Réserve faunique Mastigouche

Created in 1971, this 1,565-square-km wildlife reserve boasts 417 lakes, 13 rivers and several streams. The forest cover is made up of different types of maple stands, as well as mixed and coniferous stands. Some thirty mammal species live here, including moose, black bear, white-tailed deer, wolf, lynx, beaver and hare, as well as many birds, including golden eagle and ruffed grouse.

Activities

In May, when the snowmelt has swollen the Rivière du Loup, it’s possible to kayak down the river. When the river dries up, you can head for Lac Bouteille, Chamberlain, Grand Lac des Îles, Grand Lac St-Bernard, Aux Sables (Catherine sector), Sans Bout, Sorcier, Supérieur, Tonnerre and Tremblay. If you don’t have your own equipment, canoes, kayaks and pedal boats are available for hire at Lac Saint-Bernard.

On foot, you’ll have access to three short trails, each 2 km long: the Saint-Bernard and de la Falaise trails near the Saint-Bernard campsite, and the Six-Chutes trail, with its interpretive panels and observation tower.

The national trail (intermediate to expert level) crosses the southern part of the reserve from west to east, following the Tonnerre, Saint-Bernard, Vianney Guillemette and Roland Leclerc sections. Here you can admire waterfalls and enjoy several viewpoints, including the impressive Vianney-Guillemette cliff.

You can also pick wild raspberries and blueberries, which are available in abundance on the reserve’s territory.

Day fishing (reserve your lake), wade fishing, fishing with accommodation (camping or cottage). Those who bring their own canoe will only have access to Lac Proche, unless they opt for canoe-camping. The main fish species is brook trout (speckled trout), except on Lac St-Bernard: lake trout, and the famous Lac Sorcier: landlocked salmon.

A rental service offers: boats, fishing rods, motors, canoe, kayak, paddleboard and mountain bike.

Accommodations

Several cottages are equipped with propane gas lighting, water heater, stove and refrigerator, as well as shower and toilet facilities. Each cottage is located on the shore of a lake. Rustic camps for 2 to 4 people each are the ideal compromise between cottage and camping.

The Lac Saint-Bernard campground (13 km from the Pins-Rouges reception area) offers nearly 70 serviced sites, most of which are unserviced (sanitary block nearby), as well as a dozen ready-to-camp sites in a mature maple grove.

The semi-developed campsites at Lac de la Bouteille (Bouteille sector) and Lac aux Sables (Catherine sector) are very popular because they have toilets and running water (non-potable).

Nearly a hundred other primitive campsites are scattered around the territory, close to visitor centers and attractions.

Access

L’accueil Pins-Rouges is located 24 km north of Saint-Alexis-des-Monts, on route 349. For tent-trailers, caravans and recreational vehicles, it is strongly recommended to enter through this reception area.

The other two welcome stations on the Mastigouche reserve are the Bouteille welcome station east of Saint-Zénon, and the Catherine welcome station north of Mandeville.

The name Mastigouche comes from the former Mastigouche private hunting and fishing club, founded in 1881. It means “where the wood is small” in an Amerindian language, probably Atikamekw.