Lac-Saint-Jean

A geographically-isolated region, Lac-Saint-Jean is mostly francophone and known for its blueberries (the locals are known as "les bleuets"). Much of the area is agricultural land; weather permitting, blueberries are ready for harvest in mid-August.

Communities

• Alma
• Roberval
• Desbiens
• Métabetchouan–Lac-à-la-Croix
• Dolbeau-Mistassini
• Normandin
• Saint-Félicien

By automobile, take Route 155 from Trois-Rivières to Chambord or Route 175 from Québec City (exit onto Route 169). From Chicoutimi-Jonquière, head west on Route 170 (south shore) or Route 172 (north shore).
By air, it is possible (but expensive) to fly into Bagotville (near Chicoutimi), then head west by road.
There is intercity bus service westward from Chicoutimi-Jonquière through the region to Chibougamau-Chapais.

• Intercar

  phone: +1 418-543-1403
  address: 55, rue Racine Est, Chicoutimi
  Bus from Chicoutimi-Jonquière west via Lac-Saint-Jean (Dolbeau, St. Felicien, Alma, Roberval) to Chibougamau. Connections at Chicoutimi for Quebec City and Tadoussac.

By car

The region as a ring around the lake is followed by Route 169, a circle route which branches off Route 175 (the main road from Quebec City to Chicoutimi) to enter the region at Hébertville. In counterclockwise order, the route goes through Alma, Péribonka, Mistassini, Saint-Félicien, Roberval, Val-Jalbert, Chambord, Métabetchouan and back to Hébertville and Saint-Gédeon. The full circle is 200 km (100 mi) in circumference.

By boat

There are marinas at various points on the lake, including Roberval and Alma. These are inherently seasonal on this cold, fresh-water lake.

• Club Nautique Roberval

  phone: +1 418-765-0115
  address: 854 rue Arthur, Roberval
  Marina with docking for 135 boats (including 10-12 visitors), Internet, dairy bar (Crèmerie La vache Copine), restaurant (L'Ancre à l'eau, +1 418-275-9990), cycling, travel info, boat launch ramp, pumpout, power and potable water on dock, showers, toilets, fuel.

By snowmobile

The Trans-Québec trail system covers the eastern portion of the region from Roberval through Alma to Mistassini; there are also local and regional trails which fill the remaining gaps. Snowmobile repair is available from dealers (Arctic Cat, Skidoo, Polaris) in Alma.

By bicycle

• Véloroute des Bleuets

  phone: +1 418 668-4541
  256km of paved cycle trails around Lac-Saint-Jean

• Vélos Bleus

  phone: +1 418-618-2457
  address: 1200 boul. St-Joseph, Roberval
  Bicycle and kayak rental

• Tobo-Ski (Centre de vélo de montagne St-Félicien)

  phone: +1 418-679-3855
  address: 500, rang Petit, Saint-Félicien
  Bicycle tours, mountain bike rentals, d’Arbre en Arbre treetop zip lines and campground in summer. Skiing in winter.

• Roberval City Hall

  address: 851 Saint-Joseph Boulevard, Roberval
  A National Historic Site of Canada. A late interpretation of the Second Empire style, it was built in 1928-1929 to demonstrate the increasing importance of the town as an administrative centre and regional capital in the Lac Saint-Jean region.

• Autodrome St-Félicien

  phone: +1 418-679-5690
  address: 2365 Boul. Du Jardin, St-Félicien
  Stock car racing.

• Moulin des Pionniers

  phone: +1 418-256-8242
  address: 4205, chemin des Pionniers, La Doré
  Working pioneer sawmill and museum. Restaurant, hiking trail, dormitory camp.

• Native Museum of Mashteuiatsh

  phone: +1 418-275-4842
  address: 1787, rue Amishk, Pointe-Bleue (Mashteuiatsh)
  Aboriginal history museum and meeting facility for 30-80 people.

• St. Félicien Zoo

  phone: +1 418-679-0543
  address: 2230, boul. du Jardin, St-Félicien
  Nordic and boreal wildlife in its natural habitat. Nature Park Trails, Great Aviary, Kids Garden and Interpretation Centre. Boréalium welcome centre includes movie theatre, exhibition hall, discovery room and laboratories.

