La Mauricie National Park

Winter Season 2017-2018: Saint-Jean-des-Piles Entrance every day from December 9, 2017 to April 1, 2018

Summer Season 2018: Saint-Mathieu-du-Parc Entrance: every day from May 17 to October 8, 2018

The earliest human remains in the park date from between 7000 and 3000  BCE. The 34 “protohistoric” archeological sites suggest that Native Americans who frequented the park lived in small family groups. A cliff of Lake Wapizagonke has some of the few North American cave paintings preserved from that era, which testify to the spirituality of ancient Native Americans. Until the 17th century, the Attikamekw and Algonquian peoples respectively lived by trapping and hunting in the northern and southern basins of the Saint-Maurice River. The Abenaki used the park area in the middle of the 19th century for hunting and trade.

At the beginning of the 19th century, European Canadians began logging the area, cutting white and red pines for lumber. This lasted until 1925, when trees of good diameter became scarce. The forest industry then turned instead to wood for paper, which made the Mauricie one of the largest producers of newspaper for the first half of the 20th century. In addition to logging, the industry greatly altered the balance of forests by planting the white spruce across 426 hectares (1,050 acres) and causing forest fires in 1910 and 1954.

At the end of the 19th century, rich American tourists settled in the area and opened private hunting and fishing clubs. The park was created on August 21, 1970. The Wabenaki and Andrew lodges, properties of Laurentian Club, located on the edge of lac à la Pêche (Lake of Fisheries), were acquired by Parks Canada in 1972 and were converted into dormitories and rooms for visitors.

The park contains 150 lakes and many ponds. The park lies within the Eastern forest-boreal transition ecoregion. The forests in this region were logged from the middle of the 19th century to the early 20th century. The park's forests have regrown and contain a mixture of conifers and mixed deciduous trees.

The park lies within the Eastern forest-boreal transition ecoregion. The forests in this region were logged from the middle of the 19th century to the early 20th century. The park's forests have regrown and contain a mixture of conifers and mixed deciduous trees.

The park contains more than 440 species of vascular plants 68 species of lichens and more than 85 species of mosses. The park also has 27 species of rare plants or special interest.

Forest covers 93% of the territory. It is at the northern treeline leafyes Quebec. There are 30 species of different trees. The park is part of habitat ranges from maple to yellow birch (Acer saccharum and Betula papyrifera), which occupies the illuminated slopes and well-drained soils. The Balsam firs (Abies balsamea) and the pine (Pinus sp) and spruces (Picea sp) occupy the rocky cliffs and wetlands. It includes an endangered species, the butternut (Juglans cinerea).

Wildlife in the park includes moose, black bears, beavers and otters. It supports a small number of wood turtles, rare in Canada. At least 50 species of mammals inhabit the park, such as the coyote (Canis latrans), red fox (Vulpes vulpes), lynx (lynx canadensis), moose (Alces alces), black bear (Ursus americanus), snowshoe hare (Lepus americanus), squirrel (Tamiasciurus hudsonicus), little brown bat (Myotis lucifugus) and cinereus shrew (Sorex cinereus). Of these, 2 are Artiodactyla, 13 carnivores, 16 rodents, 8 bats, 10 insects and 1 lagomorph. One species that is considered endangered is the eastern wolf (Canis lyacaon).

There are also over 180 species of birds, including at least 81 nesting species. Among these there are 12 species of raptors and 34 species of aquatic birds. Coniferous forests are frequented by ruby-crowned kinglet (Regulus calendula), the Tennessee warbler (Oreothlypis peregrina), the Nashville warbler (Oreothlypis ruficapilla), the magnolia warbler (Dendroica magnolia), the hermit thrush (Catharus guttatus), the grosbeak (Hesperiphona vespertina) and the dark-eyed junco (Junco hyemalis). Mixed forests are occupied by the ruffed grouse (Bonasa umbellus), the blue jay (Cyanocitta cristata), the black-capped chickadee (Poecile atricapillus) and the purple finch (Carpodacus purpureus). The ovenbird (Seiurus aurocapilla), the black-throated blue warbler (Dendroica caerulescens), the veery (Catharus fuscescens), the red-eyed vireo (Vireo olivaceus), the eastern wood pewee (Contopus virens) and the sapsucker (Sphyrapicus various) inhabit the hardwood forests. The most common raptors observed are (Pandion haliaetus) the broad-winged hawk (Buteo platypterus), the barred owl (Strix varia) and the great horned owl (Bubo virginianus). Aquatic areas servs as nesting habitat for the common goldeneye (Bucephala clangula), the merganser (Mergus merganser), the black duck (Anas rubripes) and finally the common loon (Gavia immer), which is the emblem of the park. The park includes eight species at risk, the whip-poor-will (Caprimulgus vociferus), the nighthawk (Chordeiles minor), the chimney swift (Chaetura pelagica), the olive-sided flycatcher (Contopus cooperi), the Canada warbler (Wilsonia canadensis), the peregrine falcon (Falco peregrinus) and the rusty blackbird (Euphagus carolinus).

