Somewhere between Montréal’s cobblestone romance and Québec City’s fairytale streets lies a region that feels like a secret whispered between seasons. Parc national de la Mauricie, a vast swath of forest and lake country, unfurls like a living watercolor when autumn arrives. Here the hills ripple in copper and crimson, mist rises from valleys at dawn, and loons call across glassy waters just as the sun catches the tips of the maples. It’s the kind of place that turns travelers into poets—and where every golden hour feels like it’s just for you.

A Landscape Carved by Time

Parc national de la Mauricie stretches across more than 500 square kilometers of protected wilderness. Rolling Laurentian hills, hidden waterfalls, 150 lakes, and trails that wander through aspen, birch, and sugar maples. The park was carved by glaciers thousands of years ago, leaving behind undulating ridges and kettle lakes that now reflect autumn’s flame. Unlike some of Québec’s better-known parks, Mauricie retains an aura of untouched wildness. You won’t find neon signs or crowded souvenir shops—only winding roads, wooden lookouts, and a sense of being wonderfully far from anywhere.

This region has been cherished by Indigenous peoples for centuries, long before it was named a national park. The waterways once formed part of the portage routes used by the Attikamek, Algonquin, and Innu, and today their spirit lingers in the park’s silence, especially on misty mornings when the air smells of pine and moss.

Golden Hour Magic

If Montréal gave us cathedral light and Québec City offers fairytale spires, Mauricie is pure cinematic wilderness. Sunrise is the star of the show here. As dawn breaks, low clouds drift between the hills like smoke from an invisible fire. The lakes act as mirrors, holding the sky upside down until a breeze ripples the surface. By late afternoon, the light turns honey-colored, threading through the birch trunks and gilding the fallen leaves underfoot.

The park’s Route Promenade—the 63-km scenic drive running from the Saint-Mathieu entrance to the Saint-Jean-des-Piles entrance—is a masterpiece of autumn travel. Pullouts and lookouts reveal sweeping panoramas of copper and scarlet treetops, with trails leading to even more secluded spots. Bring your camera, but don’t forget to simply watch. This is the kind of landscape that can’t be captured—only experienced.

Experiences to Fill a Day (or Three)

Hit the Classic Trails

Les Cascades Trail: A gentle loop along a stream that tumbles over smooth rock slabs—a perfect place to dip your toes in summer or photograph frosted leaves in fall.

Les Falaises Trail: Climb to one of the park’s best lookouts, where hills roll away like a patchwork quilt of orange and gold.

Le Passage: A longer hike through deep forest, where you’re more likely to hear woodpeckers than other hikers.

Paddle Into the Stillness

Rent a canoe or kayak from one of the park’s outfitters and slip into a lake at dawn. Mauricie’s waters are still enough to reflect entire worlds. It’s also one of the best ways to see wildlife—beavers, mergansers, and sometimes a moose stepping quietly into the shallows.

Bike the Winding Roads

In autumn, the park’s main road becomes a cyclist’s dream. The rolling hills and gentle curves give you endless views of blazing trees and shimmering water.

Wildlife Moments

Keep your eyes open for white-tailed deer grazing in clearings, great blue herons standing sentinel on rocky shores, and, if you’re very lucky, the flash of an otter slipping through the reeds.

Beyond the Park: Mauricie’s Charming Towns

Shawinigan

Once an industrial hub, Shawinigan now blends history and creativity. Stroll along the St. Maurice River, visit the historic Cité de l’Énergie, and try a locally brewed beer at one of its cozy microbreweries.

Grand-Mère

A smaller riverside town named after an ancient rock formation (“grandmother”), Grand-Mère is ideal for quiet walks, coffee stops, and browsing local crafts.

Trois-Rivières

Although technically outside the park’s immediate vicinity, Trois-Rivières makes an excellent base. Its historic district blends French colonial architecture, modern restaurants, and an easy-going riverside promenade.

Where to Stay: Golden Hour Getaways

Auberge Le Baluchon Éco-villégiature (Saint-Paulin): A riverside eco-resort offering rustic-chic rooms, Nordic-style outdoor spas, and fine Québec cuisine. Ideal for couples wanting a secluded retreat.

Chalets and Ready-to-Camp Sites Inside the Park: Parks Canada offers everything from traditional campsites to canvas-walled tents with wood stoves. Fall nights under the stars here are unforgettable.

Manoir du Lac Wapizagonke: A boutique inn near the park’s entrance, where you can wake up to mist drifting across the water.

What to Eat: Flavors of the Forest

Mauricie’s cuisine is hearty, local, and deeply tied to the land. Think wild game, maple-infused sauces, and cheeses from nearby farms.

Commonly featured in local restaurants.

Tourtière Mauricienne: A regional spin on Québec’s beloved meat pie.

Maple Desserts: In autumn, nearly every café has a maple tart or crème brûlée infused with local syrup.

Pair your meal with a glass of cider from Cidrerie Chemin du Roy or a craft beer from Microbrasserie Broadway in Shawinigan.

Traveler Tips for Parc national de la Mauricie

Best Time to Visit: Late September to mid-October for peak color, though the park is open year-round.

Entry Fees: Parks Canada daily passes apply; consider a Discovery Pass if you’re touring multiple parks.

Layer Up: Autumn mornings are crisp and afternoons can be warm. Bring a windproof layer for the lookouts.

Start Early: Parking fills up at the popular trailheads; sunrise hikes or paddles are magical and quieter.

Binoculars & Camera: Wildlife and sweeping vistas are abundant—don’t miss the chance to capture them.

Leave No Trace: This is one of Québec’s most pristine areas. Carry out what you bring in and respect marked trails.

Why Mauricie Belongs on Your Bucket Lis

Mauricie is more than a stop between two cities—it’s a living, breathing cathedral of nature. The park’s ridges form the pews, the lakes its mirrored altar, and the mist its incense. In a world that moves faster each year, here is a place where time softens, where you can paddle until the only sound is your paddle slipping into water, or hike until you find a lookout so still you swear the clouds have stopped moving.

Visiting Mauricie is about finding your own quiet corner under the canopy. It’s about hearing the echo of footsteps on pine needles instead of pavement, tasting maple still warm from a nearby sugar shack, and seeing a sky bright enough to guide you back to the trailhead long after sunset.

The Journey Continues Beneath the Changing Canopy

As our Under the Canopy journey continues, Parc national de la Mauricie offers a reminder: fall isn’t just a season, it’s a feeling—one of transition, reflection, and wonder. Standing at a lookout as mist rises from the valley, you realize you’re part of something bigger than a simple road trip. This is what traveling through Québec in autumn is all about: weaving together city and wilderness, past and present, stillness and motion. Mauricie isn’t a detour; it’s the thread that stitches the story together.

If Montréal is your golden-hued overture and Québec City your fairytale crescendo, then Mauricie is the quiet interlude that makes everything richer. It’s where you breathe deeper, walk slower, and let the trees teach you how to change color with grace.