• Val-Jalbert ghost town

  phone: +1 418-275-3132
  address: 95, rue Saint-Georges, Chambord
  Preserved tourist ghost town on the Ouiatchouan River, between Roberval and Chambord. A former Ouiatchouan Falls mill site where fibre for paper was produced mechanically as the town's sole industry. The mill became obsolete as rival manufacturers devised chemical means to turn wood fibre into pulp and paper. Overnight lodging is available in the general store building or in restored 1920s period houses for $280/night (double occupancy, including meals and park admission). 172-site campground with wi-fi, ice, RV hookups, cottages, outdoor pool. Restaurant du Moulin at mill and café terrasse / snack bar at general store. Cable car (extra cost) and guided tour available.

• Go-Karts/Karting St-Félicien

  phone: +1 418-630-4000
  address: 2223, boul. du Jardin, Saint-Félicien
  Go-kart track, miniature golf course adjacent.

• Le mont Lac-Vert

  phone: +1 418-344-4000
  address: 173, chemin du Vallon, Hébertville
  Alpine skiing, snowshoeing. Restaurant and bistro bar Le St-Bernard.

• Musée du fromage Cheddar

  phone: +1 418-251-4922
  address: 148, avenue Albert-Perron, Saint-Prime
  Take a step back in time to 1895, when Perron's cheese factory first manufactured its hand-made local cheeses. One hour guided tours.

• Musée Louis-Hémon

  phone: +1 418 374-2177
  address: 700, route 169, Péribonka
  Oldest museum in-region, established 1938 to recall the era described in Louis Hémon's book Maria Chapdelaine.

• Pointe-Taillon Park

  phone: +1 418-347-5371
  address: 835, rang 3 Ouest, Saint-Henri-de-Taillon
  Marine shuttle for pedestrians/cyclists and campers from Péribonka Marina to Pointe-Taillon park, Pointe-Chevrette and l'Ile Bouliane (late June to Labour Day). Snack bar and patio/terrace, beach with lifeguard, cycle path, campground, store with clothing and souvenirs. Short-term rental of bicycles, canoes, beach chair and umbrella, kayaks, pedalboats. Public transport in Alma (25km).

Events

• Festival du Bleuet

  phone: +1 418-276-1241
  address: 105, avenue de l’Église, Mistassini
  Annual festival with live entertainment, games for kids and an enormous blueberry pie, August.

• Festival Western

  phone: +1 418-239-0788
  address: 30, de la Friche, Mistassini
  Rodeo, dance, country music and poker.

• Les Régates de St-FélicienHydroplane competition, live entertainment. Bring your own refreshments (no alcohol or glass bottles). A Saturday dinner is available at the marina at extra cost.

• Traversée internationale du Lac-Saint-Jean

  phone: +1 418-275-2851
  address: 1130, boul. Saint-Joseph, Roberval
  Annual swim meet, late July. Live entertainment, fireworks.

• Chocolaterie des Pères Trappistes

  phone: +1 418 276-1122
  address: 100, route des Trappistes, Mistassini
  Chocolate-covered blueberries are a local treat, widely available in-region in late summer and distributed as far afield as Montréal, Québec City and the Eastern Townships/Estrie.

• Fromagerie Médard

  phone: +1 418-345-2407
  address: 10, chemin De Quen, Saint-Gédéon
  Dairy farm with specialty cheese made on-site.

• Vignoble Couchepagame

  phone: +1 418-482-3466
  address: 1328, rang Sainte-Anne, Métabetchouan/Lac-à-la-Croix
  Winery, free 20-minute tour.

Blueberry farms

Blueberries are usually in season in mid to late August, weather permitting, with plenty of opportunities to pick your own berries.

• Bleuets Fortin et Fils

  phone: +1 418 276-2726
  address: 555, rue De Quen, Mistassini
  Pick your own fresh blueberries on the farm or get them from a kiosk near the Bleuets Mistassini frozen packing factory.

• La Magie du Sous-Bois

  phone: +1 418-276-8926
  address: 801, 23e Ave, Mistassini
  Pick your own blueberries in the fields.

