formally became Canada's 22nd national park in June 1977. Those dates describe different steps in its establishment.

Life around lakes and forest

Moose, black bears, red foxes, beavers and otters are among the park's mammals. Aquatic habitats are especially important to several of these species. Lakes also support fish such as brook trout. Look for wildlife without approaching it, and keep food secured at campsites.

Contact and emergency service

Call Parks Canada's information line at +1 888-773-8888 or email [email protected] for visit questions. Camping reservations are available at +1 877-737-3783. La Mauricie National Park's emergency service is +1 819-536-3180. Identify your entrance, lake or trail when requesting assistance.