Laurentides Wildlife Reserve

The Réserve faunique des Laurentides (formerly designated Parc des Laurentides) (English: Laurentides Wildlife Reserve) is a public territory for the conservation, development and practice of recreational activities. Its vast territory extends into the Laurentians, from Haute-Mauricie and Haute-Batiscanie (to the west), to the Saguenay valley (to the east). It covers in particular the administrative regions of Capitale-Nationale, Saguenay-Lac-Saint-Jean and Mauricie, in Quebec, in Canada.

Réserve faunique des Laurentides covers and includes more than 2000 lakes and rivers. This reserve is managed by the Ministère des Forêts, de la Faune et des Parcs and the Société des establishments de plein air du Québec (SÉPAQ). The government applies integrated management of natural resources, including forests and wildlife, on the territory of the Laurentides wildlife reserve.

The enhancement of the natural heritage of the reserve involves various interventions relating to the conservation, restoration and development of habitats. Several research projects in the reserve allow us to understand the dynamics of ecosystems.

Understand
The highest mountain peak in the reserve is. The forest cover is mainly composed of conifers and balsam fir to white birch.

In addition, the reserve offers various packages combining accommodation and several recreational tourism activities.

Fauna
Terrestrial fauna includes mainly: caribou, beaver, snowshoe hare, wolf, lynx, moose, black bear and fox. The reserve is home to a wide variety of birds that nest or live near water bodies, including: ruffed grouse, spruce grouse, ring-necked loon and heron.

History
This reserve was created in 1968 with the objective of democratizing hunting and fishing in Quebec. The territory had been operated by 22 private hunting and fishing clubs.

The toponym of the wildlife reserve evokes the seigneury of the same name granted in 1636 by the Compagnie de la Nouvelle-France to Jacques Leneuf de La Poterie. The first Portneuviens settlers settled around 1636 near the port at the mouth of the river "port neuf" (meaning "new port"). Leneuf de La Poterie would have added the last syllable to the usual toponym to form the word Portneuf. Toponymically, the common name Portneuf applies to 14 entities or places, in particular: the seigneury, the MRC, the wildlife reserve, the city, the former county of Quebec, a lake and three rivers.

Halte L'Étape
Route 175 connects Quebec and Saguenay–Lac-Saint-Jean, more or less follows the old route of the Jesuit trail from the 17th century and the "chemin des Poteaux" laid out at the beginning of the 20th century.

SÉPAQ operates a major rest area on route 175, in the Laurentides wildlife reserve, between Quebec City and Saguenay–Lac-Saint-Jean. This rest area is located on the west shore of lac Jacques-Cartier, ie north of Quebec City. La Loutre campsite is located between the buildings of this rest area and Lac Jacques-Cartier.

The L’Étape rest area is the last rest stop of this type on this provincial road. In 1869, a first relay was built on this same site; it consisted of a log cabin with a bread oven to serve travelers. Before 1870, this forest and mountain road was not very suitable for vehicles; it was even dangerous, particularly in winter, at night, in bad weather or in meeting wild animals. Along the logging route, several shelters had been set up during the construction of the road and to meet the needs of workers in logging operations and generally traveling on foot. These shelters were separated between 12 and 20 km from each other.

Between the First and the Second World War, this road stopped at the halt when leaving Quebec. A forest protection post has been set up there. In 1951, following the completion of Boulevard Talbot in Chicoutimi, the Government of Quebec erected a hotel complex at L'Étape comprising, in particular, accommodation, restaurants, a gas station, and various facilities offering products and services for lovers of nature activities, including fishing and hunting. These original buildings were demolished, apart from a service station and a restaurant which perpetuate the vocation of the site.

The Gates of Hell
The expression "Gates of Hell" refers to a narrow passage, a breach, a defile in the mountains. In Réserve faunique des Laurentides, the Portes de l'Enfer valley refers to a well-boxed segment of the Pikauba river, flowing between the surrounding mountains whose peaks reach over of altitude. This zone is northwest of lac Jacques-Cartier and  southwest Route 175, between the Pies stream and the confluence of the Hell stream. A cliff of approximately facing northeast, faces the deep valley of the Pikauba River.

