Feet in the water, head in the tent, here are 10 dream campsites by the sea, a lake or a river. What a rustic, nautical and fantastic holiday!
1 White Fish Reservoir (Hautes-Laurentides)
On a desert island – A reservoir in the middle of which are scattered more than 80 islands and islets, almost all wild, this is the idyllic image that the Poisson Blanc regional park, in Notre-Dame-du-Laus, gives us. A dream territory for canoe-camping enthusiasts, the park is a real maze of water and islets bordered by splendid beaches. You paddle there for hours, unless you take a break to walk to the top of Devil’s Mountain or to climb the Elephant wall. In the evening, it is on a desert island that we pitch the tent, facing the sunset.
Price: some sites are free to access, others must be reserved.
Info : www.poissonblanc.org
2 Hare Island (Bas-Saint-Laurent)
In the middle of the River – How about pitching your tent in the middle of the St. Lawrence? This little piece of land is a wilderness camping paradise. After a short crossing of the river in 20 minutes from Rivière-du-Loup, we set foot on this flat and slender island. Several campsites, more or less accessible, allow you to spend the night there to the sound of the breath of whales: nine sites near the landing stage, ten others in two sectors at 1h15 walk, and three last sites at the tip west of the island for seasoned campers-walkers (4h walk). All reveal an incredible view of the river from the sand and pebble shore.
Price: $43.49 per person for the round trip crossing, plus $30 per night per campsite
Info : www.ileauxlievres.com
3 Les Goélands outdoor base (Côte-Nord, Duplessis)
Waves, sun and fine sand – From one of the four new camping platforms, you overlook the St. Lawrence River, which gradually takes on the appearance of an ocean. Less than 10 km from Port-Cartier, the Les Goélands outdoor base is inaugurating this year beautiful rustic sites to spend the night under the stars. Opposite the Iles de Mai, the beaches of this wild territory are recognized as being the most beautiful in the region because of their fine sand and their gentle slope towards the sea. We spend a night to the sound of the lapping of the waves before a day of kayaking or scuba diving in this marine paradise populated by a myriad of small islands and shimmering bays.
Price: $25 per night
Info : www.baselesgoelands.com
4 L’Anse à la cave (North Shore)
Night with the whales – If it’s not the whales you see passing by when you stick your head out of your tent, it’s definitely kayakers! Feet in the water, or almost, the campsites of Mer et Monde are among the most fantastic in Quebec. They are located on the sand or on wooden platforms overlooking the sea, facing a magnificent marine panorama. The site is of course kept deliberately rustic and it is necessary to provide drinking water as well as to take a shower in the neighboring campsite. This is the price to pay for such a unique place.
Rate: $25 to $30 per night (plus tax)
Info : www.meretmonde.ca
5 Saguenay Fjord National Park (Saguenay)
Night under the stars – Escape and isolation are the hallmarks of the new Pointe-du-Moulin campground, located in Parc national du Fjord-du-Saguenay. The ten rustic sites of Baie-Sainte-Marguerite are only accessible on foot or by bike after a 2.3 km hike. Ideal for getting away from the crowds of visitors and reaching an area where sleeping has never been allowed before. The view from the tip of the bay is breathtaking! For more cozy campers, in a tent trailer or recreational vehicle, Le Bleuvet campground, at the bottom of the bay, is an equally charming option.
Rate: $23 to $29 per night depending on the campsite and services
Info : www.sepaq.com
6 Saint-Maurice Wildlife Reserve (Mauricie)
Ready-to-camp – For several months now, the Hékipia tent has been making life easier for apprentice campers in Quebec’s wildlife reserves. This is the case in Mauricie where, in addition to the 70 traditional campsites, the wildlife reserve offers accommodation in four Hékipia tents. No need to bother with the tent, stove or cooler, this ready-to-camp (beds, table, fridge, hotplates, electricity) turns into a real little home, once the luggage has been dropped off. . Ideal for forgetting worries and enjoying the magnificent view of Lac Normand and its sandy shores.
Rate: $93 per night (maximum 5 adults)
Info : www.sepaq.com
7 Le Wilcox Campground, Anticosti Island
Exceptional site – Dozens of almost deserted pitches, the beach below and… a shipwreck, which has been lying there for more than 50 years. The Wilcox campground is secretly the site from which you can see the most beautiful coastal landscapes of Anticosti Island. And certainly an essential place for long evenings to tell the most frightening stories! The site is more than a hundred kilometers from Port-Menier, very close to Pointe-Carleton. It is the starting point for beautiful kayaking trips where you can see, from the sea, deer drinking water and seals warming up on the sand.
Rate: $24.75 per night
Info : www.sepaq.com
8 Pont Couvert Campground (Eastern Townships)
A well-kept secret – This somewhat special campsite is the keeper of a strange secret. Located at the end of the land, a hidden area is reserved for lovers of nature and cool swims in the salmon river. From these 20 large camping spaces, you can see and hear the river that the rapids make sing. A five-minute walk from the campsite services, you feel alone in the world in the forest, in this so romantic corner. This “secret” place has long been that of transient lovers in search of intimacy…
Price: $26 per night per site in the “Le Secret” zone (add one dollar per service for other campsites)
Info : www.campingdupontcouvert.com
9 Gatineau Park (Outaouais)
Feet in the lake – In order to enjoy Gatineau Park for several days, the camping option allows you to stay in the heart of the territory, at a lower cost. Three of the most beautiful lakes in the park offer campsites for families, hikers or canoe-campers. Lovers of privacy, leave the one at Lac Philippe (253 sites), which is too busy, and choose the one at Lac Taylor (31 sites), which is very quiet, or the one at Lac la Pêche (32 sites), perched on islands, ideal for canoeing. -camping. Swimming and unforgettable night included in the package.
Rate: $37/night
Info : www.capitaleducanada.gc.ca
10 Surprise Coast Campground (Gaspé Peninsula)
Percé at night – If there is one view you want to enjoy from morning to night, it is that of Rocher Percé and Bonaventure Island. The Côte Surprise campground offers the most beautiful postcard of Gaspésie from the entrance of its tent or the window of its trailer. It’s hard to choose among the 125 campsites, from large RVs to two-person tents, all of which more or less directly overlook the wonder of Gaspé wonders. For a little more privacy, wild camping sites offer undergrowth cover, with all the services and amenities available.
Rate: $28 to $42/night depending on location and services
Info : www.campingperce.com
