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Voykit pocket guide · Canada
Sainte-Anne-des-Lacs
Skip as a base unless you have a car and a lakefront rental: one night, or stay 4 km away in Saint-Sauveur and drive in.
Sainte-Anne-des-Lacs is a Laurentians lake village of about 3,400 people, 70 km north of Montreal off Autoroute 15 exit 57. It has 22 lakes, hiking trails that become cross-country ski trails in winter, one pizzeria and almost no beds. Most travellers sleep in Saint-Sauveur-des-Monts, 4–7 km away, and use the village for a lake day or a quiet rental week.
- Country
- Canada
- Best months
- Jun–Sep for lakes and trails; Jan–Mar for cross-country skiing
- Avoid
- Nov (wet, no snow yet, trails muddy), late Mar–Apr (thaw)
- Stay
- 1 night
Checked 2026-09. Prices, hours and rules change; anything marked (check) is not confirmed.
Essentials
- Currency
- CAD
- Money
- Currency is the Canadian dollar (CAD, $). Cards and tap-to-pay are accepted almost everywhere.
- Daily spend
- Budget C$90–140 excl. bed · Mid C$150–230 excl. bed · High C$250+ excl. bed (estimate; check)
- SIM and data
- Rogers, Bell and Telus plus cheaper brands (Fido, Koodo, Public Mobile); prepaid SIMs in malls and stores. Canadian data is expensive — an eSIM is often cheaper.
- Emergency
- Police, fire, ambulance 911 · Sûreté du Québec (non-emergency) 310-4141 · Info-Santé / health advice 811
- Plugs
- Types A, B · 120 V · 60 Hz · Same as the US.
- Tipping
- Restaurant: 15–20% of the pre-tax bill.; Bar: CAD 1–2 per drink.; Taxi: 10–15%.; Housekeeping: CAD 3–5 a night.; Guide: 10–20% of the tour price.
- Water
- Tap water is drinkable; treat water from lakes and streams (giardia).
- Toilets
- Free in malls, Tim Hortons, stations and park visitor centres.
What things cost
| Item | Price |
|---|---|
| Coffee | C$3–6 |
| Pizza or poutine at the village pizzeria | C$15–28 |
| Beer: draught in Saint-Sauveur / can at the supermarket | C$8–10 / C$3–5 |
| 5 km (3.1 mi) taxi3.1 mi (5 km) taxi | C$18–25 |
| eSIM or data SIM, about a week | C$20–40 |
Desk estimates, checked 2026-09; check locally.
Get in
By air
- YUL · Montréal-Trudeau
- About 80 km (50 mi); drive 1 h 10 min via Autoroute 15 northAbout 50 mi (80 km); drive 1 h 10 min via Autoroute 15 north
- YMX · Montréal–Mirabel
- About 40 km (25 mi); mostly cargo, check whether your flight uses itAbout 25 mi (40 km); mostly cargo, check whether your flight uses it
Typical fares
- Autobus Galland, Montréal → Saint-Sauveur
- about C$13–19, 1 h 45 min (check)
- Taxi Saint-Sauveur → village
- about C$20 (check)
- Autoroute 15, Montréal → exit 57
- about 70 km (43 mi), 1 h 10 minabout 43 mi (70 km), 1 h 10 min
Show 7 more sections and the pocket cardHideGet around, See and do, Sleep, Phrase card, Etiquette, safety and scams, One and two days, Sources, Pocket card
Get around
A car is close to essential: the village spreads around lakes with no grid streets, and buses stop in Saint-Sauveur, not here. Autoroute 15 exit 57 puts you on Chemin Sainte-Anne-des-Lacs. In winter, snow tires are mandatory in Québec from 1 December to 15 March (check exact dates).
