Canoe-camping: a unique experience with nature

All sites can be reserved using the Parks Canada Reservation Service under the heading “Backcountry Camping”. This service has all the information you need concerning reservation procedures and refund policy.

Start of reservations: February 5, 2025 from 8 am / Eastern Time
Internet: www.reservation.pc.gc.ca
Telephone: 1-877-737-3783 (1-877-RESERVE) from 8 am to 6 pm
Telephone (Outside of North America): 1-519-826-5391

You do not need to print your reservation. Simply present a digital copy or your reservation number at your arrival.

Please note that a maximum of 2 people per tent is allowed. If 2 adults are accompanied by children in a single tent, they are invited to reserve the La Pêche #1, Isaïe #1, Du Caribou #1, Édouard #1, Wapizagonke #1 or Wapizagonke #11 sites, which have been specially identified as family sites.

For all other backcountry campsites, the maximum occupancy capacity is 2 people, including children. If more than 2 people wish to occupy a single tent, they must reserve 1 additional site for every 2 additional people to respect the site's capacity. This is to ensure resource conservation and environmental integrity.

It is possible to rent a canoe a kayak or a paddleboard for your stay.

Fees

Schedule

From May 30 to October 13, 2025

* If you wish to go kayak-camping or paddleboard-camping, we recommend this activity for the more experienced.

Backcountry campsites are located on lakes:

• Anticagamac*
• À la Pêche
• Baie Cobb
• Baie des Onze Îles
• Du Caribou
• Des Cinq*
• Dauphinais*
• Édouard
• Isaïe
• Marie*
• Waber*
• Wapizagonke

*Campsites without picnic table

Available on each campsite:

• access to a dry toilet
• access to a bear-proof food hanger
• a fireplace (where wood fires are permitted).

Backcountry campers must see to bringing whatever other supplies and equipment are required for their entire length of stay. The following is a non-exhaustive list of things to bring:

• Sleeping bag, blankets and ground sheet
• For boat campers: paddles, water safety kit and life jacket
• Food, drink and container for water
• Clothing
• Dishware, cookset
• 10 metres of rope to suspend food and objects likely to attract wildlife
• Flashlight
• Firewood*, matches or lighter, fire starter, kindling paper
• Insect repellent

* You must purchase your firewood at one of these six places, located:

• At the park's three semi-serviced campgrounds: Mistagance, Rivière à la Pêche and Wapizagonke.
• At boat rentals at the park's three picnic sites: Shewenegan, Lac-Édouard and Wapizagonke.

In addition to the national park’s general rules, canoe-campers must follow a few additional rules:

• Subject to fine and/or expulsion, it is forbidden to:
  • behave in a way that disturbs others (partying, etc.);
  • keep one’s site in a condition deemed unsatisfactory by the park superintendant.
• Backcountry camping is permitted only on designated sites.
• To camp on a backcountry campsites, campers must comply with the following restrictions:
  • Maximum of one (1) tent per delineated pad
  • Tents must be set up on the space provided for this purpose
  • Maximum of two (2) persons per tent, except for family sites
  • You must settle on the A-B-C-D site corresponding to your reservation
• Clean your equipment, particularly your boat. Inspect and clean your gear and footwear to remove all seeds, mud and plant matter before and after visiting the park
• No domestic animals are allowed in boats or in the backcountry.
• Motorboats are prohibited on all park lakes.
• Stops on the islands are prohibited at all times.
• Bringing firewood into national parks from outside is prohibited. It is important to purchase wood from the park and burn it on site.
• It is forbidden to light or maintain a fire anywhere except in fireplaces. It is forbidden to use dead wood or wood taken from the forest to light or maintain a fire.
• You must collect your garbage and leave it in the receptacles designed for that purpose.
• Any person who has obtained a fishing permit must return it to one of the reception centers or campsites as soon as he leaves the park, in order to have his catch counted and to establish the fishing effort, whether or not he has fished and whether or not he has caught any fish.
• Backcountry campsites are restricted to licensed users. Beaches are not just reserved only for campers.
• Water safety equipment is mandatory in the boat.

During their stay in La Mauricie National Park, backcountry campers must respect maximum departure times to ensure safe travel. Campers arriving too late may be refused a permit.

We recommend allowing plenty of time to get to your backcountry campsite. Campers may check in at one of the service points upon arrival but must not exceed the maximum checkout time in order to arrive at their campsite on time.