If you are arriving from Ontario or US, most likely you will have to take HWY 50 in Gatineau, QC and take exit towards Route 309 (309 Rte) North. You will stop at the Visitor's Center in the village of Val-des-Bois to get registered, possibly buy Quebec fishing licence and make last minute purchases.
Val-des-Bois Visitor's Center
P.O. Box 100
Val-des-Bois (Québec) J0X 3C0
Telephone : 819 454-2011
Fax : 819 454-2353
papineau@sepaq.com
GPS coordinates:
45°53'40.7"N 75°36'25.9"W
45.894630, -75.607180
Lac Écho
GPS coordinates:
45°56'26.4"N 75°27'30.2"W
45.940653, -75.458395
To get to Lac Écho sector from Val-des-Bois you will have to continue going North on Route 309, and then in about 10 minute drive to make a right turn on Route 2 (Chemin St-Denis). Your GPS navigator may tempt you to take a local forester's shortcut or to take a chance on a snowmobile/ATV track. Avoid temptation and stay on unpaved Route 2 until your last 1.8 km (1.12 mi) home run.
Click on the campsite number below to read a review
Area A, in the wooded area on the hill top, nearest to the office and the comfort station
A4, A5, A8, A9
Area B, Ready-To-Camp:
B6
Area C, set along the way to the boat launch
C1, C2, C4, C6, C12, C13
Click anywhere inside the Streetview image above to see around. The road on the right hand side takes you to the C sites and the boat launch. The road on the left hand side is good for hiking.
Comfort Station
As it goes in Quebec Provincial Parks, the comfort stations are coin operated. The water is hot though, and you get enough of it for your dollar.
You need a Canadian dollar coin (a loonie) to take a hot shower. The price quoted was valid in 2017.
No Cell Phone Service
Keep in mind there was no cell phone signal at Lac Écho sector and anywhere near the lake as of May 2017. According to local rangers there was Telus signal in one particular spot on the Route 2, that is 5 km away from the campground.
Look for the Lac du Chevreuil sign at the following GPS coordinates:
45.956050, -75.497820
We tested the signal in May 2017 with the following results:
- iPhone with Fido SIM card - YES
- Android with Rogers SIM card - NO
- Android with KnowRoaming SIM card - YES.
KnowRoaming SIM Card
If you frequently take short trips to various locations outside of your service provider's zone, then KnowRoaming SIM card may be the answer to your roaming needs. It has certainly answered ours.
We positively tested it in USA, Europe, Russia and Papineau-Labelle Wildlife Reserve. Try it at KnowRoaming.com and enter the code ANDFI18 to receive 30% off your first purchase and US$5 in credit.
And don't forget to call home on your way to Lac Écho campground.
