Parks and the outdoors in La Tuque

23 parks, gardens, beaches and walks in and around La Tuque.

Ranked with the travel guide's picks and well-known places first.

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Club de golf La Tuque & Curling La Tuque
Public golf course located near the Saint-Maurice river, between the Beaumont street and the Ducharme boulevard. 18-hole course. Storage service for sticks and lockers. Golf course. Curling leagues.
Curling in winter only
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Cycling, mountain biking and Fatbiking
The townhas a 33-km cycle path along the Petite Rivière Bostonnais; this track crosses the urban sector from north to south. In addition, this trail has a few kilometers in wooded land. Mauricycle volunteers have set up a basic network of mountain biking trails: wooden footbridges, small bridges, beacons, etc. These mountain bike trails were built on the west bank of the Saint-Maurice River, on the other side of the bridge that is erected behind the WestRock factory. Finally, La Tuque has a fatbike trail circuit near the cross-country ski trails near rue Marie-Rollet.
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Octane Park
The Octane park is a site specializing in the practice of off-road motorcycles and sport mountain biking. The site has many circuits, a training and freestyle area. It is located on Industriel Boulevard, at the southern entrance to the village of La Tuque, near the Saint-Maurice River, on the north side of the Chutes-de-la-Petite-Rivière-Bostonnais park.
See
Parc Saint-Louis
Saint-Louis Park
Municipal aquatic park with Lake Saint-Louis and the Sakihikan Centre (La Tuque Native Friendship Center (CAALT)) offering a complete immersion in the life of the Native people. Park with mature trees, decorative fountains and a water fountain in the centre of Lake Saint-Louis. This park offers the public many services and activities, including rental of nautical equipment and changing rooms, swimming on a supervised beach, walking, picnic and rest areas. Floating docks are placed on the lake. The park is a natural amphitheatre and a place of large gatherings (e.g., National Aboriginal Day and National Day of Quebec). The site was redeveloped in 2018. The lake was seeded in 2015.
Free
See
Parc des Chutes de la Petite Rivière Bostonnais
Falls-of-the-Petite-Rivière-Bostonnais Park
Regional park. See the 30-m waterfalls. Walk to the observation tower to take a look at the panorama of the Saint-Maurice River. Kids' playground.
May to October
See
Parc des Trois Soeurs
Three Sisters Park
11 km of trails with a difference in height of 280 m. Linear municipal park on the west bank of the Saint-Maurice river, facing the hamlet of Carignan, south of the village of La Tuque. Campsite at Lake Bédard. A shuttle service is available to cross the Saint-Maurice River at: +1-819-523-8134 (by reservation).
Free
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Piscine municipale (parc St-Eugène)
Municipal swimming pool, St-Eugène park
The town of La Tuque makes two swimming pools available to the public: the indoor swimming pool at the Champagnat Sports Complex (fall, winter and spring) for which a fee is required, and the outdoor swimming pool in St-Eugène Park which is free to access.
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Quai de La Tuque (Saint-Maurice River)
Municipal wharf
Municipal wharf in the Bel-Air district for pleasure boating. Launching ramp on the east bank of the Saint-Maurice river, downstream of La Tuque dam. The international Mauritius canoe classic begins at Quai Dénommé-Goyette.
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Snowshoes
A circuit of snowshoe trails of nearly 100 km of trail is maintained by the Club des Trois raquettes de La Tuque. These trails are accessible just a few minutes from downtown, from the Ski La Tuque center, rue Desbiens, or from the various wooden entrance gates near the La Tuque bypass. In addition, two mountain huts are accessible to snowshoers for a health break. In addition, the pink path on the golf course and curling club offers the possibility of snowshoeing.
See Not mapped
Barrage Gouin
Gouin Dam
River infrastructure that created the Gouin reservoir. The RO-450 forest road which runs along the west bank of the Wabano River passes at the top of the La Loutre dam; a branch of this road makes a detour to the north-west to pass at the top of the Gouin dam. The centenary of this last dam was celebrated in 2018.
