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 2, 2023 to April 7, 2024 (depending on snow conditions)

Trails map (in French only)

Cross-country ski trail grooming policy

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.

Note that all booklets of 12 cross-country ski tickets have been sold for the winter of 2023-2024.

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 check-in to get your ski tickets. Tickets valid on your day of arrival, throughout your stay and on your day of departure. Tickets may only be used at the establishment at which you are staying.

Buy

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 2, 2023 to April 7, 2024 (depending on snow conditions)

Trails map (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: 15 (10 in the sector within Parc national de la Jacques-Cartier)
• Arctic char: 5
• Lake trout: 2

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 access fee is mandatory and must be purchased online before the activity or at Camp Mercier registration desk starting at 7:00 a.m. Please note that La Loutre registration centre opens at 11 a.m. Grand Lac Jacques-Cartier is the only lake in Réserve faunique des Laurentides where fishing with a personal boat is authorized.

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.

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 27 to September 9, 2023

Regular and high seasons dates

Rates

Day Fishing Plan – 2023 (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 27 to September 9, 2023

Rates

Day Fishing Plan – 2023 (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 29 to June 30, 2023

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 (not offered in 2024)
• Gîte-du-Berger
• Berthiaume
• Sept-Îles
• Portes-de-l'Enfer (available from 2024)

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 (formerly known as Mercier) 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, 2023

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 the Devlin cabins. Inner tubes are provided. It is reserved for our overnight guests.

Period: December 2, 2023 to April 7, 2024 (depending on snow conditions)

There is a skating rink near the Lac-à-Noël and the Devlin cabins. It is reserved for our overnight guests.

Period: December 2, 2023 to April 7, 2024 (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.

Period:

• from the beginning of June (depending on road conditions) until September 8
• access prohibited from September 9 to October 15 (moose hunting season)
• from October 16 to 31

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

• Camp Mercier
• La Loutre Registration Centre

Dates and opening hours

Rates - 2023 season (taxes not included):

• Rustic camping: $15.25/person/night
• Wade fishing: $20.78/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 $7.50 per person per day. This activity is free for children in a family situation.