National park · Canada
Lac-Taureau Regional ParkParc régional du Lac-Taureau
Go for a day of lake swimming and one lookout hike: buy the access right online before you drive, walk the Baie-Dominique promontory trail (4.6 km, 3.1 km loop) in the morning, and swim at Pointe-Fine or the Saint-Michel-des-Saints municipal beach after lunch; skip it in November–April, when the reservoir is drawn down and most services close.Go for a day of lake swimming and one lookout hike: buy the access right online before you drive, walk the Baie-Dominique promontory trail (2.9 mi, 1.9 mi loop) in the morning, and swim at Pointe-Fine or the Saint-Michel-des-Saints municipal beach after lunch; skip it in November–April, when the reservoir is drawn down and most services close.
Map to the park
Add your hotel to get directions from it. · stays in this browser; shared with the pocket card.
Area
95 km²37 sq mi
approximate
Established
1977
Best months
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
- 95 km²37 sq mi
- The 95 km² figure is the reservoir surface; the park itself is a riparian strip, generally 400–500 m wide and sometimes over 1 km, following the lake's A-then-U shape (check).
- Established
- 1977
- Best months
- Jun–Sep
- Permits
- For some areas
Lac-Taureau Regional Park protects a 95 km² reservoir in the Matawinie, about two hours north of Montréal in Lanaudière. The lake is the point: 45 islands, 270 km of shoreline and long sand beaches, with a thin ring of forested hills around it. The Matawin dam at the east end is run by Hydro-Québec, and the water level is managed for power, so the shoreline you see in July is not the shoreline you see in October. Access is paid and booked online through the MRC de Matawinie, camping is reservation-only, and the trails are short — this is a swimming, paddling and camping park rather than a hiking destination.
Decide
Why go, which months, and what lives here when
At a glance
Status
- No UNESCO listing; national park since 1977.
Size and age
95 km²37 sq mi · national park since 1977
The 95 km² figure is the reservoir surface; the park itself is a riparian strip, generally 400–500 m wide and sometimes over 1 km, following the lake's A-then-U shape (check).
Why go
- A big, warm freshwater lake with fine-sand beaches and 45 islands to paddle between.
- The Baie-Dominique promontory trail gives a lookout over Baie-du-Milieu, Île de la Gauche and Lac Morissette in under two hours.
- Canoe-access campsites on islands, plus drive-in sites, chalets and an inn — you can sleep at the water rather than drive in daily.
- Île du Village is an interpretive site: the old village of Saint-Ignace-du-Lac was flooded in 1931 when the Matawin dam was built.
When to go
- JanAvoid
- FebAvoid
- MarAvoid
- AprCaution
- MayGo
- JunBest
- JulBest
- AugBest
- SepBest
- OctGo
- NovAvoid
- DecAvoid
- JanReservoir drawn down; snowmobile and snowshoe country, few services
- FebFrozen lake; check ice conditions before any travel on it
- MarLow water, thaw starting, trails icy
- AprRefill begins; beaches still bare and cold
- MayQuiet; blackflies and cool water
- JunWarm days, long light, water swimmable
- JulWarmest water; busiest weekends
- AugWarm water; book campsites early
- SepWarm, quiet, good paddling
- OctFall colour; drawdown starts, docks pulled
- NovDraining under way; most services closed
- DecLow water, early ice, no lake access
Wildlife and nature calendar
| What | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Black bears around campsites and trailsMay–Oct · Store food in vehicles or lockers, never in tents. | no | no | no | no | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | no | no |
| Raccoons and foxes in campMay–Oct | no | no | no | no | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | no | no |
| Loons and other waterbirds on the baysMay–Sep | no | no | no | no | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | no | no | no |
| Blackflies and mosquitoesMay–Jul · Worst in late May and June; bring repellent. | no | no | no | no | yes | yes | yes | no | no | no | no | no |
Arrive & move
Getting in, how the park is divided, and where things are
How to get there
From Montréal
Highway 40 east to the Joliette exit, then route 131 north through Saint-Félix-de-Valois to Saint-Michel-des-Saints; forest roads lead to the beaches and trailheads.
2–2.5 h
Open the page →
From Québec City
Highway 40 west to Yamachiche, route 138 to Louiseville, route 348 to route 131, then north to Saint-Michel-des-Saints.
3–3.5 h
From Lanaudière
Route 131 runs the length of the region; the park gates and lake access roads sit north of Saint-Michel-des-Saints.
