La Mauricie National Park of Canada

Picnicking and Swimming

Sunbathing at Wapizagonke Lake
© Parks Canada/J. Pleau

There is nothing quite so refreshing on a hot summer day as a bracing dip in a lake. So, indulge yourself: pack a picnic lunch and head out for a swim, a canoe ride or just a few hours' fun relaxing in one of the park picnic areas.

Over the years, the Shewenegan and Lac-Édouard picnic areas have proven to be the most popular with visitors. The ample grounds at both locations offer a great variety of services: boat rental facilities, snack-bar, sanitary facilities, beaches, picnic tables and barbecues, launching ramps and seasonal interpretation activities.

At the Shewenegan picnic area, you may also enjoy the thrill of bathing in Les Cascades waterfalls or setting out for a stroll along your choice of short hiking trails.

A most magnificent beach adjoins the Lac-Édouard picnic area. The site also boasts a playground and an interpretation trail popular with visitors of all ages. For the benefit of guests with disabilities, the area meets all standards of universal accessibility.

There is an air of intimacy and charm about the Wapizagonke, Esker and Lac-Bouchard picnic areas, though they are more limited in the facilities that they offer. However, they all provide picnic tables, barbecues and restrooms. In addition, Wapizagonke features a convenience store and boat rental facilities. The Esker picnic area serves as the starting point for three short hiking trails (La Tourbière, Vallerand and Ruisseau-Brodeur), while the Lac-Bouchard picnic area is near an extensive network of trails running through the Rivière-à-la-Pêche area.

A number of wayside rest areas, many of them with breathtaking views of lake scenery, provide a welcoming ambiance for picnickers; others serve as points of departure for backcountry travellers.