Réserve faunique des Laurentides

Camp Mercier is a famous cross-country ski centre that has Québec's best snow conditions. The trail network has 70 linear km of trails (50 km for classic skiing and 20 km for skate-skiing).

Outdoor enthusiasts have access to a spacious, practical, warm, and welcoming building with generous windows offering a view of the slope access area, the snow tubing run, and the outdoor fire pit. Find out more

Important: the maximum width of skis allowed on the trails at Camp Mercier is 68 millimetres.

Equipment rental is available on site. No reservations in advance (first come, first served).

Period: December 7, 2024 to April 6, 2025 (depending on snow conditions)

Winter trails map - Camp Mercier sector (in French only)

Cross-country ski trail grooming policy

Snow conditions

Real-time trail conditions on Nordic Pulse

Code of conduct

Season pass

A season pass for a single cross-country ski centre (seven days or five days) is available for skiers. The network season pass (seven days) which gives access to all Sépaq's cross-country ski centres is also be available.

Booklet of 12 daily tickets

Take advantage of the flexibility offered by these tickets, which are transferable between skiers and are valid in the seven cross-country ski centres.

Day Passes

Day passes are available online up to 4 days before your arrival, starting at 8 p.m.

Staying with Us? Free Cross-Country Skiing!

This winter, access to the cross-country skiing trails is free for customers staying at Sépaq-network cross-country skiing centres. Present your booking confirmation at the registration centre to get your ski tickets. Tickets valid throughout your stay and on your day of departure. Tickets may only be used at the establishment at which you are staying.

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From Camp Mercier, there are 33 linear km of recently blazed snowshoeing trails. They offer striking views, including one at 1,000 metres of altitude. You can also reach the heated rest area at Le Pic and a lean-to, both located at 800 m above sea level.

Snowshoeing day pass: purchase on site is mandatory.

Note: Camp Mercier of Réserve faunique des Laurentides is not a Québec National Park. The Annual Québec National Parks Card is not valid for admission to the snowshoeing trails.

Period: December 7, 2024 to April 6, 2025 (depending on snow conditions)

Winter trails map - Camp Mercier sector (in French only)

Winter trails map - L'Étape sector (in French only)

Réserve faunique des Laurentides is a favourite spot for fishing. With over 2,000 lakes and 9 rivers in 25 accommodations sectors, the wildlife reserve provides all categories of anglers with interesting diversity. Fish are native species everywhere. Some bodies of water have more restrictive limits to preserve fishing quality or the length of the season. Use of electric or gas motors is permitted throughout the reserve.

Catch and possession limits:

• Speckled trout: 10*
• Arctic char: 2
• Lake trout: 2

* In order to protect brook trout populations, the Ministère de l'Environnement, de la Lutte contre les changements climatiques, de la Faune et des Parcs is reducing the catch and keep limit from 15 to 10 brook trout as of the 2024 season.

For the Devlin cabins and the Lac à l’Épaule lodge, which is near the Camp Mercier reception office, check the accommodations section for Parc national de la Jacques-Cartier.

Period: see all the Fishing packages with Accomodations

Documentation and statistics

Map Library

Book

For a day's fishing, stop off at the world's largest native brook trout pond. More than thirty waterways – either lakes in a Sépaq watercraft or rivers for wading– are available for day fishing.

If you have your own watercraft, you can launch it and fish on Grand lac Jacques-Cartier, the only lake in the wildlife reserve where fishing with a personal boat is authorized. The access fee is mandatory and must be purchased online before the activity.

Please note that you don't need a booking to fish with your own watercraft on Rivière aux Écorces in the sections identified for this purpose.

Important! To reduce the risk of spreading aquatic invasive species (AIS) in our lakes, new measures concerning the use of personal boats have been implemented in Réserve faunique des Laurentides. A maximum of 20 personal boats is authorized for day fishing on each of the 6 specified days. We strongly recommend that you wash your boat before your visit.  A visual inspection of the boat must be carried out by an employee before launching. A mobile washing station will be available on site free of charge at certain times. Please refer to the day fishing plan for details. Find out more

For those who like to enjoy an on-shore bite to eat, fishing shelters have been installed at Lac-à-Jack and along Rivière Montmorency. You'll have access to all the amenities you need to cook your freshly caught fish. Picnic tables are also available to anglers.

Period: May 25 to September 8, 2024

Regular and high seasons dates

Rates

Day Fishing Plan – 2024 (in French only)

Documentation and statistics

Map Library

Practical guide for apprentice enthusiasts

Book

No reservations are required for this type of fishing. It's available on several rivers:

• Cavée
• Chicoutimi (Pikauba)
• Écorces (aux)
• Jacques-Cartier - northeast
• Jacques-Cartier - northwest
• Launière
• Milieu (du)
• Montmorency
• Morin
• Sawine

Period: May 18 to September 8, 2024

Rates

Day Fishing Plan – 2024 (in French only)

Documentation and statistics

Map Library

Practical guide for apprentice enthusiasts

Book

Because Réserve faunique des Laurentides is so large, you have ample leeway to choose the best hunting sites. Hunting thus exerts a low pressure on bear numbers and is scientifically monitored to ensure maintenance of a healthy population. These practices guarantee a quality hunting experience with a very high success rate.