Do Not mapped
City tour of La Tuque (in autonomous mode)
A self-guided city tour of the sites of interest is a good way to get an idea of the attractions of La Tuque. Here is the suggested route by car or bicycle: 1. Barrage de La Tuque, from the belvedere on rue Beaumont. View of the dam and the steep cliffs of the river, below the dam. 2. Quai de La Tuque on Montcalm Street. Launching ramp. View of Gilbert Island. Starting point for the "Mauricie International Canoe Classic" (La Tuque-Trois-Rivières). 3. La Tuque Golf & Curling Club, at 35 rue Beaumont. 4. La Tuque Airport, at 1249 boul. Ducharme. 5. Octane Parc, on boul. Industrial. 6. Chutes-de-la-Petite-Rivière-Bostonnais Park. 7. Lake Wayagamac. A heronry (bird colony) is established on Steamboat Island, located in the center of the lake. This lake also serves as a water intake for the municipal aqueduct of La Tuque. Stop at the Wayagamac dam. 8. Municipal ski center, at 700 rue Desbiens. 9. Camping La Tuque, 1 street from the river. Superbly landscaped municipal campsite. 10. Marina du club nautique latuquois, at 12, rue Bostonnais. 11. Hydrobase de La Tuque, chemin Fitzpatrick. 12. Deveriche trails. The route consists of taking rue Bourassa (northbound), and crossing the metal bridge (narrow with only one lane) spanning the Saint-Maurice, 1 km upstream from the La Tuque dam. On this bridge the view is bucolic on the boreal forest near the mouth of the Lait river (tributary of the west bank). Then follow the Saint-Maurice River via Bourassa Street to the Deveriche stream which merges with the Saint-Maurice River, downstream from Gilbert Island. 13. Parc du lac Saint-Louis, at 320, rue de la Plage. This water park includes Lake Saint-Louis and the Sakihikan Center (Native Friendship Center) of La Tuque offering a complete immersion in the life of the Native people.
Do Not mapped
Deverichie Trail
Linear trail from 2 km to 10 km. 22-km loop including 6.7 km of main roads. In the first two km, the trail runs alongside a stream with several waterfalls and ponds; then several ascents and descents. This park has a camping site equipped with five platforms and a refuge. Snowshoeing in winter.
Free for the trail; compulsory membership card at a cost of $10 for the campsite and the refuge
Do Not mapped
La Croche river and the Hydroelectric Power Plant Route of Beaumont, La Trenche et Rapides-Blanc
This panoramic route presents the wild and agricultural scenery upstream from La Tuque. Visitors take Fitzpatrick Road (northbound) on the east bank of the reservoir formed by the La Tuque dam; then turn to Moisan road (forest road 461 (25)) to cross the bridge and immediately turn right on Beaumont road, to see the Beaumont dam (about 10 km road). Then the visitors come back to the Chemin de la Rivière-Croche (northbound) observing the magnificent landscapes generated by this meandering river, downstream and upstream from the village of La Croche. The Croche River is navigable for more than 90 km by kayak or canoe. At the village of La Croche, visitors can cross on the west bank of the river, in order to access the Zec La Croche reception post and head towards the La Trenche and Rapide-Blanc hydroelectric dam. Visitors can go north on route 450 along the eastern limit of the Zec de la Croche, to cross the bridges of the Trenche and Saint-Maurice rivers, to return to the south by the west shore of the latter; thus, visitors can appreciate the hydroelectric infrastructure. The Rapide-Blanc power station, commissioned in 1934, can be admired from the bridge located downstream of the dam or on the east bank from the old village (1930 to 1974). This power station generates the Blanc reservoir, created in 1930, which extends over 82.5 km², i.e., a length of 54 km. The Trenche power station (end of erection in 1950) is the most powerful and has a dam 53 m high and 442 m long; this plant can be seen from the east bank, along the forest road R0-450 which crosses the dam.
Do Not mapped
La Tuque-Chambord scenic road
Relive their ambitious saga of creating a road link between La Tuque and lac Saint-Jean de 1955 à 1965. On December 30, 1955, 110 cars travelled the new La Tuque-Lac-Bouchette road in five hours, avoiding the detour through Quebec. The last segment had just been cleared and developed by the citizens of Lac-Bouchette. The construction of this La Tuque-Chambord road was initiated by the Latuquois Auguste Dubois and Omer Veillette in 1955, without public funding; the latter was a businessman in transport and was mayor of La Tuque (1937-41 and 1942-44). Route 155 between La Tuque and Chambord is legendary. Starting from La Tuque, follow the panoramic route of the Bostonnais bridges by route 155, until the Halte du Curé-Normandin (after 24 min and 34 km), located at the intersection of Chemin du Lac-Édouard. From there, continue on route 155 (north-east direction) along the north-west bank of the rivière Bostonnais. You will pass near the reception station of the Pourvoirie Le Rochu and in front of the reception of the Zec Ménokeosawin; from there, route 155 departs from the course of the Bostonnais River whose waters come from lakes Ventadour, Lescarbot, Kiskissink and the Grand Lake Bostonnais, in the heart of the Zec Kiskissink. Further on, you will pass the Lac Écarté reception area of the Zec Kiskissink. Then Lac des Commissaires, Bouchette lake, Saint-François-de-Sales, to the intersection of route 169 at Chambord, 1.5 km (in a direct line) opposite lac Saint-Jean.
