Lac-Sainte-Marie: Skiing, Trails and Village History

Lac-Sainte-Marie can be explored through a wide range of interests: winter sports, trails for several activities, cycling routes and village history connected to the Paugan Dam. Depending on what you’d like to do on vacation, these offerings can influence your choice of where to stay.

Skiing at Mont Ste-Marie

Mont Ste-Marie has two mountains with high-speed quad chairlifts. It also offers rental packages and ski lessons for everyone from beginners to advanced skiers. Lessons are available privately or in groups; equipment is picked up at the mountain’s base lodge. If you’re planning to take ski lessons, your desired skill level and preferred lesson format are practical details to consider when planning your trip.

Winter and cycling trails

Sentiers du Lac Sainte-Marie includes 5 km of Nordic trails. In winter, cross-country skiing, snowshoeing, hiking and fat biking are available. This gives you a choice of different ways to get active as you plan, with each trail offering a distinct experience.

Velo MSM is a volunteer-maintained mountain bike trail network in Lac-Sainte-Marie. Membership is required to use it. Another option for cycling and hiking is the Véloroute des Draveurs, which features 72 km of trails along a former railway line. There are several parking areas, rest stops and viewpoints along the route. The information about the route’s length and facilities gives you a clear point of reference when planning to include cycling or walking trails in your trip.

A lake and a relocated church

The village’s history was shaped by the Paugan hydroelectric project. The 1928 project turned the small Lac Ste-Marie into a much larger lake through flooding. The Paugan Dam also flooded the lower part of the village. Built in 1904–1905, St-Nom-de-Marie Church was moved to its present location in 1929 after the dam was completed. Its historic heritage significance is linked to its relocation from the old village after the water level was raised.

The church therefore tells not only of the period when it was built, but also of how the hydroelectric project changed the village. If you’re interested in local history, it offers a tangible connection between the building’s present location, the old village and the larger lake.

Golf, tennis and pickleball

Golf Lac Ste-Marie has a comprehensive practice facility with areas for tee shots, approach shots, bunker shots and putting. Parc Sudermann has four tennis courts, two of which are designated for pickleball. Use of the courts is free. Golf practice and racquet sports offer their own alternatives to skiing and cycling.

Market and campground

Marché public LSM is located at the Pavillon des Artisans in Lac-Sainte-Marie. There is also a rustic municipal campground by the lake. Its facilities include showers, toilets and a stainless steel sink; campsites have fire pits and picnic tables. The campground is a separate accommodation option and should not be confused with the amenities of a vacation rental when planning your trip.

When choosing a vacation rental, consider which aspects of the village you’d like to shape your stay: skiing and winter trails, cycling routes, sports or the history surrounding the lake. Other places to explore: Cayamant, Low, Grand-Remous, Denholm, Kazabazua, Sainte-Thérèse-De-La-Gatineau and Maniwaki.

For the broader travel overview: La Vallée-De-La-Gatineau.