Hike to Waber Falls in La Mauricie National Park [with map + photos]

You are an adventurer in search of the perfect activity for your Canada road trip? That's great! A beautiful challenge to take on is the excursion to Waber Falls, in the Mauricie National Park.

The round trip to Waber Falls consists of:

9.2 km on water, by canoe or kayak
6.9 km of hiking, with an elevation of 213 meters
6 to 8 hours to complete everything

So, still up for it? Let's go on an adventure!
 

Map

Description of the excursion to Waber Falls
 

Start

To start your adventure, you must go to the Wapizagonke service pavilion, located at the Wapizagonke picnic area. The nearest entrance is Saint-Mathieu. From there, you will still have to travel a little more than 20 km to access the pavilion.

Once arrived, you can rent your choice of a canoe, or a single or double kayak. Boat rentals come with flotation vests.

It is important to note that you must have a piece of ID with you to rent.

The service pavilion also provides a convenience store and a restaurant. Do not hesitate to stop there for your snacks or lunch.

On the water

Then, it's finally time to embark on this great journey. Know that you are in one of the best places to canoe in Quebec!

Head to Wapizagonke Lake for the departure.

The excursion to Waber Falls being very popular, especially during the months of July and August, it is quite difficult to get lost - just follow everyone! The direction to follow is simple: always keep to your left.

Midway, you will see that the lake becomes much shallower and narrows. In front of you, a series of beaver dams - our emblematic rodent!

At this stage, it is very likely that you will need to pull your boat, but fear not, even for one person, it is quite manageable. This is where your water shoes will come in handy!

The rest of the crossing is without obstacles. Count about 1h30 to 2h in total.

Once on solid ground, store your boat. Canoes must be placed on a support.

Kayaks can be left on the ground. They are not numbered. So do not panic if an unanticipated exchange with another participant occurs!

Once on land

This is your last chance for toilets before getting to Waber Falls. Dry toilets are available just before the start of the trail.

To get to the famous falls, you will have to cover 3 km on foot. The first third of the path is the most demanding, as it is steep, and you will have several stairs to climb.

Then, you will arrive at a lookout, which will be a nice reward for your efforts. From there, you will not only have a breathtaking view of the lake, but also of all the canoers who are en route.

A good way to see the distance that you have already covered.

The rest of the trail is a bit easier. The directions are very clear. A final effort before reaching your destination!

About 5 minutes from your arrival, you will climb the last grand staircase, from which you will already hear the powerful Water Falls.

The Waber falls

Here you are finally in front of these impressive forces of nature! You can finally grasp them in your own way.

Relax on the surrounding rocks, picnic on the edges, bathe in the swirls, or venture under the Waber falls.

If you are a bit more sporty, you can also climb them. However, diving into them is not recommended.

After this beautiful adventure, it is now time to journey back. An effort you will deem worthy, in the end, for this magnificent spectacle

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See the itinerary

• Road Trip
• 15 days

What to bring for your excursion to the Waber falls?

For your experience to be as pleasant as possible, here is what you should put in your backpack:

• Lunch and snack(s)
• Water, sunscreen and hat
• Mosquito repellent
• Swimsuit and beach towel
• Walking shoes, water shoes, and change of clothes
• Toilet paper (for dry toilets)
• Identity card (for renting boats)

Opening hours and pricing

The 2024 summer season will be from May 16th to October 27th. But be careful, the park's opening hours are not necessarily the same as those of the boat rental and Saint Mathieu sector. If you booked a trip with a Canada travel agency like us, tell your specialist you are interested in the excursion, and they can help you plan accordingly!

Here are the opening hours and fees for 2024:
 

Mauricie Park (Saint-Mathieu sector):

• May 24th to October 14th: Every day from 9 am to 4:30 pm
   

2020 Daily fees:

• Adult (18-64 years): $9.00
• Senior (65+ years): $7.75
• Youth (up to 17 years): Free
• Family / group (Up to 7 people in the same vehicle): $17.50
  
  * Seasonal passes and the Canada Parks Discovery Pass obviously also give you access to the park.

Boat rental hours for 2024:

• May 24th to June 20th: Friday and Saturday: 9 am to 7 pm, Sunday to Thursday: 9 am to 5 pm
• June 21st to September 2nd: every day from 8 am to 8 pm
• September 3rd to October 14th: Friday and Saturday: 9 am to 7 pm, Sunday to Thursday: 9 am to 5 pm
   

Boat rental fees for 2024:

• Canoe: $53.06/day
• Single Kayak: $50.45/day
• Double Kayak: $60.88/day
  
  * Be careful: renting for a 4-hour block is also available and might be tempting, but it will not suffice for the duration of this excursion.

You now know everything to prepare your adventure in the Mauricie nature!

If you have any questions, do not hesitate to express yourself in the comments section below.