Attention canoe camping enthusiasts: Lanaudière awaits you with its natural treasures! Between raging rivers and oases of tranquility, the region offers the perfect blend of adventure and serenity. Whether you are navigating exhilarating rapids or enjoying the tranquility of wild landscapes, each stroke of your paddle brings you closer to an unforgettable moment in the heart of nature.
You don't just want to camp, you want to get away! Canoe-camping enthusiasts will find their place of adventure in Lanaudière. Whether in a national park, a ZEC or with an experienced guide, there's no shortage of choice in the region!
PARC NATIONAL DU MONT-TREMBLANT | SECTEUR DE L'ASSOMPTION (SAINT-CÔME)
With its six major rivers and 400 lakes and streams, Parc national du Mont-Tremblant is a playground for outdoor enthusiasts like you. Here, nature reigns supreme: 40 species of mammals share this vast, wild territory. Whether you're a seasoned canoeist or dreaming of your very first adventure, let yourself be tempted by the canoe-camping experience. Set up camp on the sandy shores of Lac Rossi, Lac de la Savane or Lac de L'Assomption, crackle a campfire, and savor the moment as nature lulls you to sleep - perhaps even to the sound of the loon.
PARC RÉGIONAL DU LAC TAUREAU | SAINT-MICHEL-DES-SAINTS
Many campsites in the regional park are accessible only by canoe - the perfect opportunity to create a canoe-camping itinerary for one or more days. Often, you'll be pitching your tent on an island, no less! Each site offers you a fire ring, a dry toilet and a picnic table to make the most of your stay. No boat? You can rent one on site, but be sure to call ahead to reserve.
RÉSERVE FAUNIQUE MASTIGOUCHE | MANDeVILLE
Réserve faunique Mastigouche stretches between Lanaudière and Mauricie - a vast territory to explore. At the Saint-Bernard campground, enjoy the lake in a canoe or kayak, and paddle to a small island where a heronry nestles: a grandiose spectacle you won't soon forget! If you don't have your own boat, don't worry: canoes are available for hire.
RÉSERVE FAUNIQUE ROUGE-MATAWIN | SAINT-MICHEL-DES-SAINTS
The Rouge and Matawin rivers, like Lac Cinq-Doigts, invite you to experience days filled with adventure and discovery - whether you're a beginner or an experienced paddler. If you're a sea kayaker, you'll love the vastness of Lac Cinq-Doigts and its many bays to explore.
Fancy a spot of canoe-camping? The Matawin River is a real treasure. Its tranquility, varied rapids and whitewater sections make it an excellent choice for intermediate paddlers. With its many launching points, you can take off for a few hours or extend the pleasure over several days. And if you don't have your own equipment, don't worry: you can rent rowboats, outboard motors, canoes, kayaks and even paddleboards.
ZEC BOULLÉ | SAINT-MICHEL-DES-SAINTS
A portion of the Rivière du Milieu runs alongside the ZEC Boullé, and it's a great place to explore by canoe. Launch your boat at Lac Chantier and let it carry you to Lac Taureau, near Saint-Michel-des-Saints. Want to combine fishing and canoe-camping? You've come to the right place! Just a reminder: you'll need your own canoe or kayak to enjoy this trail.
ZEC LAVIGNE | SAINT-ZÉNON
In the ZEC, you can embark on a magnificent canoe-camping circuit on lakes Proteau and St-Grégoire: 17 km of trails with two short portages and three primitive campsites to immerse you fully in nature. Prefer river paddling? The Rivière L'Assomption, which also crosses the ZEC Lavigne, offers a superb route. It's an opportunity to experience a weekend of whitewater in a peaceful, wild setting. There are a few portages and some tough rapids, but all in all, it's an easy river, ideal for beginners or those who just want to relax. The best time to enjoy it is in May and June, when the water level is at its highest.
Don't have your own boat? You can rent a canoe or kayak for a day or a weekend at Canot Volant, just north of Saint-Côme village.
ZEC COLLIN | SAINT-MICHEL-DES-SAINTS
ZEC Collin offers a host of superb primitive campsites nestled near breathtaking lakes. Some are accessible by car, others require a 4x4 - the choice is yours! Most sites are equipped with a picnic table, fire pit and outhouse. Some even offer a platform where you can pitch your tent in comfort. You can build your own circuit according to your canoeing experience and the time you have available, or simply sit back and relax in the great outdoors. And if you don't have your own boat, don't worry: you can rent a canoe or kayak directly from Lac Lusignan.
© Julie Lachance