Do Not mapped
Picturesque road between Carignan towards Hervey-Jonction
This colonization road stretches 133.6 km (journey time: 1 hr 48 min) in a forest valley following the route of the transcontinental railway, which arrived at Hervey-Jonction in 1907. In starting from Carignan (Lac-à-Beauce sector, south of La Tuque), the tour operator takes rue de l'Église (towards the east) passing near the Lac-à-Beauce hydro-aerodrome; continues on the railway track, crosses the forest hamlet of Festubert along the Lac aux Brochets, passes on the west side of the mountain of the Croix (peak at 304 m above sea level), crosses the forest hamlet of Lac-Chat, and reaches the Chemin de la Rivière-du-Milieu (which goes north). In this sector, the highest railway bridge in Quebec spans the Rivière-du-Milieu; it has the particularity of being a half-bridge since the railway arrives at the top of the mountain heading north. From this bridge, the road continues along the Rivière-du-Milieu, which is very meandering in this area, and will flow near Cap-à-l'Aigle into Lake Mékinac. The tour operator continues along the Rivière-aux-Eaux-Mortes to reach Chemin Tawachiche (in the Zec Tawachiche). Then, it passes through the Gouin zone between Lake Masketsi and Lake Roberge; then follows the course of the Tawachiche West River, up to the Audy sector which is the reception post of the Zec Tawachiche. From there, the road continues, passing the place called Veillette where the company Veillette & Frères had operated a sawmill, passes near Lac en Coeur, to the village of Hervey-Jonction. This little-known valley is picturesque.
Do Not mapped
Recreational tourism trails
The city has listed 50 km of developed hiking trails, 90 km of well-marked snowshoe trails, 100 km of mountain biking, as well as 33 km of urban cycle path.
Free for the trail
Do Not mapped
Road from Lac-Édouard to Rivière-à-Pierre
The forest and sometimes winding route between the village of Lac-Édouard and the village of Rivière-à-Pierre, brings back memories of the great epic of logging, the railway and navigation in Batiscania: roads of ice, log drive, upstream of the river with hordes of hundreds of horses and their sledges bound for the forest sites, the flotation of logs going down the current. From the village of Lac-Édouard, travelers take the rue Damasse, passes over the bridge spanning the Batiscan River, runs along the southeast shore of Lake Édouard, passes through the Judith-De Brésoles Ecological Reserve, passes through the Zec Jeannotte, approaches the course of the Batiscan River and the road iron, to a bridge spanning the Batiscan River. From there, travelers cross the Portneuf Wildlife Reserve to the village of Rivière-à-Pierre, where granite mining has marked local history. From there, the traveler can return via Notre-Dame-de-Montauban, Lac-aux-Sables, Sainte-Thècle, Saint-Tite and Saint-Roch-de-Mékinac.
Do Not mapped
Road from route 155 to the picturesque village of Lac-Édouard
The forest and sometimes winding route between Route 155 (Halte du Curé-Normandin) and the village of Lac-Édouard is worth a detour, especially when passing in front of the reception of the Club Oswego outfitter. Lac Édouard is a good illustration of the great epic of Haute-Batiscanie, marked by the construction of the railway up the Batiscan river from Hervey-Jonction in Mauricie. Visitors discover a picturesque village shaped by the forestry industry, the sanatorium and recreational tourism activities (resorts, outfitters, Zec, protected reserves, hunting & fishing). The municipal beach attracts many visitors. Lac Édouard has two outlets: the Batiscan River and the Jeannotte River. In addition, this municipal territory has three outfitters, the proposed Seigneurie-du-Tritton biodiversity reserve, the Judith-De Brésoles ecological reserve and the Bog-à-Lanières reserve. Visitors can return to downtown La Tuque by taking the Wayagamac Lake Road, to contemplate the falls at milestone 90-511.
Do Not mapped
Road to Wemotaci, La Loutre Dam and Gouin Dam
From downtown La Tuque, the forest road 461 (25) leads for 115 km to the Wemotaci Reserve in 1 hr 28 min (non stop), in particular passing in front of the reception of the Lac Dumoulin outfitter, crossing the Vermillon river and crossing the Flamant river and the northern part of the Zec Frémont. After crossing the hamlet of Sanmaur, visitors cross the bridge spanning the Saint-Maurice river to enter the village of Wemotaci; visitors can soak up the indigenous Atikamekw culture. From there, it is preferable, to return towards the south-west until the bridge spanning the Manouane river; then to go up the Saint-Maurice river by the west bank, that is to say the forest road 450. The forest landscapes of the valley of Haute-Mauricie show the many islands on the course of the river. This forest road cuts the Najoua river and leads to the La Loutre dam. The La Loutre dam has two weirs. An island 0.2 km in diameter separates the two sections of the La Loutre dam. Route 450 crosses the dam and continues north up the Wabano River. From the La Loutre dam, visitors can opt to loop north to the Gouin dam where they can cross the Saint-Maurice River and return via the forest road on the northwest shore. The structure of the Gouin dam is majestic. Visitors can return to La Tuque via Route 450 (north side of Saint-Maurice) passing through the Windigo River and Pierriche-du-Milieu River area. In short, the journey time from La Tuque-Barrage Gouin via the south shore of the Saint-Maurice is normally 3 hr 12 min; or 4 hr 7 min by the north shore.