Zones and sectors
| Zone | What is there | Access |
|---|---|---|
| Baie du Milieu and Baie-Dominique | The main walking sector: promontory lookout, beach trail, drive-in camping and the inn. | Access right; trails open on foot. |
| Village bay and Saint-Michel-des-Saints | Municipal beach, marina, boat rentals, restaurants and the town's services. | Open; beach and marina in season. |
| Islands and canoe camping | Île du Village, Île du Milieu and the smaller island sites in the middle of the reservoir. | By boat or canoe; reservation for camping. |
| Matawin dam sector | The dam at the east end of the lake, reached by the chemin vers le Barrage. | Forest road; snowmobile and ATV routes cross here. |
Sketch map
- 1Saint-Michel-des-Saints · Town≈46.677, -73.919Map ↗
- 2Baie-Dominique trailhead (chemin Ferland) · Trail≈46.711, -73.917Map ↗
- 3Baie du Milieu trailhead · Trail≈46.775, -73.925Map ↗
- 4Municipal beach and marina · Beach≈46.689, -73.900Map ↗
- 5Auberge du Lac Taureau · Sleep≈46.762, -73.893Map ↗
- 6Matawin dam · Viewpoint≈46.876, -73.886Map ↗
- 7Île du Village · Village≈46.738, -73.793Map ↗
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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Daily access right (parks of the MRC de Matawinie) | CAD 10–15 | person | 2026 estimate; booked online, and campers pay it too (check). |
| Canoe or kayak rental | CAD 40–80 | day | 2026 estimate; outfitters at the lake also rent pontoons and pedal boats. |
| Island campsite (canoe access) | CAD 30–45 | night | 2026 estimate; reservation required (check). |
| Drive-in campsite | CAD 35–55 | night | 2026 estimate; serviced sites cost more (check). |
Ranges, not quotes: fees change without notice. Check with the park or your operator · checked Sep 2026.
Access right permit or guide
Campsite reservation permit or guide
Boat and fishing rules no permit
Park rules
- Access right
- Everyone using park facilities, campers included, must pay the access right, bought online in advance.
- Camping
- Only at marked sites, and only with a reservation.
- Campfires
- Only in provided fire pits, and never left unattended.
- Waste
- Take all rubbish back to the bins provided; there are septic dump stations at set points.
- Water level
- The reservoir is drawn down from November and refilled by early April; docks, beaches and some access points change with the level (check).
Where to stay
In the park
Auberge du Lac Taureau
Lakeside inn on the Baie du Milieu peninsula, with cottages and condos and its own beach.
In the park
Island and shoreline campsites
Canoe-access sites on islands such as Île du Milieu and Île Jaune, plus drive-in sites at Baie du Poste and Baie des Embranchements.
Near the park
Saint-Michel-des-Saints
Motels, gîtes, chalets and several private campgrounds in and around the village, 10–20 min from the lake.
Safety
Wind and waves on open water medium
Changing water level medium
Bears in camp medium
Cold water low
Accessibility
- The village beach, marina and the Baie du Milieu parking area are reachable by car with short, level walks.
- The promontory and beach trails are dirt and rock with roots; not suitable for wheelchairs or strollers beyond the first stretch (check).
Visiting lightly
- Book the access right online rather than at the gate; the park uses the numbers to manage sites and staffing.
- Pack out everything from island campsites — there is no collection on the islands.
- Keep boats and paddles out of shallow bays where loons nest, and give shoreline wildlife room.
Questions people ask
How much does it cost to enter Lac-Taureau Regional Park?
There is a per-person access right for the regional parks of the MRC de Matawinie, roughly CAD 10–15 a day in 2026 (check). It is bought online in advance, and campers pay it as well as their site fee.
What are the best hikes in Lac-Taureau Regional Park?
The Baie-Dominique promontory trail is the one with a view: 4.6 km from the chemin Ferland parking area, with a 3.1 km loop, reaching a lookout over Baie-du-Milieu and Lac Morissette. The Baie-du-Milieu trail (5.5 km) and the beach trail (3.5 km) are flatter and link into it. Île du Village has an interpretive walk, but you need a boat to get there.
When is the best time to visit Lac-Taureau Regional Park?
June to September for swimming, paddling and camping, with July and August warmest and busiest. Late September is warm and quiet. The reservoir is drawn down from November and refilled by early April, so beaches and launches look different outside the summer season.
Do I need to book camping in advance?
Yes. Camping is only allowed at marked sites and reservations are required, including for island sites reached by canoe. Summer weekends fill first.
Can I swim in Lac Taureau?
Yes — the reservoir has long sand beaches, including the municipal beach at Saint-Michel-des-Saints and Pointe-Fine on the south shore. Water is warmest in July and August and cool even then.
Is Lac-Taureau the same as a national park?
No. It is a regional park run by the MRC de Matawinie, so Parks Canada passes and the Canada Discovery Pass do not cover it. You pay the park's own access right.
Deep dive
Every source; fees and rules change, so check before you go