Thirty-One-Mile Lake

Just 45 minutes from the Forêt de l’Aigle in the Vallée-de-la-Gatineau, this lake is dotted with islands and islets where cedars hang their roots. It is 21 km long, but with its neighbor, Lac Pémichangan, the total length is 31 miles. It features several peninsulas and points, and its wooded shores reveal surprising geological features.

This little-used area is renowned for its crystal-clear water and abundant fishing. Lake trout, lake whitefish, northern pike and bass are all present in the lake. It’s also an excellent place for kayaking and canoe-camping. Scuba diving is also practised in this vast bowl of crystal-clear water, with some areas offering views at depths of up to twenty metres.

Rustic campsites have been set up by the lake’s municipalities. You can also camp just about anywhere on the lake, as long as you avoid private land. Every day, the marine team from SAGE (Société d’aménagement et de gestion de l’environnement du bassin versant du lac des Trente et Un Milles) makes its rounds by boat to collect fees.

The lake is shared by the municipalities of Sainte-Thérèse-de-la-Gatineau and Bouchette to the west, Notre-Dame-de-Pontmain to the east, Gracefield to the south and Déléage to the north. Each municipality bordering the lake has parking lots and boat launches, which are free and/or charge up to $20 for parking.

For example, there’s a boat launch in the municipality of St-Thérèse de Gatineau, right next to the Auberge des Trente et un Milles. It can also be accessed via the municipality of Bouchette, where a detailed map of the lake is available. For those who prefer comfort to camping in a tent, there’s the Eau Claire du Lac B&B.

In Ste-Thérèse-de-la-Gatineau, the Centre d’interprétation du cerf de Virginie (white-tailed deer interpretation center) has a 12 km trail between Lac des Trente et Un Mille and the village. A plastic map of the lake is available at convenience stores.