Lac Du PIMBINA Hiking Adventure, La Mauricie National Park

The Lac du Pimbina hiking trail in La Mauricie national park is one of the region's greatest gems. The roughly 12km loop takes you along a forested woodland and lakeside adventure, boasting numerous occasions to revel in the panoramic views of La Mauricie.

For locals and tourists alike, this is the perfect itinerary for a nature-filled day of fun. 

Looking out over Lac Solitaire

Start your day welcoming the rising sun to the east of La Mauricie river as you drive in through the St. Jean de Piles entrance to La Mauricie national park. The first destination is the Rivière-à-la-Pêche carpark to commence the Lac du Pimbina trail. During this trail walk you’ll traverse beautiful forested hills and lake shores, as you pass five resplendent water bodies before completing this soul-aligning loop. 

Sunrise at La Mauricie River on the drive into the national park

After finishing this 4-5 hour hike you may like to head over to Lac du Fou, a short 11 minute drive from this trail, to enjoy a picnic on the dock and a paddle-boarding session to cool off and soak up some more of Nature's goodness. To fully reap the benefits of this lake it is recommended to come with your own water vessels such as SUPs, canoes or kayaks. Otherwise, you can rent the aforementioned equipment from Shewenegan picnic area, Wapizagonke picnic area, or the Lac Edouard picnic area. The latter being the closest option. It is helpful to know that if you bring your own gear you'll have the privilege of exploring many more private and quiet lakes than if you were to rent from one of the major park locations. If you are visiting the park before or after the school holiday period you'll be able to enjoy the rental destinations in peace and quiet.

Looking out over Lac Benoît

Forested hills of La Mauricie National Park

Lac du Pimbina

Lush Greenery along the Lac-Du-Pimbina Trail

While there is an abundance of accommodation nearby at St-Jean de Piles, or camping within the La Mauricie park grounds, I decided to head out early for an out-and-back day trip from Montreal. I left Montreal around 4:00am arriving at the carpark shortly after 6:00am. After a morning celery juice and a toilet-stop at the on-site facilities, I was on the trail shortly before 6:30am, finishing the trail around 11:00am. Bear in mind, I did not take extensive leisurely rests at any of the awe-inspiring belvédères.

I enjoyed this excursion so much that I went back two weeks later to recreate the wonder and awe I felt after being in such close connection to nature's tranquil melodies. The second time I journeyed to the park I honoured a techno-free space, unlike the first trip where I was feverishly capturing videos and photos in an attempt to soak up the beauty of the park. I also embraced each opportunity to rest my legs and welcome in the sights, smells, sounds, and sensations of La Mauricie at each of the vista lookouts.

The second journey took closer to six hours to complete as I was all about taking it easy, knowing that I would arrive when I arrived. The second time I visited Lac-Du-Pimbina, I also decided to modify the trail route. Upon reflection, I much prefer the latter adjustments I made. Below You'll find a map with the alterations I made for my second visit to the park. I found that this second route, although slightly longer, offered an alternate perspective of Lac du Cheveaux, as well as a great picnic destination. You can see my adjustments to the hiking trail here, or download the actual Parks Canada map here.

The forest understory

Lac Aux Chevaux

Tranquil lakeshore

Picnic on the dock at Lac du Fou

Paddleboarding session at Lac du Fou to round off an adventure-filled day

While you can complete the trail in 4-5 hours, you may like to plan for a longer day if you intend to pause for a rest and a meal or two. If you're journeying from Montreal for a day trip, it may be helpful to factor in the traffic when returning to the island in the late-afternoon/early-evening. The route home probably took an additional hour or so. It could be helpful to have some great podcasts or audiobooks to keep your spirits up on the long drive home.

Modifications to Lac-Du-Pimbina Trail

Modified Lac-Du-Pimbina Trail Guide

The suggested trail according the original Parks Canada guide would be to follow the trail #15 loop starting and finishing at Rivière-à-la-Pêche carkpark. If you would like to explore an alternate route offering spectacular views of the opposite side of Lac Aux Chevaux, when you arrive at the junction linking trails #14 and #15, you'll turn right (rather than left) and follow the #14 trail (marked by a pink arrow above). You'll continue on this route until you arrive at the next junction where you'll turn left and follow the #13 trail which will take you back to the carpark (marked by the second pink arrow above). Note: these signs are all very well marked on the actual trail.

I hope this travel guide for the Lac du Pimbina hiking trail inspires you to explore the wonders of La Mauricie National Park.

Whether you've been to the park before or intend to visit this trail soon, feel free to leave a comment down below and share your experience!