In this zone, the expression "Portes de l'Enfer" has been known since 1865, while a colonization route, practicable only in winter, is laid out in particular in a segment of the Chicoutimi River, in order to link Quebec City and Lac-Saint-Jean. In addition to the very rugged relief of this area, this toponymic designation also evokes the harsh climate in winter. Today, a friendly pavilion and comfortable chalets have been fitted out for the benefit of nature lovers, in particular fishermen and hunters.

The wildlife reserve operates a well-developed vacation site on the banks of the Pikauba river; it consists of a main lodge and 10 log cabins. It is frequented by nature lovers, particularly fishermen and shoemakers.

Geography
The lac Jacques-Cartier is the largest body of water in the wildlife reserve. The vast territory of the reserve drains towards:
 * the Saint-Laurent river, via the rivers: Batiscan river, Jacques-Cartier river, Montmorency river and Sainte-Anne river;
 * the Saguenay, via the rivers: Métabetchouane river, Chicoutimi river, rivière à Mars.

Thomas-Fortin Ecological Reserve
Established in 1990, the Thomas-Fortin ecological reserve has an area of which is part of the Laurentides Wildlife Reserve. This reserve is {{km|50} northwest of Baie-Saint-Paul and west of Grands-Jardins park. This ecological reserve was created with the aim of preserving a plant cover of the domain of the balsam fir to white birch. This area would not have been disturbed by forest fires or by insect epidemics. The toponym of this reserve evokes the work of life of Thomas Fortin (1858-1941) who was the instigator of the creation of the Laurentian park in 1895.

Go
The main reception stations of the wildlife reserve are:
 * Accueil du Camp Mercier (Camp Mercier Reception Center), located at kilometer 94 of route 175, from the southern entrance to the Laurentides Wildlife Reserve. Camp Mercier is a renowned cross-country ski centre because it generally benefits from excellent snow conditions. The network of cross-country ski trails stretches over  linear trails (including  for the classic step and  for the skate). Since winter 2021-2022, outdoor enthusiasts have benefited from a new building, fitted out with large windows, offering a view of the access to the slopes, the slide and the outdoor fireplace. From Camp Mercier, nature lovers benefit from 33 linear km of snowshoe trails, offering bucolic views of mountain landscapes and snow-capped valleys. Snowshoers can go to Le Pic relay and a lean-to, both  above sea level. Open summer, fall and winter.
 * Accueil La Loutre (La Loutre Reception Center), at kilometer 135 (L'Étape rest area) on route 175, from the southern entrance to the Laurentides wildlife reserve. A campsite is set up there on the west shore of Lac Jacques-Cartier. Open summer and fall.
 * Accueil Gîte-du-Berger (Gîte-du-Berger Reception Center). Cottage on the north shore of Lake Clarence-Gagnon, along route 169, connecting Hébertville to the fork of route 175 (southeast of Mont Apica).

The reception stations of the wildlife reserve offer:
 * rental: fishing rod, cross-country ski equipment, bedding, gasoline engine, electric motor, snowshoes, personal flotation device;
 * in various services: first aid service (cross-country skiing), radio communication, recording, information, patrollers (cross-country skiing), snack bar (cross-country skiing), waxing room (cross-country skiing) and public telephone;
 * on sale: bait, souvenir items, wood, access rights for hunting, access rights for fishing, ice, lures, hunting licenses and fishing licenses.

Réserve faunique des Laurentides offers various family activities and activities for young children, with accommodation and services, particularly fishing, wildlife observation and hunting (12 years and over).

Dogs are allowed in wildlife reserves, however limited to certain places.

By car

 * From Montreal (. Time: 3 hr 3 min, take highway 20 (south shore) eastbound, to Quebec; take highway 73 (north); take highway 40 (east); take highway 73 (north) which becomes route 175 (north), to the wildlife reserve reception center.
 * From Quebec City (. Time: 39 min, take highway 73 (north) which becomes route 175 (north), to the wildlife reserve reception center.

Geographical maps
On its website, SÉPAQ makes available to the public, in particular:
 * General map of the Laurentides Wildlife Reserve: General map of the Laurentides Wildlife Reserve;
 * the 2022 fishing plan: ;
 * the ABCs of small game hunting: ;
 * the 2022 moose hunting plan:
 * the Avenza Maps application, in order to help hikers, fishermen or hunters to geolocate their position from the various maps of the territory.

Users should consult the SÉPAQ website before visiting the reserve; they can book their package there according to the desired activities.

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