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Major city · Canada

Chibougamau

Go only if you are driving Route 167 or flying in for Cree communities, fishing or winter trails: 2 nights, no public transport, car needed.

Weather
see forecast
Currency
CAD
Best months
Jun–Sep for fishing and road trips; late Feb–mid Mar for the winter festival and snow trails
avoid Nov–early Dec and Apr (mud, ice, few services open); blackfly and mosquito peak in Jun–Jul
Airport
YMT
Nights
2
Not field-verifiedbasic guide
Print / PDF guide
3 pages, for the metro and roaming-off days
Map
Google Maps Apple Maps Street View
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.

Chibougamau is a mining and forestry town of about 7,500 people in Northern Quebec, the largest service centre for the Cree communities of Oujé-Bougoumou and Mistissini. It is not a sightseeing town: people come for fishing and outfitter camps, snowmobile and ski trails, the winter festival, and as a stop on the long drive between Lac Saint-Jean and James Bay. Without a car you are limited to 3e Rue and taxis.

Essentials

Quick answers and what things cost

Quick answers

The questions people ask first about Chibougamau, one line each. Tap a card for the full answer.

Cost cheat-sheet

2026 desk estimate · check

Typical prices for the everyday things, as ranges. Your currency is shown next to the local price.

  • CoffeeC$2–4 (≈ US$2–3)
  • Street or quick mealBreakfast or diner plateC$12–22 (≈ US$9–16)
  • Beerdraught in a bar / can at the storeC$7–9 (≈ US$6–7)C$2–4 (≈ US$2–3)
  • Taxi, about 5 kmTaxi, in-town hopC$8–15 (≈ US$6–11)
  • SIM or eSIM, a weekeSIM or data SIM, about a weekC$15–35 (≈ US$11–30)
  • Budget bedCampsite (tent or RV), a night, per personC$25 (≈ US$19)
  • Mid-range bedMotel or auberge double room, a night, per roomC$140 (≈ US$110)
  • High-end bedMotel or auberge double room, a night, per roomC$190 (≈ US$140)

A day, not counting the bed: Budget C$90 (≈ US$70) · Mid C$170 (≈ US$130) · High C$300 (≈ US$250)

Local prices, with USD next to them (rates 2026-09 (approximate); change it in the header). Ranges are desk estimates: check locally. Every price and the budget calculator →

Decide

What it is known for, and when the weather works

At a glance

What the city is known for, how you fly in, and where to find the phrases.

Gateway to Oujé-Bougoumou and Mistissini Cree communitiesMont Chalco outdoor centreFestival Folifrets winter festivalFishing, outfitters and snowmobile trails
Airports
YMT Chibougamau/Chapais Airport (About 18 km southwest of town on Route 113; Air Creebec flights from Montréal-Dorval on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays)

Weather and climate

Forecast from Open-Meteo · averages rounded

Chibougamau: next 7 days

Loading forecast…

Forecast: Open-Meteo (CC BY 4.0), model data for this point.

Air quality

Loading…

Model estimate (CAMS via Open-Meteo), not a street-level station; readings near busy roads run higher.

Jan

−13°C

−24°C

12 rd

Feb

−11°C

−23°C

10 rd

Mar

−4°C

−16°C

10 rd

Apr

5°C

−6°C

10 rd

May

14°C

2°C

12 rd

Jun

20°C

8°C

13 rd

Jul

23°C

11°C

14 rd

Aug

21°C

10°C

14 rd

Sep

15°C

5°C

14 rd

Oct

8°C

1°C

14 rd

Nov

0°C

−6°C

14 rd

Dec

−9°C

−18°C

13 rd

High / low °C · rd = rain days

Arrive & move

Airports are listed under At a glance; this is how to move once you are in

Getting around

No public transport. Two taxi companies operate on 3e Rue (Taxi Diamond, Taxi Coop); fares are metered, expect a few dollars for in-town hops. A car is required for Oujé-Bougoumou, Mistissini, Mont Chalco and the outfitters.

See & do

Day-trips, door to door

Day-trips

Door-to-door, not ride time

Oujé-Bougoumou

go

Door to door: About 45 min each way

Drive Route 113 west, about 47 km

Cree community planned by architect Douglas Cardinal; visit respectfully, check what is open to visitors before you go.

Mistissini

go

Door to door: About 1–1.25 h each way

Drive north from Chibougamau, about 86 km

Cree community on Lake Mistassini; services are limited, so carry fuel and supplies.

Mont Chalco outdoor centre

go

Door to door: About 15–20 min

Drive Route 167, 264 route 167

Ski, snowboard and tube runs plus cross-country and snowshoe trails in winter; check opening days.

Lac Saint-Jean (Roberval, Saint-Félicien)

overnight

Door to door: About 4–5 h

Drive Route 167 south

Too far for a day return; this is the road link to southern Québec.

Eat & sleep

Which area to sleep in

Where to sleep

Areas, not hotels: pick the one that fits your arrival time and plans.

3e Rue (Route 167) strip

Almost all hotels, motels, restaurants and bars sit on this one street; walkable, and the only real choice in town.