Do Not mapped
Route of the covered bridges of the Bostonnais
From the village of La Tuque, just take route 155 (north-east direction). In the village of La Bostonnais, a stopover in the heart of nature on the banks of the river allows you to appreciate the history of the Ducharme covered bridge spanning the river. Visitors can picnic by the river. Going up the river by route 155, visitors can reach the second covered bridge (i.e., the Thiffault bridge) which is 6.5 km further. These covered bridges representing historical symbols of the Bostonnais river. From the second covered bridge, visitors can return by the other side, either by the South-East range which runs along the eastern part of the Bostonnais river. Visitors can extend their walk by going to the Halte du curé-Normandin, located along Route 155, at the intersection of Chemin du Lac-Édouard. This rest area is also at the limit of Zec Borgia and Zec Menokeosawin. Visitors can also attend a theatrical activity or a show in the Chapelle du Vieux Corbeau in La Bostonnais.
Do Not mapped
Scenic road 155 (Grand-Mère to La Tuque)
Panoramic route in the Saint-Maurice valley: bucolic scenery (especially in the season of coloured forests), road stops. In Grand-Mère, the Highway 155 bridge spanning the Saint-Maurice River offers a panorama of the valley upstream from the Grand-Mère dam. As you cross Grandes-Piles, you will be immersed in the history of the piles, booms and hordes of horses going up the ice in the 19th century to the shipyards of Haute-Mauricie. Have a picnic at the Pointe-à-la-Mine rest area in Grandes-Piles. Crossing the second village of Saint-Roch-de-Mékinac (on the promontory), you will see the Mauricie National Park on the other side, while admiring several cliffs on the east bank. The confluence of the Mékinac River was a legendary stopover for travelers. In Mattawin, the ferry operated until 1994. The Rivière-aux-Rats bridge is as legendary as that of Mattawin. Upon arriving at La Tuque, travelers will see the Parc des Trois Soeurs, opposite on the west bank. A stop at the park of the Petite rivière Bostonnais is worth the detour.
Do Not mapped
Scenic route La Tuque-Parent
From La Tuque, visitors head to Wemotaci, by forest road 461(25). Before arriving in Sanmaur, at the intersection of forest road 450, visitors have two travel options: * take forest road 450 (south) passing over the dam at the mouth of Lac Châteauvert; continue along the Caginetti river, then lakes du Chef, Baie and Lavigne; continue to go through the village of Casey; or * continue on the 461 (25) to the bridge over the Manouane river, which must then be crossed rather than going to Wemotaci; follow the south bank of the Blanche river, then follow the north bank of the Ruban river, to Casey. From Casey, continue on the 451 (25) (west), along a segment of the course of the Bazin river (Lac du Tremblay) before arriving in the village of Parent. The Parent sector is a favorite with all-terrain and outdoor motor sports enthusiasts. Access to Parent is possible by Via Rail train, forest roads, snowmobile, off-road vehicle and by air. The visit to the top of Radar Mountain is a must. Long ago, during the Cold War, a high-powered radar was installed on this mountain by the Canadian armed forces; part of the village was dedicated to the Canadian military. At the top, visitors contemplate the panorama for up to 20 km on a clear day. In addition, the canoe-camping circuit of the Bazin River is renamed and mapped; this stream crosses the village of Parent.
Do Not mapped
Snowmobiling
The city has 825 km of well-maintained snowmobile trails with a multitude of services. The main snowmobile clubs are: * Club de motoneige de La Tuque (La Tuque Snowmobile Club) - +1 819-680-1888 * Club de motoneige Alliance du Nord inc (Alliance du Nord snowmobile club inc). (Parent-Clova) - +1 819-667-2232 * Club de motoneigistes Manawan (Manawan Snowmobile Club) - +1 450-875-0977 * Trail conditions. Haute-Mauricie has many relays and services for snowmobilers.

Listings from the Wikivoyage guide to La Tuque (CC BY-SA 4.0).