See and do
Known for
- 22 lakes, mostly small and quiet
- Lac Marois cottages
- Hiking and cross-country ski trails
- Village church turned community centre
Day trips
| Where | How | Time |
|---|---|---|
| Saint-Sauveur-des-Monts | Drive 7 km (4.3 mi) south on Chemin Sainte-Anne-des-Lacs to Autoroute 15Drive 4.3 mi (7 km) south on Chemin Sainte-Anne-des-Lacs to Autoroute 15 | About 15 min |
| Mont-Tremblant | Autoroute 15 north to Route 117, about 60 km (37 mi)Autoroute 15 north to Route 117, about 37 mi (60 km) | About 1 h |
| Sainte-Agathe-des-Monts | Autoroute 15 north, about 40 km (25 mi)Autoroute 15 north, about 25 mi (40 km) | About 40 min |
| Montréal | Autoroute 15 south to the island | About 1 h 15 min |
Sleep
- Lac Marois and the village core
- Cottages and the few local rentals; walk to the church/community centre and the trails. Book early for summer weekends.
- Saint-Sauveur-des-Monts (4–7 km)
- The practical base: hotels, restaurants and shops, 10 min by car from the village.
- Piedmont (about 4 km)
- Hotels and condos on the Autoroute 15 side; easiest for a car-based stay.
Phrase card
| English | Say or show |
|---|---|
| Hello | Bonjourbon-ZHOOR |
| Thank you | Mercimair-SEE |
| How much is it? | Combien ça coûte ?kom-BYEN sa KOOT |
| Can I pay by card? | Puis-je payer par carte ?pweezh pay-YAY par KART |
| Where is the lake access? | Où est l'accès au lac ?oo ay lak-SAY oh LAK |
| I don't speak French | Je ne parle pas françaiszhuh nuh PARL pah fran-SAY |
Etiquette, safety and scams
Etiquette
- Greeting: Handshake; 'Bonjour' first in Québec; avoid: Assuming everyone speaks English
- Queues: Line up and wait your turn; avoid: Pushing in
- Apologising: 'Sorry' is politeness, not admission of fault; avoid: Loud confrontation
- Canada vs US: Treat Canada as its own country; avoid: Calling Canadians American
- Indigenous culture: Buy from Indigenous-owned businesses and ask before photos at ceremonies; avoid: Wearing headdresses as costume
Scams and watch-outs
- No municipal beach: lake access depends on the property's deed, so ask your host before you plan to swim.
- Only three lakes allow motor boats; the rest are quiet and non-motorized.
- Village services are thin: one supermarket and a hardware store on Chemin Sainte-Anne-des-Lacs.
- Cell coverage is fine in the village but patchy on back trails; download an offline map.
Very safe: the real risks are winter driving on unplowed lake roads, thin ice in early and late season, and no lifeguards on any lake.
One and two days
No timed day plan for Sainte-Anne-des-Lacs yet. Suggested stay: 1 night. Build a day from the list below, mornings for the big sight.
- 22 lakes, mostly small and quiet
- Lac Marois cottages
- Hiking and cross-country ski trails
- Village church turned community centre
Sources
Written by Voykit; facts cross-checked against these sources, last desk check 2026-09. Prices, hours and rules change: check on the day.
- Municipality of Sainte-Anne-des-Lacs: www.sadl.qc.ca/
- Bonjour Québec — Laurentians: www.bonjourquebec.com/en/where-to-go/laurentides
- Wikivoyage: Sainte-Anne-des-Lacs, revision 5242491 (CC BY-SA 4.0): en.wikivoyage.org/w/index.php?oldid=5242491
Pocket card
Cut along the border and keep it in your wallet. Show the local-script lines to a driver.
Sainte-Anne-des-Lacs
À cette adresse, s'il vous plaît
To this address, please
My hotel (write the name and address in the local script)
No embassies here; the US consulate general and most others are in Montréal (check the address).
Voykit · checked 2026-09
Printed from Voykit (/sainte-anne-des-lacs). Written by Voykit; checked 2026-09. Estimates only: confirm prices, hours and entry rules on the day.