Lac Wapizagonke
Long and narrow.
Marc-Lautenbacher — CC BY-SA 4.0 · LBM1948 — CC BY-SA 4.0 · Fralambert — CC BY-SA 4.0 · Fralambert — CC BY-SA 4.0 · Fralambert — CC BY-SA 4.0
La Mauricie National Park lies near the city of Shawinigan in the Laurentian Mountains of the Mauricie region of Québec, and its Saint-Jean-des-Piles entrance is about 19 km in a straight line north of the city. It covers 536 square kilometres of the southern Canadian Shield bordering the St Lawrence lowlands. The park has 150 lakes and many ponds and lies in a transition zone between eastern and boreal forest. Its forests were logged from the mid-19th to the early 20th century and have since grown back as a mix of conifers and deciduous trees. It takes its name from the Saint-Maurice River to the east. Long, narrow lakes such as Lac Wapizagonke stretch between rounded forested hills, looking from viewpoints such as the Les Falaises trail like blue rivers among the trees. In autumn the forests become a sea of red, orange and gold, streams tumble in small falls over the rocks, and moose, black bears, beavers and otters live in the park. A park entry fee applies. Canoeing, kayaking and camping are the main activities, a scenic parkway crosses the park between its two entrances, and late September to early October is the best time for colour.
Long and narrow.
A sea of red.
On the lakes.
Near Shawinigan, Québec, Canada
Late September to early October.
Canoeing and kayaking.