• Capitaine Bob

  phone: +1 418-276-2511
  address: 1702 boulevard Wallberg, Dolbeau

• Chez Greco Restaurant

  phone: +1 418-275-5707
  address: 979 Boulevard Marcotte, Roberval

• La Dolce Vita

  phone: +1 418-668-8419
  address: 870, ave du Pont N, Alma
  Breakfast/lunch, bring your own beer and wine

• Restaurant Pub L'Amaretto

  phone: +1 418-275-0230
  address: 867 boulevard Saint Joseph, Roberval

• Resto 3F

  phone: +1 418-276-8445
  address: 1500 rue des Érables, Mistassini

• Resto Des Copains

  phone: +1 418-276-8466
  address: 191 de Quen, Mistassini

• Resto Roberto

  phone: +1 418-662-2191
  address: 11, rue Scott Est, Alma
  Chicken, salad, pizza, beef. Breakfast.

• Brasserie Chez Noël

  phone: +1 418-276-2526
  address: 1231 Bd Wallberg, Dolbeau

• Marco's Pub

  phone: +1 418-679-9933
  address: 1128, boul. Saint-Félicien, Saint-Félicien
  Restaurant and bar.

• Microbrasserie du Lac-Saint-Jean

  phone: +1 418-345-8758
  address: 120 rue de la Plage, St-Gédéon
  84-seat bistro, microbrewery and boutique.

• Microbrasserie La Chouape

  phone: +1 418-613-0622
  address: 1164, boul. Sacré-Coeur, Saint-Félicien
  Microbrewery. Local beers, patio, wi-fi.

• Resto Bar Chez Henri

  phone: +1 418-276-6033
  address: 1470 Bd Wallberg, Dolbeau

Alma

Alma is the easternmost point in the region, where the lake drains into the Saguenay River.

• Camping & Plage Belley

  phone: +1 418-347-3612
  address: 100 Chemin Belley, Saint-Henri-de-Taillon
  Beach and campground, 24km WNW of Alma, near Pointe-Taillon provincial park.

• Centre de villégiature Dam-en-Terre

  phone: +1 418-668-3016
  address: 1385, chemin de la Marina, Alma
  Riverside campground, beach, condos and cottages. Equipment rental and lake tours.

• Hôtel Universel

  phone: +1 418-668-5261
  address: 1000, boul. des Cascades, Alma
  Hotel with indoor pool, "Le Bordelais" restaurant.

Mistassini

Mistassini is at the far northwestern corner of the region.

• Auberge de la Diligence

  phone: +1 418-276-6544
  address: 414, av de la Friche, Mistassini

• Hotel du Boulevard

  phone: +1 418-276-8207
  address: 1610, boul Wallberg, Mistassini
  11 rooms, refrigerators, wi-fi.

• Maison Blanche

  phone: +1 418-979-1145
  address: 218, 7ième ave, Mistassini
  18 units, refrigerators. (10 with kitchenette)

Saint-Félicien

At the western edge of the lake, near the zoo.

• Hôtel du Jardin

  phone: +1 418-679-8422
  address: 1400 boul. du Jardin, Saint-Félicien
  Eden Bistro-Bar, lunch from $8. Disco. Dining room, spa, massage therapy, indoor pool, 85 rooms, wi-fi, meeting rooms for 10-500 people.

South shore

Métabetchouan, Chambord and Roberval are on the south side of the lake, near the Val-Jalbert ghost town and the road to Trois-Rivières.

• Camping Villa des Sables

  phone: +1 418 345-2655
  address: Route 170 Est Chemin #10, Métabetchouan/Lac-à-la-Croix
  177-site beachfront campground, horseshoes, swimming, beach volleyball, access to Véloroute des bleuets cycle path.

• Chalets et Spa Lac-Saint-Jean

  phone: +1 418-342-1111
  address: 96, chemin du Parc-Municipal, Chambord
  Lakeside cottages and condos, open year-round. Hot whirlpool, massage therapy, cycling, kayak.

• Château Roberval

  phone: +1 418-275-7511
  address: 1225, boul. Marcotte, Roberval
  Hôtel with restaurant ($13-30/main course).

• Gîte La Brise du Lac

  phone: +1 418-275-0656
  address: 493, rue Brassard, Roberval
  Five-room bed and breakfast in 1940s doctor's house.

• Motel L'escale

  phone: +1 418 342-8267
  address: 15, route 155, Chambord
  Route 155/169 crossroads motel with restaurant and filling station.

• Chicoutimi-Jonquière
• Chibougamau
• Trois-Rivières

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