The park includes only five species of reptiles: the wood turtle (Glyptemys insculpta), the painted turtle (Chrysemys picta) and three species of snake, including the garter (Thamnophis sirtalis). It is also attended by fourteen species of amphibians including six salamanders and eight frogs. One species, the wood turtle is considered endangered.

Most lakes have a relatively poor fish fauna due to the youth of the country. The brook trout (Salvelinus fontinalis) is most commonly found, especially in the north of the park. The Isaiah, the French and the Bérubé are found at lower altitudes, where lakes have the greatest biodiversity, as well as populations of stickleback(Pungitius pungitius) and spoonhead sculpin (Cottus ricei). The lakes also have the only French population of char (Salvelinus alpinus) of the park. This population was threatened by the introduction at the beginning of the century of several invasive fish species, such as chub (Semotilus atromaculatus). 19 species of fish have been introduced by humans over the 19th and 20th centuries.

The warmest is 25.5°C the coldest is -20.4°C

La Mauricie can even be 12.3°C in the winter!

In summer it goes from 9.6°C to 25.5°C.

• Park website
• Visitors Centre. Multi-media displays and historical background about the trees, wildlife, and early explorer interaction with First Nations people. (updated Dec 2017)

(includes admission fees, Parks Canada Discovery pass does not apply) (2024):

Cross-country skiing

• Adult or senior: daily $10, seasonal $99
• Youth and children under 18: free

Snowshoes, crampons, and hiking pokes available for rent.

• Domaine Wabenaki – Andrew, ☏ +1 819 537 4555, info@info-nature.ca. Stay in Le Chalet Wabenaki or La Maison Andrew. (updated Dec 2017)
• oTENTik, ☏ +1 519-826-539 (outside of North America), toll-free: +1-877-737-3783. Check-in: 15:00, check-out: 11:00. A cross between a tent and a rustic cabin, Parks Canada oTENTik tents offer a blend of comfort and outdoor adventure. 13 4-season units are available at the Rivière à la Pêche campground. 12 3-season units are available at the Mistagance campground. The F-7 site of the Rivière à la Pêche campground has universal access. $148 per night (taxes included). (updated Jan 2024)

• Camping reservations are available through the Parks Canada website.

Camping fees per night (2024):

• Unserviced with toilets and showers $28.50
• Serviced with electricity $36.00

• 🌍 Camping de la Rivière-à-la-Pêche, ☏ + 1 877 737-3783. Campground with 224 sites, 62 of which have electricity. This is the campsite furthest from the swimming beaches, however it allows quick access to hiking and cycling trails. It is also accessible during the winter season. (updated Nov 2021)
• 🌍 Camping Mistagance, ☏ + 1 877 737-3783. 108-site campsite, one kilometre from the Shewenegan picnic (updated Nov 2021)
• 🌍 Camping Wapizagonke, ☏ + 1 877 737-3783. Leave: 14:00. 219 sites including 29 accessible only on foot. Several beaches are accessible from the campsite. A convenience store is located at the Wapizagonke picnic, 1.5 km (0.93 mi) from the campsite. (updated Nov 2021)
• 🌍 Gîtes Wabenaki et Andrew, 3000, Chemin du Lac-à-La-Pêche, ☏ +1 819 536-3180. Leave: 12:00. The Wabenaki and Andrew lodges are not accessible by car. To get there, it is necessary to hike 3.5 km (2.2 mi) on skis, snowshoes, canoe, bike or on foot. (updated Nov 2021)