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Departure
Lac-Bouchette

26.8 km

ROUTE DESCRIPTION

This route runs mostly through the woods on well-maintained roads and trails.

Start

250 Route de l’Ermitage, Lac-Bouchette, Quebec G1W 1V0
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Finish

10 Rue du Collège, Saint-André du Lac-Saint-Jean (Quebec) G0W 2K0
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Distance

26.8 KM

Route duration

1

Difficulty level

MEDIUM

Elevation gain

50 M

Itinerary

From Lac-Bouchette to Saint-André du Lac-Saint-Jean

From the Lac-Bouchette Hermitage

  • Turn left onto Rue du Lac and continue to Rue Bernier. (2.3 km)
  • Turn right onto Bernier Street until you reach Principale Street, then turn left onto Principale Street until you reach Route 155. (2.7 km)

From the Christine Motel

  • 108 Principale Street, continuing to Route 155. (0.3 km)

Route 155 (for everyone)

  • Turn left onto Route 155 and continue to Claveau Street. (0.2 km)
  • Turn left onto Rue Claveau and continue until you reach Chemin des Étangs, where you should turn right. Continue along this path until you reach the Y-shaped intersection, where a table has been set up for hikers to rest. (4.0 km)
  • Turn right and follow the Lac-Ouiatchouan trail for a few meters, then turn left onto the “ATV” trail. Along the way, cross the railroad tracks and continue straight ahead to the next intersection. (5.7 km)
  • Turn right onto Chemin du Lac-des-Bouleaux. Carefully cross Route 155 and continue straight ahead on Chemin de Saint-André, which will later become Chemin de la Cavée. A bench has been placed at the entrance to Chemin Saint-André (after the intersection with Route 155) for hikers to rest. There are a few other rest areas along this section. (9.7 km)
  • At the T-intersection—where a table has been set up for hikers to rest—turn left onto Rue De Quen, which runs along the Métabetchouan River and becomes Rue Principale as it enters the village of Saint-André-du-Lac-Saint-Jean. (2.2 km)
  • Arrival in the village of Saint-André.

Practical Tips

Plan for today's drive

  • Water, snack
  • Lunch and dinner

Planning for the Road Ahead

  • Lunch, water, snack
  • Lunch

Point of View

The Fall of the Terror

A lovely view of the bridge over the Métabetchouane River and the park, 0.2 km from the church on Principale Street. Perhaps you’ll learn more about the little story behind the waterfall’s name…

Restaurants / Food

Relais St-André Sagamie Pétro-T SAGAMIE PÉTRO-T (SAG)

Convenience store with gas
124 Principale Street, Saint-André-du-Lac-Saint-Jean, Quebec G0W 2K0
Phone: 418-349-8065

Accommodations

City Hall

10 Rue du Collège
, Tel. (418) 349-8167

  • Community (groups)
    $150 CAD
  • For a cabin (4 people)
    100 CAD

Vacation Cottage in Saint-André-du-Lac-Saint-Jean (bed and breakfast, Airbnb)

190 Rivière Road

6 hikers, travelers, and pilgrims
Online Reservation

Domaine du Maréchal (vacation rental)

5 Rue de l’Église, Saint-André-du-Lac-Saint-Jean (Quebec) G0W 2K0

Les Palonniers Room (Airbnb – $40/room, former rectory)
Book Online

Things to Do in Saint-André-du-Lac-Saint-Jean

HERITAGE AND CULTURE

Économusée® of Cristal du Lac

On the road from Saint-André to Métabetchouane, there is a trail that leads to the Crystal du Lac Mineralogy Activity Center: pearl mining, gold panning, etc. (15 km from Saint-André – 5 km from Métabetchouane), $15 for 2–3 hours.

Watch the crystal miner at work, explore the shop filled with natural treasures, and learn about local geology. At the Excursion site, you can go crystal hunting. Experience life as a prospector: you’ll be able to dig and select your own quartz crystals while enjoying a hike.

1840 Route 169,
Métabetchouan, Quebec G8G 1B3

NATURE AND THE OUTDOORS

Park and Garden

A hundred meters from the church, on the path leading to the convenience store, there’s a lovely park where you can rest after a day’s walk, enjoy the evening breeze, and—why not?—have a little chat with the locals.

A Brief History of the Stopover Town

Saint-André, Lac-Saint-Jean

In 1888, the first settlers arrived at the confluence of the Prudent and Métabetchouane rivers, and the village was built thanks to the Métabetchouane River and the logging it made possible. Later, green granite quarries were established. The parish was established almost as quickly, as early as 1895. It was originally named Saint-André de l’Épouvante because of the impressive and dangerous waterfall in the heart of the village. However, other stories circulate about the origin of the name “l’épouvante.”

In 1901, a pulp mill was established, but it was destroyed by fire the following year. More than sixty years later, a sawmill took its place, operating for about twelve years, from 1965 to 1977. Today, the residents take pride in the network of snowmobile and ATV trails that crisscross the area.

Next Stop: Departure from Saint-André du Lac-Saint-Jean

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