Saint-Maurice Wildlife Reserve

The Saint-Maurice wildlife reserve is located at the confluence of the Matawi and Saint-Maurice rivers, in the heart of the Mauricie. The northeastern limit of the reserve is delimited by the course of the Wessonneau River. This reserve covers an area of ​​784 km² (303 sq mi) and is adjacent to La Mauricie National Park to the south; the two territories are separated from east to west by the Matawin river. This wildlife reserve is part of the network of wildlife reserves in Quebec managed by the Société des establishments de plein air du Québec (SÉPAQ).

The Ministry of Forest, Wildlife and Parks (MFFP) and the Ministry of Energy and Natural Resources (MERN) are responsible for the management of natural resources on the territory of the Saint-Maurice wildlife reserve. The management and use of the natural resources of this reserve, in particular the forest and the fauna, are based on a legal vocation of conservation and development of the fauna of the wildlife reserves. The forest of this reserve is exploited by forestry companies having a harvesting agreement with the MFFP, according to the tactical and operational integrated forest management plans (PAFI) at the level of each management unit. Thus, the forest management of wildlife reserves turns out to be integrated wildlife-forest-recreotourism. In the Saint-Maurice wildlife reserve, wildlife development work is carried out with the aim of restoring the native trout population of certain lakes, in particular by creating spawning grounds.

SÉPAQ makes available to the public

• General map of the Saint-Maurice wildlife reserve: [citeweb|url:https://www.sepaq.com/resources/docs/rf/stm/stm_carte_generale.pdf General map of the geographical map]
• Canoe-camping card: Template:Url
• Map of trails and hiking trails: Template:Url

The administrative office of the wildlife reserve is located in Trois-Rives (Rivière-Matawin sector), along route 155, on the east side of the Saint-Maurice river. Serving as the reserve reception center, this center provides information to users and offers registration and reservation services for the reserve.

From now on, Sépaq collects rights of way on the Mékinac bridge which spans the Saint-Maurice river at the level of the Matawin sector of Trois-Rives. This right of way provides access to the Saint-Maurice wildlife reserve and to the Zec du Chapeau-de-Paille. Only the Matawin reception post provides access to the Saint-Maurice wildlife reserve. The rights of way on the bridge are priced by the Corporation du Pont Mékinac. The cost of passage applies per vehicle; this right of way can be purchased online at Template:Url. Users can subscribe to a 12-pass card or a prepaid seasonal card (limited number of passes depending on the card chosen). All-terrain vehicles and heavy vehicles are subject to special pricing.

• From Montreal (268 km (167 mi). Time: 3 hr 24 min. Take take highway 40 (north shore) eastbound, to Trois-Rivières; take highway 55 (northbound) to Grand-Mère, which becomes route 155 and cross the Saint-Maurice River bridge; take route 155, cross the villages of Grandes-Piles and Saint-Roch-de-Mékinac, to the Mékinac bridge over the Saint-Maurice river, in the Rivière-Matawin sector, where the toll booth is located to enter the reserve.
• From Quebec (city) (171 km (106 mi). Time: 2 hr 103 min. Take highway 40 (direction West), to Sainte-Anne-de-la-Pérade; take route 159 (northbound) passing through the village of Saint-Stanislas, Saint-Séverin, Saint-Tite and Saint-Roch-de-Mékinac; take route 155 (northbound) to the Mékinac bridge over the Saint-Maurice River, in the Rivière-Matawin sector, where the toll booth is located for entering the reserve.

From the Matawin Visitor Center (Mékinac Bridge), visitors must travel approximately 9 km (5.6 mi) on Route 3 along the north shore of the [atawin Rive] and thus reach the southern limit of the Saint-Maurice wildlife reserve, ie at the junction of road 1 of the reserve. From there, visitors can travel 18 km (11 mi) further along the southern boundary of the reserve, to the junction of Route 11 which leads north in particular to the Brown Lake, Dunbar Lake and Normand Lake.

Saint-Maurice Wildlife Reserve offers three campsites and several other rustic camping areas.

• Camping Lac-Dunbar. The Lac-Dunbar campsite is on the eastern shore of Lac Dunbar. It has a dozen sites (without services) for the campsite and five rental chalets. The keeper's chalet offers equipment rental, fish gutting and the purchase of wood sacks. From the motor vehicle parking lot, a footpath leads to Dunbar Falls. (updated Nov 2021)
• Camping Lac-Normand. The Lac-Normand campsite is on the shores of Lake Normand. It has 64 sites for camping including eight "Ready-to-camp", ten with a service and the scale without services. From the campsite, the trails are: La Grande Ourse and La Tourbière. This campsite also offers an emptying service for recreational vehicles. The keeper's chalet is the reception post for obtaining information and services. (updated Nov 2021)
• Camping Lac-Tousignant. The Lac-Tousignant campsite is on the shores of Lac Tousignant. The keeper's chalet is the reception post for obtaining information and services. This campsite has about ten camping pitches (without services), and a rental chalet. Seasonal packages or daily rates. (updated Nov 2021)