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Getaways: Mauricie National Park |
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The great, easy escape
by Christopher Goodfellow
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Photos by Christopher Goodfellow
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We hired Kayaks to reach our very own island campsite, and spent the weekend waking up to views of pristine forest, grazing moose and nesting beavers.
Very hungry mosquitoes notwithstanding, the scenery of Mauricie National Park is perfectly idyllic. Drive two hours North of our steaming metropolis this weekend and you could be relaxing there, too. Poised on the Southernmost tip of the great Canadian Shield, the park's forests are threaded with waterways and lakes, giving campers and day trippers alike an easy opportunity to get back to the great outdoors.
If you decide to head out onto the lake, it won't be all gentle sounds of paddles dipping into the water. Our reverie was quickly interrupted; traversing the park's rivers often means portages, squeezing through inlets and swimming to shore. If you ask me, this adds to the entertainment of the trip, but that depends how much you enjoy having a boat on your head.
If that's not the case, over 500 square kilometres of woodland leave plenty of room for a variety of activities. Biking enthusiasts can choose from over 30 kilometres of trails. Hikers can choose anything from a modest 1.5km to the more adventurous 75km Laurentien Trail, which cuts across the northern section of the park (a small fee is charged for the overnight trail and numbers are limited, so it's a good idea to book in advance).
"Hikers can choose anything from a modest 1.5 km to the more adventurous 75 km Laurentien Trail, which cuts across the northern section of the park."
Fishing is also available, and those of you who take to the waterways will find many mild-mannered Canadian fishermen -- and women -- to talk to. Now that the tourist season has begun, visiting with nature lovers around you can be part of the fun.
Remember, camping can also be a lazy affair. If you choose to camp on a site with car access, semi-serviced campgrounds and two lodges -- Wabenaki and Andrew -- are available. These lodges take their theme from the era of private hunting clubs, but include a wide range of modern facilities, from showers and electricity to fully equipped kitchens. The campgrounds have fire pits, evening entertainment and at some sites, direct access to some of the lakes and trails.
In fact, it's so easy to visit Mauricie that it seems wrong to ignore the opportunity. So take you car and your friends out into the woods this weekend; just don't forget the mosquito spray!
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Christopher Goodfellow is a freelance writer and a Canadian tourist.
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