Spring Hunting

The wildlife reserve teams up with a partner to offer black bear hunting packages under the European plan without a guide. You'll get a quality hunting experience-a carefully prepared still-hunt. A shooting range and a practice watchtower are available.

Hunting success rate: over 90%

For information, contact Les Entreprises Chassomaniak Inc. at 418‑226‑0975 or by e-mail at mattpouliot@hotmail.com.

Period: May 26 to June 30, 2024

Hundreds of kilometres of roads and trails criss-cross the territory, providing access to popular game species, such as Ruffed Grouse, Spruce Grouse, and snowshoe hare.

Seven sectors provide hunters with accommodations:

• Belle-Rivière (Modik cabins)
• Cyriac
• L'Étape
• Gîte-du-Berger
• Berthiaume
• Sept-Îles
• Portes-de-l'Enfer

Hunting on ATVs is permitted for small game hunters with the Small Game Hunting Package.

You can also hunt migratory birds if you have a migratory game bird hunting permit in addition to a small game hunting licence.

Period: see the Small Game Hunting Package

Documentation and statistics

Map Library

Small game hunting is available by the day in the Lac-des-Neiges and Launière sectors. Hunters must purchase their right of access on line or at the reserve. Registration is at the Mercier Registration Centre (Route 175, km 94). The species you can hunt are Ruffed Grouse, Spruce Grouse and snowshoe hare. Some trails are reserved for ATVs (Launière sector only).

Period:

• October 17 to 31, 2024

Rates

Documentation and statistics

Map Library

Réserve faunique des Laurentides belongs to provincial hunting zone 27 west. The territory is divided into 74 hunting sectors. Moose hunting is limited by quota on the reserve and all moose hunting packages are subject to random draw.

Period: see the Moose Hunting Package

Please note that Aboriginal people engage in hunting and fishing activities in the wildlife reserve.

Hunting regulations for this wildlife reserve

Hunting statistics

You can slide down slopes near the Lac-à-Noël and Devlin cabins, as well as in L'Étape sector. Inner tubes are provided. It is reserved for our overnight guests.

Period: December 7, 2024 to April 6, 2025 (depending on snow conditions)

There is a skating rink near the Lac-à-Noël and Devlin cabins, as well as in L'Étape sector. It is reserved for our overnight guests.

Period: December 7, 2024 to April 6, 2025 (depending on snow conditions)

Bike rental available in certain lodging sectors when you book a cabin or a campsite.

Free bikes for the children

Free bike loans for children of 17 years of age and under in a family situation. Limited quantities. First come, first served basis.

New activity offered at Réserve faunique des Laurentides. Bikepacking consists in crossing wilderness areas on unpaved circuits. Depending on the route you choose, you’ll ride on roads, trails, and paths and camp in a rustic and minimalist way.

Our twelve tours, ranging from two to seven days in length, will allow you to live a bikepacking adventure in complete autonomy. Wade fishing is permitted on some of the rivers you’ll cross, provided you purchase a valid right of access.

Please note that camping is not permitted within 1 km of any cabin.

Period:

• from the beginning of June (depending on road conditions) until September 8, 2024
• access prohibited from September 9 to October 16, 2024 (moose hunting season)
• from October 16 to 31, 2024

No reservation is required. Registration are required at one of these three registration centres:

• Camp Mercier Registration Centre
• La Loutre Registration Centre
• Gîte-du-Berger Registration Centre

Dates and opening hours

Rates - 2024 season (taxes not included):

• Rustic camping: $15.75/person/night
• Wade fishing: $21.36/person/day (fishing is prohibited from September 9)

Bikepacking trails general map (in French only)

Map library

Note: Outdoor activities can involve certain risks. Please consult the conditions and risks related to this activity.

Children under 18, accompanied by an adult with day fishing right of access, are allowed to fish for free. 

Children under 18, accompanied by an adult with a small game day hunting right of access, are allowed to hunt for free. 

A family hunting package under the European plan is offered by random draw at 25% off the regular price for the whole group of hunters. To be eligible, a young hunter between 12 and 17 years old must actively participate in the hunt and be present during the entire trip. 

For more information about this activity, see the Moose hunting section.

Packages

A family package  for 2 adults and their children under 18 is available early July to late August.

At all times

Children under 18 are lodged for free in relation to the number of adults at the time of reservation, based on the following criteria:

• 2 childrens for 5 or fewer adults
• 4 childrens for 6 or less adults

* There is no charge for children under 18 who may surpass the maximum occupation capacity, according to certain conditions and accommodation sectors.

Children under 18 are lodged for free in relation to the number of adults at the time of reservation, based on the following criteria:

• 2 children for 5 or fewer adults
• 4 children for 6 or more adults

* There is no charge for children under 18 who may surpass the maximum occupation capacity, according to certain conditions and accommodation sectors.

Group of young people under 18 can go canoe-camping for a cut rate of $7.75 per person per day. This activity is free for children in a family situation.