Lac du Pimbina Hike, La Mauricie National Park
The hiking in La Mauricie National Park in Quebec took me aback. First, it was way more beautiful than I expected. And the hikes that were labeled moderate, turned out to be on the tough side of moderate. I think because I live near the Rocky mountains, I figure nothing can be quite as hard in comparison. I was proved wrong on the Lac du Pimbina hike in La Mauricie National Park and again hiking to the summit of Le Mont Albert in Gaspe National Park.
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Where is La Mauricie National Park?
You’ll find La Mauricie National Park approximately halfway between Montreal and Quebec City. It is 60 km north of Trois Rivières.
There are two main entrance points to the park – Saint-Mathieu Entrance or the Saint-Jean-des-Piles entrance. Check maps before you go.
If you’re driving an electric vehicle you’ll find charging stations at four parking lots ( Rivière à la Pêche, Shewenegan, Wapizagonke and Lac Édouard. Half are Tesla charging stations and the rest are J-1772 charging station units. You’ll need 4 – 6 hours to get a full charge.
Lac du Pimbina hike summary
Distance: 13.1 km
Time needed: 4.5 – 6 hours
Level of difficulty: Hard
Best time to hike: Go in late September and early October for the incredible fall colours – and in summer if you want to break the Lac du Pimbina hike up with swimming.
I had headed into La Mauricie National Park for the purpose of kayaking Lake Wapizagonke – which I did, but I definitely got sidetracked for about four hours. I had been given a brochure of the park and pulled over to check out where the kayak launch site was located.
But first I glanced at some descriptions of hiking trails. They looked intriguing and basically I got sidetracked. One trail in particular caught my attention – trail #15, otherwise known as the Lac du Pimbina trail. There was a suggested time of 5.5 hours to hike it but I figured I could easily knock off the 13.1 km in four hours or less.
What I hadn’t bargained for was how rugged much of the Lac du Pimbina hike turned out to be. There was loads of up and down, and on one occasion ropes were in place and much needed for a steep descent.
The route for the Lac du Pimbina hike
The Lac du Pembina trail winds its way through woods and past five lakes in total – each one more seemingly more beautiful than the next one. The route was signed and easy to follow.
There were four lookouts along the trail and the views down the lakes were outstanding. You’ll find lookouts at Lac Solitaire, Lac Benoit, Lac aux Chevaux, and Lac du Pimbina.
Go for a swim in Lac du Pimbina
By the time I got to Lac du Pimbina I was ready for a swim. The waters are an ideal temperature for swimming by the time mid-July rolls around – and there were a few people taking advantage of the lake.
For a beautiful summer day, I was surprised that I saw very few people on the Lac du Pimbina hike until I was just a kilometre or two from the end.
I ended up taking a solid four hours to hike the trail – with stops only to take pictures and cool off my feet. As much as I thoroughly enjoyed every minute of the kayaking, I am very glad I took the time to see another side of La Maurice National Park.
For more information on La Mauricie National Park visit their website.
More reading on Quebec
- A Lighthouse Stay in Quebec’s Mingan Archipelago
- Hut to Hut Hiking on the Charlevoix Traverse
- A Trip to Mingan Archipelago National Park in Quebec
- A Coastal Hike in Forillon National Park, Quebec
- The Charlevoix Train – Beauport to La Malbaie, Quebec
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Hello Everyone,
I go canoe camping in this park almost every year and hiking in the fall. On a dry summer day, it really does look like this. The colours in fall become almost surreal with stunning bright red and yellow maples.
@Monika I would love to see it in fall!!
What a gorgeous piece of Canada! Looks like it was the pefect day for a hike.
Thanks for linking to Travel Photo Thursday. Sorry I have been so slow in getting around. My host does not like me this week, and site keeps going down; no fun!
@Nancie I loved the intensity of colours you get in La Maurice.
No fun with site issues.
@Eileen We are blessed with loads of wild places.
