Last Updated: June 23, 2021
Best Lakes in Quebec
Many people are surprised to learn that land-wise, Canada is the second-largest country on the planet with Russia as the largest. So it should be no surprise that the country has a whopping 62 percent of the world’s lakes.
Traversed by the St. Lawrence River, Ontario is the largest province in Canada and home to thousands of lakes. Some of them are “kettle lakes,” a huge pothole or depression caused by buried melting ice blocks from receding glaciers. Others were formed by long-ago asteroids hitting the earth or are huge, manmade reservoirs.
The lakes in Quebec have been cherished for centuries by the Cree natives and the First Nation (Aboriginal people.) Quebecers still take their lakes seriously. With Canada’s four distinct seasons, recreation is highly varied, and the lakes aren’t abandoned when winter comes. Here is our list of 10 of the most stunning lakes in Quebec.
1. Lake Mistassini
Located in the James Bay region, Lake Mistassini is Quebec’s largest natural lake at 100 miles long and covering 575,00 acres. The lake is legendary for fishing, but it’s hard to get to by road. Most visitors arrive by floatplane into what is called Canada’s fly-in country. Efforts to get here are rewarded with trophy-sized trout, northern pike, and walleye.
The region around Lake Mistassini has been occupied by the Cree Nation for centuries. French explorers who came here in the early 1600s called the lake ‘mista assini’ which is Cree for large rock. It’s thought that they were referring to the huge boulder near the outlet to the Rupert River.
The Cree received recognition and funding as a Regional Tourist Association in 2007 and the Mistassini Village was established. Some members of the association built lodges for fishing excursions while others focused on hunting packages that include camping and snowmobile trekking. The town of Mistassini, population 3,500, built a modern 20-room lodge. Restaurants were opened and cultural festivals were established to help grow tourism.
2. Gouin Reservoir
Image courtesy of Wikimedia
Graveled wilderness roads through forests teeming with wildlife lead to Gouin Reservoir making it an interesting road trip, but like Lake Mistassini, most visitors choose to fly in. The 390,400-acre lake with 3,500 miles of shoreline is located in the Maurice Region amidst a maze of unmarked roads. Outfitters in the area warn not to depend on a GPS.
The reservoir was created after the Gouin dam was built on the St. Maurice River for hydroelectric generation. This combined numerous small lakes into one large reservoir. Bays, peninsulas, and islands make it an angler’s paradise for catching northern pike and walleye. Visitors also enjoy kayaking, canoeing, hiking, and winter sports.
Renting a houseboat with a fishing dingy is popular for accommodations. Isolated campgrounds private cabins, resorts, and lodges are also available. Most of the resorts and lodges are on sandy beaches with shallow coves for swimming making this a popular spot for long family vacations.
3. Lake Kipawa
Image courtesy of Flickr
The 75,000-acre Lake Kipawa is in a scenic area of western Quebec winding among steep limestone cliffs, islands, and a rocky forested shoreline. It’s only a six-hour drive from both Ottawa and Toronto making it a popular weekend getaway. Fishing resorts and private cabins are available for accommodations. Summer visitors enjoy motorboating and swimming from the sandy beaches. In winter the hiking trails are used for snowmobiling.
Areas around the lake with seasonal and year-round homes are accessible by road. Remote areas are reached by boat or floatplane. Kayakers and canoeists often arrive by paddling the Kipawa River. Huard and Clermont islands are equipped with docks, picnic tables, and outhouses for use by paddlers.
The more populated areas of the lake are surrounded by hiking and snowmobile trails. A fishing pier and municipal dock with facilities for boaters are located at the north end of the village of Laniel. About five miles north of Laniel, the Kipawa River Trail is a marked trail leading to the Grande Chute, a 90-foot waterfall.
4. Lake Massawippi
Image courtesy of Flickr
Located in southern Quebec near the Vermont border, Lake Massawippi is a wonderland for outdoor adventures. The 4,449-acre lake is one of the deepest Quebec lakes with an average depth of 136 ft and a maximum of 281 ft. In addition to vacations, the lake provides drinking water for thousands in the surrounding communities.
Lake Massawippi is a fisherman’s paradise teeming with salmon, bass, pike, and yellow perch. Other adventures range from swimming in summer to ice fishing in winter. The waters stay alive with speedboat racing, fishing tournaments, yachting, and more. The surrounding area offers plenty of hiking, cycling, and hunting. Hike, cycle, or drive to enjoy the beauty of the Eastern Townships. The 260-mile Township Trail links around 30 communities for a long scenic drive.
5. Bark Lake
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Bark Lake or Lac de Bark is a 50-mile drive away from Montreal and a 100-mile drive from Ottawa making it a convenient day escape for city dwellers. Before European explorers, the area was occupied by the First Nation’s Algonquin and Iroquois people. The first French settlers in 1608 embarked on a fur trade that was very lucrative until the 1750s.
