La Mauricie National Park
Park Quebec national park protecting boreal forests and lakes
La Mauricie National Park in Quebec features lakes, mixed forest and canoe routes; visitors come for multi-day canoe camping, hiking trails, winter snowshoeing and wildlife viewing within a compact provincial park.
La Mauricie National Park is a provincial park in the Mauricie region of Quebec, Canada, created in 1970 to protect forested Laurentian landscapes. It is administered by the provincial parks agency Sépaq.
The park offers a network of lakes, rivers and forested terrain used for canoeing, hiking and backcountry camping, with marked trails and day-use areas. Recreational highlights include multi-day canoe routes, shoreline campsites and trail circuits that lead to lookouts and small waterfalls.
The area was set aside as a park in 1970 to conserve typical Laurentian forest, lakes and river corridors and to provide outdoor recreation. Over time facilities were developed for camping, paddling and trail access while conservation of wildlife and water quality has remained a management focus.
La Mauricie sits in central Quebec between the Ottawa River valley and the Saint Lawrence corridor, in the province’s Mauricie region. The park lies roughly between the cities of Trois-Rivières and Saguenay and is accessible by road from regional towns.
- Best time to visit: Best seasons are late June to September for canoeing and summer trails, and mid-September to early October for fall colours.
- Management and facilities: Services and facilities are managed by Quebec's provincial parks agency (Sépaq), with designated campgrounds and marked canoe-camping routes.
How to Get to La Mauricie National Park #
The park is about 150 km northeast of Montreal and 160 km west of Quebec City. By car take Autoroute 40 to Route 155 (toward Shawinigan) and follow signs to La Mauricie National Park. There are park entry points at Saint-Mathieu-du-Parc and Trois-Rivières. Some public shuttles and seasonal buses serve trailheads in high season.
Tips for Visiting La Mauricie National Park #
- Book camping pitches or canoe launches in advance during July-August as they sell out.
- Drive the Park's main road early morning for wildlife sightings (moose and beaver are shy but present).
- Explore off the beaten track by canoe on the park's lakes - Algonquin-style portaging is minimal and scenery is uncompromised.
Best Time to Visit La Mauricie National Park #
Best visited summer for canoeing and camping; autumn rewards with peak foliage and quieter trails.
Weather & Climate near La Mauricie National Park #
La Mauricie National Park's climate is classified as Warm-Summer Continental - Warm-Summer Continental climate with mild summers (peaking in July) and freezing winters (coldest in January). Temperatures range from -20°C to 24°C. Abundant rainfall (1088 mm/year), wettest in July.
January
January is the coldest month with highs of -9°C and lows of -20°C. Moderate rainfall (69 mm).
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February
February is freezing with highs of -6°C and lows of -19°C. Moderate rainfall (61 mm).
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March
March is freezing with highs of 0°C and lows of -12°C. Moderate rainfall (63 mm).
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April
April is cold with highs of 7°C and lows of -4°C. Moderate rainfall (75 mm).
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May
May is cold with highs of 16°C and lows of 3°C. Significant rainfall (101 mm).
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June
June is cool with highs of 21°C and lows of 9°C. Significant rainfall (112 mm).
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July
July is cool with highs of 24°C and lows of 12°C. The wettest month with heavy rain (114 mm).
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August
August is cool with highs of 22°C and lows of 11°C. Significant rainfall (107 mm).
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September
September is cool with highs of 17°C and lows of 7°C. Significant rainfall (110 mm).
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October
October is cold with highs of 10°C and lows of 1°C. Regular rainfall (97 mm).
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November
November is freezing with highs of 2°C and lows of -5°C. Regular rainfall (98 mm).
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December
December is freezing with highs of -5°C and lows of -15°C. Regular rainfall (81 mm).