Whew, tough side of moderate sounds like a challenge to me!:-) These photos are simply gorgeous though, so it looks like the hike (and swim!) were well worth it! I’d love to experience this hike someday.
@Jess La Maurice NP is relatively unknown outside of Quebec but it’s a delightful park to visit.
Wow, the blues and greens are simply stunning and vibrant. I like the view of Lake Benoit and along the banks of Bouchard Creek. It sounds like you made good time on the hike even if it was more challenging than what you expected for something labeled moderate. It reminds me of how I used to double the approximate hiking time when I used to select hikes for my young children. At 10 hours, this would have been out.
@Michele I’ve been in your shoes though it feels like a million years ago. At a few of the viewpoints the hike quite literally took my breath away because of its’ beauty.
A beautiful photo series, Leigh!
@Andrew Thank you.
Hi Leigh, it’s good to know that some trails still manage to challenge my hiking hero! This is another gorgeous hike, Leigh. I gasp on those pretty lakes and their colors. I believe you that it’s the right color. I have some pictures of water in Greece with the same deep blue. Some people thought I oversaturated it, but it was what it was. Thank you for taking us on another hike and sharing these photos beautiful and colorful nature.
@Marisol I love your comments as they always touch me. It was a fantastic hike and I just wish I’d brought my bathing suit. The lakes were an outstanding colour and thank you for letting me know that Greece offers naturally the effect of over-saturation.
Nothing like taking a dip in a cool lake after working up a sweat. I love swimming in Quetico after portages. Hiking trails can sometimes surprise like this. You never know the quality of the trail until you venture out on your own. Hard to make time swinging down ropes.
@Ted I wish I had gone for a swim. I think living out west has made me forget how fantastic it is to swim in a warm lake in summer. I used to love doing that and this hike made me realize how much I missed it.
Five lakes? The park really is pretty, Leigh.
Wonder where all the people were on the day you were there.
@Marcia I have heard that park visits are declining so maybe that’s part of the problem – but I think I just got lucky.
Personally I don’t think there is anywhere in the world that betters Canada’s lakes and forests. These photos are superb. I can’t imagine the water ever being warm enough for me to take a swim though. 🙂
I just saw the comment about the colours not being real. I have not been to the Gaspe Peninsula, but I have seen many lakes in B.C. that exact colour. My photos of them are that blue and are not altered. And the greens were that green. Both on my Camera and my husband’s which are completely different brands and types of camera. We travelled in Spring. I just thought I would add that I do believe the colours are accurate.
@Jan Thanks for your vote. La Maurice NP was truly one of the bluest, greenest places I have ever visited. The vivid colours really made the visit.
@Jan The water can be close to bath tub warm and I’m betting I cold get you in on a hot summer day.
It probably would be an even longer trip for me since I tend to take my time with taking pictures and that happens quite often – the views are gorgeous
@Noel I do like to stop and take pictures a lot – and a few times I changed lenses. That’s when I’m happy to be on my own and moving at my own pace.
What a long hike! We have spots like that in Kentucky, where it’s pretty much unmarked, and the trail becomes a little blurry. 5 lakes in one hike – that’s awesome!
@Katie It was a treat to keep hitting one lake after another.
@Katie I didn’t find the hike too long – especially in comparison to others I’d done already this summer. Five lakes was a bonus.
I love your opening sentence! How many times have I had that thought about some place. . .beautiful photos, Leigh. And as one of your ‘regulars’ let me assure Gary that your photos show the beauty of the countryside that really does exist if one gets out and finds it (perhaps he should). 😉
@Jackie Thanks for your great comment. It made me smile. The reality of La Maurice is the unreality of the colours in the park – and my camera settings are no different than normal.
@Gary For your information I didn’t!!
Then the problem must be with your camera. Is it on a vivid colour setting? I’ve been there. The photos don’t look natural. Nice composition and article, though.
@Gary No worries. It was very kind of you to come back and comment again.