Chemin du Castor — Réserve faunique des Laurentides Interior Forestry Circuit
Boreal guts of the Laurentides reserve.
Réserve faunique des Laurentides sits between Quebec City and Saguenay, and the Chemin du Castor network is how you actually get into its guts rather than just driving Highway 175 through it. The circuit departs from the Des Martres sector and winds northwest past Lac des Martres, Lac à la Croix, and a series of unnamed beaver ponds that have reclaimed old logging grades into gloriously muddy two-tracks. Expect soft shoulders after rain, submerged corduroys in the spring thaw, and at least one stream ford at Ruisseau du Castor that will test your approach angle. The reward is boreal solitude — moose on every second bend and no one for kilometres in any direction.
A truck with a solid locker, all-terrain tires, and a recovery kit is the minimum here; a rooftop tent or trailer works well given the number of designated SEPAQ campsites along the route. The reserve charges a daily access fee through SEPAQ — check their portal before arrival. Best run from late June through September; spring breakup turns the low sections into muck traps. Fuel up in Stoneham or Saint-Raymond — there is nothing inside. Cell service dies at the gate and stays dead. Bring a sat communicator.
Trail Specs
| Difficulty | Moderate |
|---|---|
| Trail Type | Backcountry, High Clearance, Overland Route |
| Surface | Dirt, Gravel, Mixed |
| Features | Camping, Remote, Scenic, Water Crossings |
| Length (miles) | 87 mi / 140 km |
| Duration | 2-3 days |
| Max elevation (ft) | 2950 ft |
| Best season | June-September |
| Minimum vehicle | 4WD high-clearance with lockers recommended |
| Nearest town | Stoneham-et-Tewkesbury, QC |
| Land manager | SEPAQ — Réserve faunique des Laurentides |
| Permit required | Yes |
| Cell service | None |
| Water crossings | Yes |
| Dispersed camping | No |
| Official sources | sepaq.com |
| Start coordinates | |
| End coordinates | |
| Copy both for Google Maps directionsClick to copy the directions URL · or open it directly in a new tab | |
| Find on Google | Search on Google → |
Location
Trail Conditions
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Frequently asked questions
Can a stock Tacoma or 4Runner handle Chemin du Castor without lockers?
Most of the 140 km is manageable in a stock high-clearance 4WD, but the softer beaver flat sections and wet logging cuts can get greasy enough to strand you without lockers or at minimum a rear locker. SEPAQ's own guidance leans toward lockers — don't ignore that.
When does the trail actually open and close each season?
June through September is the reliable window. Spring breakup keeps the forestry roads soft and legally restricted into late May most years. Snow can return in October, and SEPAQ may gate sections without notice — check with the reserve directly before you go.
Do you need a permit to drive this circuit and is there a fee?
Yes, access requires a SEPAQ daily or annual access pass for the Réserve faunique des Laurentides. Purchase online at sepaq.com or at the entry station — don't assume you can sort it at the gate. Camping within the reserve is booked separately through SEPAQ.
What's the hardest section and what should I actually expect?
The beaver flat crossings mid-route are where rigs get stuck — soft, organic soil that looks solid until it isn't, combined with standing water of unpredictable depth after rain. Go slow, read the surface, and probe before committing if you're unsure.
There's zero cell service on this trail — how far out is the nearest fuel stop?
Stoneham-et-Tewkesbury is your last realistic fuel before entering the reserve, and there's nothing inside. Running 140 km of forestry roads on mixed surfaces, fill to the brim and carry a minimum 10-liter reserve — recovery from a dry tank out here is a full-day problem.
Trail track
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