Route 167 Sud, outside town

Municipal campground on Lac Sauvage and the Lac Caché motel at the Route 113 junction; you need a car.

Practical

What a day costs, what to watch out for, and the pocket card

Cost per day

2026 estimate, excluding the bed unless stated
Budget
C$90–150 (≈ US$70–110) excl. bed
Mid
C$150–260 (≈ US$110–190) excl. bed
High
C$260 (≈ US$190)+ excl. bed

Trip budget

2026 estimate · converts to your currency
Motel or auberge double room1 × 2 nights × C$140C$280
Food, local transport, entries2 × 2 days × C$170C$680
Car rental, one day1 × C$70 · Book ahead; supply in town is smallC$70
Fuel, about 200 km of driving1 × C$30C$30
eSIM, about a week of data2 × C$20C$40
Buffer 10%Price creep, a taxi you did not plan, one splurgeC$110
Trip total≈ C$303 per person per day, bed includedC$1,210≈ US$900

2026 estimate in Canadian dollars; long-distance travel to Chibougamau excluded. Your choices stay in this browser.

Prices of common things

CoffeeC$2–4 (≈ US$2–3)
Breakfast or diner plateC$12–22 (≈ US$9–16)
Poutine or burgerC$10–18 (≈ US$8–14)
Beer: draught in a bar / can at the storeC$7–9 (≈ US$6–7) / C$2–4 (≈ US$2–3)
Bowling, per gamefrom C$10 (≈ US$8)
Taxi, in-town hopC$8–15 (≈ US$6–11)
eSIM or data SIM, about a weekC$15–35 (≈ US$11–30)

2026 estimate; check locally.

Watch out

Safety

Low crime and a small, quiet town; the real risks are driving distances, wildlife on the road, winter cold and insects in summer. Tell someone your route before heading onto the North Road.
  • Distances are large and services thin: fuel up in town before heading out, and do not count on cell signal on the North Road.
  • Wildlife on and beside the roads, including bears near the municipal dump area: keep food and garbage in the vehicle.
  • Winter runs roughly Nov–Apr with real cold and snow; summer brings heavy blackflies and mosquitoes.
  • The Route du Nord to the James Bay Road is isolated gravel: check conditions before committing.
  • Some restaurants and bars keep irregular hours outside summer and the winter festival: call ahead.

Emergency numbers

Police, fire, ambulance
911
Chibougamau/Chapais Airport
+1 418-748-3764

Pocket card

One page · print or save as PDF

Fill in, then print or save as PDF

Stays in this browser only; nothing is sent anywhere.

ChibougamauChibougamau

Pocket card · Voykit

My bed tonight

—

—

—

À cette adresse, s'il vous plaîtTo this address, please

Emergency

  • Police, fire, ambulance911
  • Airport+1 418-748-3764

Embassy

No embassies in Chibougamau; US consulate general in Montréal, other countries' embassies in Ottawa or Montréal.

My embassy: —

Fare anchors (2026 estimate)

  • Taxi, in-town hop: C$8–15 (≈ US$6–11)
  • Fuel, Chibougamau → Mistissini return: about C$25–35 (≈ US$19–30)
  • Campground, tent site per night: about C$25–50 (≈ US$19–40)

Say or show

  • Bonjour — Hello (bon-ZHOOR)
  • Merci — Thank you (mair-SEE)
  • Combien ça coûte ? — How much is it? (kom-BYEN sa KOOT)
  • Où est la station-service ? — Where is the gas station? (oo ay la sta-SYON sair-VEES)
  • J'ai une réservation — I have a reservation (zhay oon ray-zair-va-SYON)
  • Puis-je payer par carte ? — Can I pay by card? (pweezh pay-YAY par KART)

French is the main language; English is usually understood in hotels and restaurants.

Deep dive

What this guide covers so far, and its sources

Not a trip line yet

This is a basic guide: no airport-to-bed contract, walking clusters or day plans are published for Chibougamau. Airport, fare and schedule details are unverified; check the operators before you fly.

What we know, and what is coming

On this page

  1. Best months: Jun–Sep for fishing and road trips; late Feb–mid Mar for the winter festival and snow trails · avoid Nov–early Dec and Apr (mud, ice, few services open); blackfly and mosquito peak in Jun–Jul · month by month →
  2. 1 airport and 2 areas to sleep in
  3. Weather: a 7-day forecast and monthly averages
  4. Cost per day in 3 bands
  5. 4 day-trips, door to door
  6. 5 things to watch out for, with emergency numbers

Coming as the guide grows

  1. Airport-to-bed contract for YMT: Air Creebec days, taxi or rental pickup, and a fallback if the flight is cancelled.
  2. Walking cluster on 3e Rue with verified hours for the restaurants, bars and the shopping centre.
  3. Place pages with verified cutoffs for Mont Chalco, the campground, the golf course and the Cree community visits.
  4. Winter and hostile-weather fixtures so gates A–D can go green.

Meanwhile

Back to Canada

Sources