Lac-Saint-Jean

Lac-Saint-Jean is a large rural area composed of multiple small villages surrounding the lake of the same name. The lake and villages are to the west of Chicoutimi-Jonquière (and the Saguenay River) in the Saguenay-Lac-Saint-Jean region of Quebec.

Understand

A geographically-isolated region, Lac-Saint-Jean is mostly francophone and known for its blueberries (the locals are known as "les bleuets"). Much of the area is agricultural land; weather permitting, blueberries are ready for harvest in mid-August.

Communities
  • Alma
  • Roberval
  • Desbiens
  • Métabetchouan–Lac-à-la-Croix
  • Dolbeau-Mistassini
  • Normandin
  • Saint-Félicien

Get in

By automobile, take Route 155 from Trois-Rivières to Chambord or Route 175 from Québec City (exit onto Route 169). From Chicoutimi-Jonquière, head west on Route 170 (south shore) or Route 172 (north shore).

By air, it is possible (but expensive) to fly into Bagotville (near Chicoutimi), then head west by road.

By bus
  • Intercar, ☏ +1-418-547-2167, toll-free: +1-800-806-2167, . Operates bus routes within Quebec. (updated May 2022) Operates the following routes to the area:
    • Between Chicoutimi and Dolbeau with stops in Jonquiere, Alma, and Val-Jalbert. Travel time from Chicoutimi to Alma is 1.25 hours, to Val-Jalbert is 2.25 hours, and to Dolbeau is 3.75 hours. Travel time to these destinations are about 40 minutes shorter from Jonquiere than from Chicoutimi. Operates several days per week.
    • Between Dolbeau and Montreal including stops in Val-Jalbert, Alma, and Quebec City. Travel time from Montreal to Alma is 6.75 hours, to Val-Jalbert is 7.75 hours, and to Dolbeau is 9.25 hours. Travel time from Quebec City to Alma is 2.75 hours, to Val-Jalbert is 3.75 hours, and to Dolbeau is 5.25 hours. Operates several days per week.

Get around

By car

The region as a ring around the lake is followed by Route 169, a circle route which branches off Route 175 (the main road from Quebec City to Chicoutimi) to enter the region at Hébertville. In counterclockwise order, the route goes through Alma, Péribonka, Mistassini, Saint-Félicien, Roberval, Val-Jalbert, Chambord, Métabetchouan and back to Hébertville and Saint-Gédeon. The full circle is 200 km (100 mi) in circumference.

By boat

There are marinas at various points on the lake, including Roberval and Alma. These are inherently seasonal on this cold, fresh-water lake.

  • Club Nautique Roberval, 854 rue Arthur, Roberval, ☏ +1 418-765-0115. Marina with docking for 135 boats (including 10-12 visitors), Internet, dairy bar (Crèmerie La vache Copine), restaurant (L'Ancre à l'eau, +1 418-275-9990), cycling, travel info, boat launch ramp, pumpout, power and potable water on dock, showers, toilets, fuel. 

By snowmobile

The Trans-Québec trail system covers the eastern portion of the region from Roberval through Alma to Mistassini; there are also local and regional trails which fill the remaining gaps. Snowmobile repair is available from dealers (Arctic Cat, Skidoo, Polaris) in Alma.

By bicycle

See
  • Roberval City Hall, 851 Saint-Joseph Boulevard, Roberval. A National Historic Site of Canada. A late interpretation of the Second Empire style, it was built in 1928-1929 to demonstrate the increasing importance of the town as an administrative centre and regional capital in the Lac Saint-Jean region. (updated Apr 2019)
  • Autodrome St-Félicien, 2365 Boul. Du Jardin, St-Félicien, ☏ +1 418-679-5690, fax: +1 418-679-0913. Stock car racing. 
  • Moulin des Pionniers, 4205, chemin des Pionniers, La Doré, ☏ +1 418-256-8242, toll-free: +1-866-272-8242, fax: +1 418-256-3539. mid June-mid Sep. Working pioneer sawmill and museum. Restaurant, hiking trail, dormitory camp. $16/person. 
  • Native Museum of Mashteuiatsh, 1787, rue Amishk, Pointe-Bleue (Mashteuiatsh), ☏ +1 418-275-4842, toll-free: +1-888-875-4842, fax: +1 418-275-7494. Mid-May to mid-Oct: daily 09:00-18:00, M-F only the rest of the year. Aboriginal history museum and meeting facility for 30-80 people. $10/person. 
  • 🌍 St. Félicien Zoo (Zoo sauvage de St-Félicien), 2230, boul. du Jardin, St-Félicien (32 km NW of Roberval), ☏ +1 418-679-0543, toll-free: +1-800-667-5687, fax: +1 418-679-3647. May-Oct: daily 09:00-17:00, Jul-Aug: daily 09:00-18:00 or later. Nordic and boreal wildlife in its natural habitat. Nature Park Trails, Great Aviary, Kids Garden and Interpretation Centre. Boréalium welcome centre includes movie theatre, exhibition hall, discovery room and laboratories. Single $135, couple/single-adult family $160, two-adult family $190. (updated Jan 2019)
  • 🌍 Val-Jalbert ghost town, 95, rue Saint-Georges, Chambord, ☏ +1 418-275-3132, toll-free: +1-888-675-3132, fax: +1 418-275-5875. June-early Oct: daily 10:00-17:00, 09:00-18:00 in high season. Preserved tourist ghost town on the Ouiatchouan River, between Roberval and Chambord. A former Ouiatchouan Falls mill site where fibre for paper was produced mechanically as the town's sole industry. The mill became obsolete as rival manufacturers devised chemical means to turn wood fibre into pulp and paper. Overnight lodging is available in the general store building or in restored 1920s period houses for $280/night (double occupancy, including meals and park admission). 172-site campground with wi-fi, ice, RV hookups, cottages, outdoor pool. Restaurant du Moulin at mill and café terrasse / snack bar at general store. Cable car (extra cost) and guided tour available. $23/person. 

