National park · Canada
Portneuf Wildlife ReserveRéserve faunique de Portneuf
Go for a day of forest trails and lake views from Rivière-à-Pierre: budget about CAD 10–15 per adult for the day, drive in on gravel roads, and aim for late June to early September or a clear February weekend for the ski and snowshoe network.
Map to the park
Add your hotel to get directions from it. · stays in this browser; shared with the pocket card.
Area
775 km²299 sq mi
approximate
Established
1968
Best months
Feb, Jun, Sep
UNESCO
None
Rules in force · 6Crossing between the US, Canada and Mexico by land needs …Cannabis is legal in Canada and in many US states, but ta…
- North America ↗Crossing between the US, Canada and Mexico by land needs your passport even on a day trip; rental cars need the company's written permission to cross, and most US and Canadian rental insurance stops at the Mexican border.
- North America ↗Cannabis is legal in Canada and in many US states, but taking any amount across the US, Canadian or Mexican border is a federal crime — including edibles and vapes.
- North America ↗The busiest US and Canadian national parks need timed-entry, campsite or lodge reservations in summer; release dates are months ahead.
- Canada ↗Visa-exempt travellers flying to or through Canada usually need an eTA; check your passport on the official Government of Canada site (canada.ca) and apply only there.
- Canada ↗A Parks Canada pass is needed to stop in national parks such as Banff and Jasper; some spots (for example Moraine Lake) are reached only by shuttle or tour, so book ahead.
- Canada ↗Keep well away from bears, elk and moose; carry bear spray on Rockies trails and follow trail closures.
At a glance
- Country
- Canada
- Area
- 775 km²299 sq mi
- Boundary figures vary by source; treat the area as approximate (check).
- Established
- 1968
- Best months
- Feb, Jun, Sep
- Permits
- For some areas
- Base
- Quebec City
Portneuf Wildlife Reserve is a SÉPAQ-run forest territory on the Laurentian Shield, about 1.5 hours north-west of Québec City, reached from the village of Rivière-à-Pierre. It is managed for hunting, fishing and quiet recreation rather than for crowds: 375 lakes and eleven rivers, mixed birch, maple, fir and spruce cover, and a gravel forest road network linking the sectors. Access is a daily fee, not a national park pass. Summer is for short named trails, lake swimming and canoeing; winter turns the same ground into roughly 50 km of groomed cross-country ski and snowshoe trails with ten wood-stove relays. The neighbouring Laurentides Wildlife Reserve is a much larger, separate territory to the north-east.
Decide
Why go, which months, and what lives here when
At a glance
Status
- No UNESCO listing; national park since 1968.
Size and age
775 km²299 sq mi · national park since 1968
Boundary figures vary by source; treat the area as approximate (check).
This page covers the park itself. Nearest base: Quebec City.
Why go
- A working forest reserve on the Laurentian Shield, run for hunting, fishing and quiet recreation rather than for crowds.
- 375 lakes and eleven rivers inside one territory, with gravel forest roads linking the sectors.
- Marked trails and ten wood-stove relays make the winter ski and snowshoe network usable in a single day.
- Cheaper and far emptier than the national parks along the St. Lawrence, and about 1.5 hours from Québec City.