The 1,586-acre lake lies within the Laurentides Tourism Region and the Central Canada Tourism Region winding through the hilly countryside. Lush evergreen forests line the 23-mile shoreline. The lake is fed by 16 tributaries with most of the water originating from Lakes Mousseux, Manitou, and Quatrieme.
Anglers, boaters, and paddlers are attracted to Bark Lake. Visitors enjoy the breathtaking scenery of the Laurentian mountains. Public access to the lake is in the community of Barkmere. Boats can be launched at the Miller Bay ramp. Lakefront vacation rentals are available.
6. Cabonga Reservoir
Cabonga Reservoir is a massive lake in a remote area for those looking to “get away from it all.” Located 150 miles north of Ottawa, it covers 261 square miles and includes islands, peninsulas, and 187 square miles of water. The lake is within the La Verendrye Wildlife Reserve, a mostly undeveloped area except for a few fishing resorts and the Rapid Lake First Nations Reserve. The lake was enlarged to include 36 other lakes by building a dam to facilitate floating logs in 1929.
Especially popular for fishing, the reservoir was praised as the best for lake trout by Outdoor Canada magazine. There is only one location near the highway with facilities. The small Le Domaine Outpost has a gas station, restaurant, store, and motel. It’s also the location of the Le Domaine Registration Centre for the La Verendrye Wildlife Reserve. Visitors can get maps, permits, and other information.
The motel at Le Domaine serves as a small resort, and the reserve has 1200 primitive campsites.
7. Lake Abitibi
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Lake Abitibi is 250,000 acres of delightful seclusion. The huge lake on the Ontario/Quebec border is actually two lakes by a channel. Local folklore claims the lake was created by dams built by beavers. But if so, the industrious rodents had help from a dam that was built in 1915.
The lake’s waters are quite shallow (11 ft on average and 49 ft at its deepest), so boaters are advised to take a local guide to avoid the huge rocks in the often-muddy waters. Cochran is the best spot for accessing the lake. The village has a few motels, camps, and guest cottages.
The Abitibi-de-Troyes Provincial Park is located on the lake’s shores. Accessible only by boat or air, the park features 27,000 acres of backpacking, primitive camping, canoeing, and wildlife viewing, but no facilities.
8. Pipmuacan Reservoir
The Pipmuacan Reservoir is located in the vast evergreen forests of northern Quebec about 435 miles from Montreal. The reservoir is vital to the province for generating hydroelectric power. Pipmuacan covers more than 241,000 acres with 198,000 of them being water.
Pipmuacan reservoir is one of Quebec’s easiest remote playgrounds to access. However, it’s quite a distance down a gravel road from any sizeable town. Currently, there is only one lodge that operates full-time. Several outfitters offer fly-in by seaplane for their quests. The lodge arranges fishing and hunting trips along with hiking, ATV touring, mountain biking, snowmobiling, kayaking, and canoeing.
9. Lake Timiskaming
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Forming part of the border between Quebec and Ontario, Lake Timiskaming is a large, natural lake formed by long-ago receding glaciers. The lake is long (68 miles) and narrow (5 miles wide). It formed in a rift valley with some spots over 700 feet deep. Huge limestone bluffs along parts of the shoreline are evidence of the geological disturbance caused by the rift.
The lake’s most populous areas are along the shoreline of the Ontario side and include several towns. The towns of Temiskaming Shores (Temiskaming is the Ontario spelling) and Haileybury feature beaches for swimming, marinas, resorts, camps, and lodges. Watersports are possible when the lake is calm. The narrow lake can produce a lot of wave action when winds blow through the bluffs. Novices should not go boating in windy weather. Sportsmen are led by experienced boaters.
The lake appears remote but is only 100 miles from North Bay. Several towns in the area provide plenty of restaurants, bait shops, and other necessary services. A number of small motels and guest cottages are available all year.
10. Lake Megantic
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The 6,500-acre Lake Megantic isn’t well known outside of eastern Quebec since the mountainous terrain of the Appalachians kept it isolated in earlier years. Today, the lake’s reputation is growing for watersports, fishing, hiking, and other outdoor adventures. It’s located less than 100 miles from Quebec City, and modern roads make it easily accessible.
Long, narrow, and deep, Lake Megantic is known as a “finger lake,” a lake left in a valley after glaciers receded. The average width is two miles.
The city of Lac Megantic (Lake Megantic) and the villages of Marston, Piopolis, and Frontenac occupy the almost 30-mile shoreline and offer campgrounds and public beaches. Piopolis is internationally recognized for open swim competitions. A recreational facility near Lac Megantic features a pristine sandy beach, 300 campsites, a boat launch, picnic areas, and more. Cabins and room rentals are available.
About the Author Roger Timbrook
Roger is a little obsessed with travel. He has been to over 40 countries, broken 3 suitcases and owned over 10 backpacks in 12 months. What he doesn't know about travel, ain't worth knowing!