Do
  • Go-Karts/Karting St-Félicien, 2223, boul. du Jardin, Saint-Félicien, ☏ +1 418-630-4000. Go-kart track, miniature golf course adjacent. 
  • Le mont Lac-Vert, 173, chemin du Vallon, Hébertville, ☏ +1 418-344-4000, toll-free: +1-888-344-1101. Alpine skiing, snowshoeing. Restaurant and bistro bar Le St-Bernard. 
  • Musée du fromage Cheddar (Cheddar Cheese Museum), 148, avenue Albert-Perron, Saint-Prime, ☏ +1 418-251-4922, toll-free: +1-888-251-4922, fax: +1 418-251-1172. Take a step back in time to 1895, when Perron's cheese factory first manufactured its hand-made local cheeses. One hour guided tours. 
  • Musée Louis-Hémon, 700, route 169, Péribonka, ☏ +1 418 374-2177, fax: +1 418-374-2516. Oldest museum in-region, established 1938 to recall the era described in Louis Hémon's book Maria Chapdelaine. 
  • Pointe-Taillon Park, 835, rang 3 Ouest, Saint-Henri-de-Taillon, ☏ +1 418-347-5371, fax: +1 418-347-2134. June-mid Oct. Marine shuttle for pedestrians/cyclists and campers from Péribonka Marina to Pointe-Taillon park, Pointe-Chevrette and l'Ile Bouliane (late June to Labour Day). Snack bar and patio/terrace, beach with lifeguard, cycle path, campground, store with clothing and souvenirs. Short-term rental of bicycles, canoes, beach chair and umbrella, kayaks, pedalboats. Public transport in Alma (25km). $6.50/person (day use), additional $20/night to camp. 

Events

Buy
  • Chocolaterie des Pères Trappistes, 100, route des Trappistes, Mistassini, ☏ +1 418 276-1122, toll-free: +1-800-461-3699, fax: +1 418-276-5082. Chocolate-covered blueberries are a local treat, widely available in-region in late summer and distributed as far afield as Montréal, Québec City and the Eastern Townships/Estrie. 
  • Fromagerie Médard, 10, chemin De Quen, Saint-Gédéon, ☏ +1 418-345-2407, fax: +1 418-345-2407. Dairy farm with specialty cheese made on-site. 
  • Vignoble Couchepagame, 1328, rang Sainte-Anne, Métabetchouan/Lac-à-la-Croix, ☏ +1 418-482-3466. Jul-Aug: W-Su 11:00-15:30. Winery, free 20-minute tour. 

Blueberry farms

Blueberries are usually in season in mid to late August, weather permitting, with plenty of opportunities to pick your own berries.

Eat

Drink

Sleep

Alma

Alma is the easternmost point in the region, where the lake drains into the Saguenay River.

Mistassini

Mistassini is at the far northwestern corner of the region.

Saint-Félicien

At the western edge of the lake, near the zoo.

  • Hôtel du Jardin, 1400 boul. du Jardin, Saint-Félicien, ☏ +1 418-679-8422, fax: +1 418-679-4459. Eden Bistro-Bar, lunch from $8. Disco. Dining room, spa, massage therapy, indoor pool, 85 rooms, wi-fi, meeting rooms for 10-500 people. 

South shore

Métabetchouan, Chambord and Roberval are on the south side of the lake, near the Val-Jalbert ghost town and the road to Trois-Rivières.

Go next
Routes through Lac-Saint-Jean
END ←  N  S  → La Tuque → Trois-Rivières


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