When to go
- JanGo
- FebBest
- MarGo
- AprAvoid
- MayCaution
- JunBest
- JulGo
- AugGo
- SepBest
- OctGo
- NovAvoid
- DecCaution
- JanSki and snowshoe trails; ice fishing on some lakes
- FebDeep snow, maintained winter trails, heated relays
- MarLonger days; snow can turn heavy and wet
- AprThaw; trails and gravel roads soft or closed
- MayBlackfly and mosquito season starts; some gates still shut
- JunTrails open, long daylight, fishing season under way
- JulWarmest; busiest weekends and heavy insects
- AugWarm; good swimming and canoeing
- SepCool, dry, few insects, first colour
- OctColour peak early in the month, then cold nights
- NovBetween seasons; hunting periods and no snow base
- DecSnow arrives; check which trails are groomed
Wildlife and nature calendar
| What | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| MooseMay–Jun, Sep–Oct · Dawn and dusk along forest roads; drive slowly. | no | no | no | no | yes | yes | no | no | yes | yes | no | no |
| Black bearMay–Sep · Store food properly at campsites and chalets. | no | no | no | no | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | no | no | no |
| Beaver and white-tailed deerMay–Oct | no | no | no | no | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | no | no |
| Common loon and great blue heronMay–Sep | no | no | no | no | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | no | no | no |
| Blackfly and mosquito seasonMay–Aug · Peak nuisance in June and July; repellent and long sleeves help. | no | no | no | no | yes | yes | yes | yes | no | no | no | no |
Arrive & move
Getting in, how the park is divided, and where things are
How to get there
From Québec City
Highway 40 west to Neuville, then route 365 north through Pont-Rouge, Saint-Raymond and Rivière-à-Pierre to the reception by Lac Vert.
1.5 h
From Montréal
Highway 40 east to Sainte-Anne-de-la-Pérade, route 354 north to Saint-Casimir, then route 363 north through Saint-Ubalde and Rivière-à-Pierre.
3 h
Open the page →
From Trois-Rivières
North on route 363 via Saint-Stanislas and Saint-Ubalde to Rivière-à-Pierre.
1.5–2 h
From La Tuque
Forest roads east toward the reserve; gravel surface, slow going, check conditions first.
2 h+
Open the page →
Zones and sectors
| Zone | What is there | Access |
|---|---|---|
| Rivière-à-Pierre reception (Lac Vert) | Main gate, permits, orientation and the start of the road network. | Open to ticket holders; staffed in season. |
| Lac Travers sector | Lakeside camping, swimming, canoeing and the winter rink and slide area. | Open with access fee; camping booked ahead. |
| Bellevue campsite area | Two marked hiking trails and a lake setting. | Open in the snow-free season. |
| Rivière-à-Pierre falls and the Cap-à-l'Aigle and Vautour trails | The reserve's signature viewpoints and short climbs. | Open in season; winter access depends on grooming. |
| Chalet network | Twelve chalets linked by two separate ski and snowshoe trail networks. | Booked through SÉPAQ; winter access by specific routes. |
Sketch map
- 1Rivière-à-Pierre reception (Lac Vert) · Headquarters≈47.000, -72.150Approximate; the reception sits by Lac Vert on the north side of the village.Map ↗
- 2Rivière-à-Pierre village · Town≈46.999, -72.183Map ↗
- 3Lac Travers sector · Sleep≈47.050, -72.100Approximate; camping, swimming and the winter slide area.Map ↗
- 4Bellevue campsite · Sleep≈47.020, -72.120Approximate; two marked trails start here.Map ↗
- 5Cap-à-l'Aigle trailhead · Trail≈47.030, -72.130Approximate.Map ↗
- 6Rivière-à-Pierre falls · Viewpoint≈46.990, -72.170Approximate.Map ↗
See & do
Caves, trails and wildlife, with how hard each is and whether it needs booking
Top experiences
Practical
Fees, permits, rules, where to sleep and what can go wrong
Entry fees and permits
| Item | Range | Per | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| Day access (summer, per adult) | CAD 10–15 | person | 2026 estimate; SÉPAQ wildlife reserves charge a daily access fee (check current rate). |
| Day access (child) | CAD 0–8 | person | 2026 estimate; family rates exist (check). |
| Chalet rental | CAD 150–300 | night | 2026 estimate; 12 chalets, price varies by season and size (check). |
| Campsite, unserviced | CAD 25–40 | night | 2026 estimate; eight campsites in the reserve (check). |
| Fishing permit (Quebec, non-resident) | CAD 40–90 | person | 2026 estimate; separate from the reserve access fee (check). |
Ranges, not quotes: fees change without notice. Check with the park or your operator · checked Sep 2026.
