Baie-Comeau

Baie Comeau is a city that is approximately 420 km (260 mi) north-east of Quebec City in the Manicouagan region of the province of Quebec. It is on the shores of the Saint Lawrence River near the mouth of the Manicouagan River, and is the seat of Manicouagan Regional County Municipality.

Understand
The municipality had a population of 21,500 in 2016, which has declined from 25,500 in 1996. The population is roughly split between two urban area population centres within the city limits: Baie-Comeau proper and Hauterive.

The city is named after the adjacent Comeau Bay, which is named in honour of Napoléon-Alexandre Comeau, a Québécois naturalist. Baie-Comeau is the birthplace of former Prime Minister of Canada Brian Mulroney.

History
Baie-Comeau proper (the eastern part of the current town) was founded in 1936 when a paper mill was constructed by Colonel Robert R. McCormick, publisher of the Chicago Tribune. Experiencing remarkable growth, the Town of Baie-Comeau was incorporated the following year. The area continued to see economic development with the establishment of the hydro-electric power stations on the Manicouagan and Outardes Rivers beginning with the Chutes-aux-Outardes Station in 1952, an aluminum smelter in 1958, and grain warehouses (the largest in Canada) in 1959.

Climate
In July, the average daily high is near 21°C (70°F) but at night it cools down to a temperature near 10°C (50°F). In January, the average daily high is about -9°C (16°F) but at night it cools down to a temperature near -20°C (-4°F). No matter when in the year you go, you should always bring a jacket. Temperatures can deviate significantly from the average, so be prepared.

By car
Baie-Comeau is five to six hours beyond Québec City on Québec Route 138. As there is no railway, the main option is to come by car.

From Quebec City, take Autoroute 440-E until it becomes Quebec Route 138. Drive about 400 km until you arrive in Baie Comeau. Visitors from Montréal or points westward on the Trans-Canada Highway will arrive in Québec City on Autoroute 40 (as the last bridge on the St. Lawrence is west of the city), then follow the north shore from there.

From Chicoutimi-Jonquière and Lac-Saint-Jean go to Chicoutimi Nord, where Québec Route 172 follows the north shore of the Saguenay river to Tadoussac. From there, Québec Route 138 leads 200 km downriver to Baie-Comeau.

From Atlantic Canada, take the Trans-Canada Highway westward to Rivière-du-Loup, then cross the St. Lawrence River by ferry to reach Route 138 on the north shore. (From New Brunswick's Acadian Coast, an alternative route is to enter at Campbellton-Pointe à la Croix, take QC132 through Amqui to Rimouski or Matane, then cross the St. Lawrence by ferry.)

Baie-Comeau is also the southern end of Quebec Route 389 which connects with Fermont (567 km away) and the Trans-Labrador Highway (573 km away). Travel from Labrador City, Newfoundland and Labrador is about 588 km away and involves taking Highway 500 (Trans-Labrador Highway) southwest until it crosses into Quebec and becomes Quebec Route 389.

By plane

 * Air Liaison flies from Mont-Joli, Quebec City, Sept-Îles, and Wabush.
 * Pascan Aviation flies from Bagotville, Montreal-Saint-Hubert Airport, and Sept-Îles.
 * Air Canada closed its station in July 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
 * Air Canada closed its station in July 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

By bus

 * Operates the following routes to Baie-Comeau:
 * Between Baie-Comeau and Montreal including stops in Forestville, Tadoussac, Baie-Sainte-Catherine, Saint-Siméon, La Malbaie, Clermont, Saint-Hilarion, Baie-Saint-Paul, Saint-Tite-des-Caps, Sainte-Anne-de-Beaupré, Boischatel, and Quebec City. Trips toward Baie-Comeau start from Quebec City and do not include a stop in Montreal. Operates daily. Travel time to Baie-Comeau from Forestville is 1.75 hours, from Saint-Siméon is 4 hours, from La Malbaie is 4.5 hours, from Baie-Saint-Paul is 6 hours, and from Quebec City is 7.25 hours.
 * Between Baie-Comeau and Sept-Îles including a stop in Godbout. Travel time to Baie-Comeau from Sept-Îles is 3.75 hours hours and from Godbout is 1.25 hours. Operates several days per week.

By boat

 * Operates a ferry route that crosses between the St. Lawrence River's south shore and north shore. The ferry travels between Matane and Baie-Comeau (2 hours 20 minutes crossing), and between Matane and Godbout (2 hours 10 minutes crossing). The ferry operates daily throughout the year, except certain public holidays. Between mid-June and early September, the ferry makes one round trip to Baie-Comeau and one trip to Godbout. During the remainder of the year, depending on the day, the ferry makes a round trip to either Baie-Comeau, to Godbout, or to both. Advance reservations are recommended, especially if you plan to bring a vehicle.
 * Other points at which one can cross the St. Lawrence by ferry include Rimouski—Forestville, Trois-Pistoles—Les Escoumins, Rivière-du-Loup—Saint-Siméon and Lévis—Québec City.

Get around
It's best to have a car to drive around since the two parts of Baie Comeau are separate. Walking may be reasonable depending on the distance and season.

Connect
There is no GSM mobile coverage in Baie-Comeau. Bell/Telus users will get 3G (UMTS) coverage in town, but no signal in highway or rural areas.

Go next
The main road (Route 138) goes west to Montréal, but heading east the road abruptly ends at Kegashka, one town east of Natashquan.

Quebec Route 389 will take you to Centrale Jean-Lesage (Manic-2) a hydroelectric power station on the Manicouagan River about 25 km, or 30 minutes by road, north of Baie-Comeau. The reception pavilion presents a replica of a life-size turbine, an exhibition hall and a projection room which presents the construction and operation of a power plant. Further along Route 389 is the Barrage Daniel-Johnson (Manic-5) a hydroelectric development comprising the largest multi-arch dam in the world and two power stations located at north of Baie-Comeau. The dam offers a magnificent view of the glacial valley of the region. North from there, the road is gravel for long stretches as it heads northward toward Fermont and then Labrador City to meet the Trans-Labrador Highway.

Anticosti Island is reachable by ferry or aircraft from Sept-Îles and Havre-Saint-Pierre.

Saguenay is reachable by road from Tadoussac.

It is also possible to cross the St. Lawrence River by ferry to Matane, a point of entry to the Gaspé Peninsula.