Why You Need To Visit Park Yamachiche, A Québec Hidden Gem

Park Yamachiche is in Mauricie Québec and it’s a must-visit for any Montrealer. It’s only about an hour and a half away from the city (making it the perfect day trip) and 30 minutes from Trois-Rivière.

The park is right off the highway so it’s an easy quick pit stop to make if you’re driving to Trois-Rivière or Québec City. 

There are walking trails here, you can swim in Lac St.Pierre, have a picnic, or just take in some breathtaking views. Park Yamachiche is a true Québec hidden gem that’s definitely worth the trip to.

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Watch Out! No Amenities!!

Of course, there has to be a downside to this beautiful Québec hidden gem. There are no bathrooms in the area… not even an outhouse to use…

Makes staying there for the day a bit… hard.

There’s also no chalet with food or water in case you forget anything, so make sure you’re prepared. You’re really on your own once you get here.

There is a small parking lot to park in but even that fills up quickly. Don’t worry if it’s it’s full when you’re there, you can park along the road.

How Much Does It Cost?

If the lack of amenities bummed you out, get this, Park Yamachiche in Québec absolutely free to visit! You don’t even have to pay for parking!

Wear Shoes You Don’t Care About

Along the walking paths there are some really muddy patches. Unfortunately, at times you can’t really avoid the mud either. So, if you’re planning on visiting, I recommend wearing shoes you don’t care about. This is a bigger issue if it rained the day before, if there’s been a dry spell for a few days then it might be fine.

It’s also right at the end of the path, so there’s no turning back when you reach it.

The Passerelle Yamachiche

After walking for 2 minutes in the park, you’ll have two path options. You can either continue on the unknown path straight ahead, or take the stairs up to the raised walkway.

Going up the raised walkway (the Passerelle) takes about 10 minutes to walk. But, at the end, you’re met with magnificent views.

Along the way you’ll have the chance to read up on all the different types of birds you can see in Park Yamachiche (unfortunately, it’s in French only).

It’s raised because sometimes this part of the park floods.

The Main Draw: Don’t Forget Your Bathing Suit!

If you chose to walk straight along the path, you’re in for about a 20-25 minute walk, but trust me, it’s worth it!

You’re walking along a stream, which, in itself is a lovely walk! Then you enter a jungle and just when you think it’s never going to end, the trees open up to a beautiful sandy beach!

It’s AMAZING! It’s like you’re in an oasis that’s completely cut off from the rest of the world.

Dogs are running around playing in the water. People are swimming, fishing, and photographing wildlife. Everyone is relaxing and having a great time!

You’ll want to have your bathing suit handy for this part of the trip.

Bird Watch & Photographers Haven!

If you aren’t a beach person (like us) you can also come here to bird watch. Like I said, they were really promoting the different birds that you can see here. There’s also other wildlife that you might stumble upon (we saw a frog along our path!). Not to mention, the views themselves are just drop dead GORGEOUS!

We noticed a lot of photographers set up with huge lenses and tripods to spot any wildlife. This time, a lot of them were photographing tiny shore birds, they’re so cute!

How Long Can You Spend At Park Yamachiche

This is totally up to you! You can spend as little or as long as you want at Park Yamachiche. We weren’t prepared so didn’t have our bathing suits or picnic essentials handy.

Even without anything, we still managed to spend a good hour and a half exploring Park Yamachiche. That included walking to and from the beach, spending some time taking in the view, and walking on the raised walkway.

You can definitely set up for the day here (keep in mind there aren’t any bathrooms). It still makes a great spot for a picnic lunch with a view. Just don’t forget your picnic blanket, otherwise you’re sitting on sand!

What’s in the Area?

There’s actually quite a bit to do in the area around Park Yamachiche. You’re only 30 minute drive from Trois-Rivère, so you can easily drive there.

About a 15 minute drive away is Saint-Severe with wineries and a lavender and sunflower field. You can visit s Domaine et Vins Gelinas, or Vignoble Prémont. We visited the lavender fields, Passion Lavande to see the sunflowers, read about our experience here.

There’s even a waterfall you can see, Parc des Chutes de Sainte-Ursule.

My Amazon Quebec Day Trips Must Haves

Explore More of Québec

• The top food you have to try in Montreal
• How to fit in like a local in Montreal
• The complete guide to lavender fields near Montreal
• Visit Chutes de la Plaisance (day trip from Montreal)
• Visit Mont Tremblant in the summer time

Last update on 2024-05-09 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API