Reserve access permit or guide
Fishing permit or guide
Hunting permit or guide
Winter trail use no permit
Park rules
- Fires
- Use existing fire pits only; check the Quebec forest fire agency's restriction level before lighting anything.
- Wildlife
- Do not feed or approach moose or bears; keep food and coolers inside a vehicle or chalet.
- Fishing and hunting
- Only with the correct Quebec licence and the reserve's own plan; seasons and quotas are enforced.
- Gravel roads
- Forest roads are gravel and used by logging and hunting traffic; keep right and slow down on blind curves.
- Alcohol
- There are no bars or liquor stores inside the reserve; bring what you need from Rivière-à-Pierre or Saint-Raymond.
Where to stay
In the park
Chalets in the reserve
Twelve SÉPAQ chalets, some reached by separate winter access routes; book well ahead.
In the park
Eight campsites
Unserviced sites across the territory, including the Bellevue and Lac Travers areas.
In the park
Rustic camps and relays
Simple shelters and wood-stove relays used mainly in winter.
Near the park
Rivière-à-Pierre and Saint-Raymond
Small-town motels, gîtes and campgrounds outside the gate.
Safety
Remote gravel roads medium
Getting lost on trails medium
Winter cold and ice high
Hunting seasons medium
Insects low
Accessibility
- The reception area and the roads around Lac Travers are reachable by car with short walks.
- Most named trails are rough forest paths with roots and rock; not suitable for wheelchairs or strollers.
- Ask SÉPAQ staff at the reception which sectors have the firmest, flattest surfaces on the day you visit.
Visiting lightly
- Pack out all rubbish; there is no drop-off inside the reserve.
- Keep to marked trails so regenerating forest and shoreline habitat is not trampled.
- Buy fuel, food and permits in Rivière-à-Pierre or Saint-Raymond so the villages around the reserve benefit.
- Respect hunting and fishing quotas; they are what keeps the reserve's populations stable.
Questions people ask
How much does it cost to enter Portneuf Wildlife Reserve?
Expect roughly CAD 10–15 per adult for a day in 2026, with lower or free rates for children and family pricing. It is a SÉPAQ wildlife reserve, so access is a daily fee rather than a national park pass; fishing and hunting need separate licences and reservations. Check the current rate on the SÉPAQ site before you drive in.
What are the best hikes in Portneuf Wildlife Reserve?
The named walks are the Cap-à-l'Aigle trail, the Vautour trail, the two marked loops at the Bellevue campsite, and the path to the Rivière-à-Pierre falls. In winter the same territory becomes about 50 km of groomed cross-country ski and snowshoe trails with ten wood-stove relays.
When is the best time to visit Portneuf Wildlife Reserve?
Late June to early September for hiking, lakes and wildlife, and February for the ski and snowshoe network. April and November are the weak months: thaw makes trails and gravel roads soft in spring, and late autumn sits between the hiking and skiing seasons.
Do I need a reservation?
Not for a simple day visit, but chalets, campsites, fishing days and hunting periods are booked through SÉPAQ and fill up. Book accommodation and any fishing plan ahead, especially for summer weekends and the February school break.
Can I drive into the reserve?
Yes. Access is by car from Rivière-à-Pierre, and the internal network is gravel forest road used by logging and hunting traffic. Fill your tank before the village, drive slowly on blind curves, and check road conditions in spring and after heavy rain.
Is Portneuf Wildlife Reserve the same as Laurentides Wildlife Reserve?
No. Portneuf is the smaller reserve west of Québec City in the Portneuf MRC, reached from Rivière-à-Pierre. Laurentides Wildlife Reserve is a much larger territory to the north-east, between the Capitale-Nationale and Saguenay–Lac-Saint-Jean regions.
Deep dive
Every source; fees and rules change, so check before you go