Matane Wildlife Reserve
500, chemin de la réserve faunique
Saint-René de Matane, Québec G0J 3E0
Phone: 418 224-3345
Email: matane@sepaq.com
Website:www.sepaq.com/matane
Classification:
Qualité Tourisme Gaspésie
*Currently i'ts the hunting season on the Matane Wildlife Reserve, from September 6 to December 21. Access for a short hike is only authorized for the Matane River Trail (9 km), the Isabelle Trail (7 km) and the Mount Charles-Édouard-Vézina Trail (4.6 km). Bibs are mandatory at all times.
*To be able to do any other hike on the IAT in the section of the Matane Wildlife Reserve during this period, you need an access right issued by the IAT team and you must reserve at least one night in one of the IAT campsites or shelters. Contact them at 418 560-4642.
Matane’s Wildlife Reserve covers an area of 1 275 km2 and it is where you can find one of the highest number of mooses per square kilometre in the province! Twenty lakes flow nearby, divided into eight housing zones. You can fish Brook trout in any lake in the territory and catch Lake trout in the Matane Lake.
Fishing Cabin bundles are available. You can rent bikes or kayaks in the Étang à la truite area.
More than twenty cabins can welcome you if you wish to spend time in nature, hunting or fishing. The cabins are located close to either a lake or a river and provide all the gear needed for such activities. Any booking of a cabin includes a boat, a kayak and a barbecue grill.
Two camping sites, with or without service, can also be found in the reserve. The first one is located near the reception and the second one is near the L’Étang à la truite area.
Hiking Trails
You can have access to the trails in the area of the Matane Wildlife Reserve for free. Note however that there is a small fee for some parking lots that you would have to use. This fee is payable at The John Registration Centre.
- Applicable for the following parking lots: Accueil John, des Pins, Lac Matane, Petit-Sault and chute Hélène.
- Motorcycle: $5.44 + taxes / motorcycle / day
- Car: $9.13 + taxes /car / day
- Annual parking pass available at $54.79 + taxes.
- Free parking for holders of the Quebec national Parks annual card at $72.62 + taxes, or for all those staying in a SÉPAQ cottage or campground on the Matane Wildlife Reserve.
- The hiking trails are managed by the International Appalachian Trail. Possibility of long hikes with lodging in shelters or rustic camping by reserving with the organization. This section of the IAT offers you the beginning of the Chic-Chocs Mountains on more than 100 kilometers of trails.
- 13 hikes available for all levels, from easy to expert and varying between 4 km and 17 km.
- The Matane Wildlife Reserve becomes partially accessible during the hunting season, starting the day after Labour Day (September 6, 2022). Please follow all instructions on the IAT-QC website if you wish to hike in this area during the fall season.
View all the short hiking trails in the Matane Wildlife Reserve
Schedule of The John Registration Centre: May 27 to September 5, 2022, open daily from 8 a.m. to 9 p.m.
Reservation: 1 800 665-6527 or 418 224-3345