Saint-Aimé-des-Lacs is a municipality of the Regional County Municipality (RCM) of Charlevoix-Est, in the administrative region of Capitale-Nationale, on the north shore of the St. Lawrence River, in Quebec, Canada.

This municipality is wedged between the mountains which were formed on the north side by the impact of the great meteorite of the astrobleme of Charlevoix. Saint-Aimé-des-Lacs borders the town of La Malbaie, the town of Clermont, Notre-Dame-des-Monts and the territory not organized from Mont-Élie (Lacoste township). Its territory is crossed by Route 138 which runs along the north shore of the St. Lawrence River; nevertheless, the segment of road between Baie-Saint-Paul and La Malbaie is distanced from the river. In addition, the chemin du pied-des-Monts which begins at rue Principale (north of Lac Brûlé), leads to the[Parc national des Grands-Jardins (east entrance) by going up the course of the Gouffre river and passing near Lac du Rat Musqué, Lac Long, Lac des Bonnes Gens and Lac Nice.

This residential municipality is centred on forestry and recreational tourism activities (vacationing, hunting, fishing, hiking in the forest, camping, picking wild fruits, observing nature, flora and fauna, snowmobiling and mountain biking). On the outskirts, the Gouffre and Malbaie rivers attract fishermen. The Nairne (length: 3.1 km) and Sainte-Marie (length: 1.3 km) lakes are important holiday resorts. In short, on the territory of Saint-Aimé-des-Lacs, nature and resort enthusiasts are delighted.

Understand

Main street

History

The territory of Saint-Aimé-des-lacs is located in the northern part of the large crater of the Charlevoix astrobleme. The northern limit of the municipal territory is more or less at the foot of the mountains which form the rim of this large crater. The hills and mountains of the rest of the municipal territory would have been formed by the raising of the ground inside the crater after the impact of the meteorite.

The fall of a large meteorite significantly modified the relief of Charlevoix, creating a crater 54 km in diameter occurred nearly 400 million years ago; it is the eleventh largest identified impact site on earth. The impact zone would be located along the St. Lawrence River; 60% of the Astroblème de Charlevoix covers the north shore of the river and 40% is located under the water of the river. The astrobleme begins on the southwest side a few kilometers west of Baie-Saint-Paul, up to Cap-à-l'Aigle, located on the east bank of the Malbaie River, in La Malbaie. In the northern part, the rim of the crater is located north of the village of Saint-Urbain; coming from the borough of La Baie (Ville-de-Saguenay) by road 381, travelers enter the astrobleme when the road descends from the Parc national des Grands-Jardins to head towards the village of Saint-Urbain. The eastern rim of the crater extends from Cap-à-l'Aigle up north, on the east side of the Malbaie River.

The centre of the astrobleme would be the Mont des Éboulements (summit at 768 m), formed by the effect of the raising of the bottom of the crater following the impact. Since this impact, the crater has been strongly metamorphosed under the effect of various erosion agents, making it more difficult to recognize its outline, particularly the part immersed in the St. Lawrence River. Consequently, experts define this ancient impact structure as the astrobleme. Inaugurated in 2014, an interpretation centre dedicated to the Charlevoix astrobleme is open to the public in the former Club House of the Manoir Richelieu in La Malbaie.

The municipality was incorporated in 1942. The Commission de toponymie du Québec indicates that the hagionym Saint-Aimé evokes the Benedictine Aimé (died in 690), bishop in the 7th century of Sions, in Switzerland. His feast day is celebrated on September 13.

Get in

By car

• From Tadoussac (87 km (54 mi), 1 hr 29 min), take the Tadoussac-Baie Sainte-Catherine ferry; take route 138 (westbound) to the village of Saint-Aimé-des-Lacs.
• From Quebec City (133 km (83 mi), 1 hr 33 min), take route 138 eastbound to the village of Saint-Aimé-des-Lacs.

By bus

• Intercar, Jonction de la route 138, avec le village de Saint-Agnès, ☏ +1 418-665-3443. Intercity bus connecting Quebec City to Baie-Comeau, via Baie-Saint-Paul, La Malbaie and Tadoussac. (updated Jan 2022)

See

• 1 Hippodrome de la Vallée, 188, rue Principale (between Lake Nairne and Lake Sainte-Marie), ☏ +1 418-665-4463. Open yearly. This racecourse has hosted many events including the Rodéo de Charlevoix and the 5 Milles de Charlevoix race. The site also includes the Bar Le Saloon and its sunny terrace and a snack bar. Appropriate place for holding festivals, major events or for holding harness horse, automobile, snowmobile or motorcycle races. The race track at the racetrack is an 800-m (0.5-mile) oval gravel. The track and paddock are available for hire for horse training. Stalls are available for holding special events. (updated Jan 2022)
• 2 Musée de la drave, 216, rue Principale (Located on the north side of Lake Nairne), ☏ +1 418-439-3828, fax: +1 418-665-4560. Museum with many old items from the log drive period. (updated Jan 2022)

Do

Outdoor activities

• 1 Zec du Lac-au-Sable, 105, chemin des Marais, zeclacausable@xplornet.ca. This controlled exploitation zone (zec), which is located in the unorganized territory of Mont-Élie, has an administrative office in Clermont. The zec offers the practice of hunting, fishing, snowmobiling, mountain biking, hiking in nature, picking wild fruits, observing nature, flora and fauna. In winter, the zec offers ice fishing. (updated Jan 2022)

Buy

Foods and alcohol

• 1 Dépanneur du Lac Brûlé, 262, rue Principale, ☏ +1 418-439-2674. Convenience store. (updated Jan 2022)
• 2 Les Jardins Echo Logiques, 291, rue Principale (Located on the Hautes-Gorges road), ☏ +1 418-439-1098, hameldubois@yahoo.com. Organic farm. Farm products shop: about 60 varieties of vegetables, herbs and edible flowers without chemical fertilizers or pesticides. (updated Jan 2022)

Eat

• 1 Fourchette et Vinaigrette, 5, rue Principale (200 m from Route 138), ☏ +1 418-617-9262. Sandwich shop, catering service, frozen meals. Online order. (updated Jan 2022)

Sleep

Inns, motels

• 1 Motel le Danube Charlevoix, 5, rue Gaudreault (anciennement au 41, route 138) (in the village), ☏ +1 418-439-1818. Motel of 10 units. (updated Jan 2022)

Chalets, gîtes

• 2 Bienvenue Chez Nous, 5, rue Tremblay (in the village). House for rent. (updated Jan 2022)
• 3 Chalet des Aviateurs, 8, chemin des Cyprès (Situé en bordure Est du Lac Nairne), ☏ +1 514-464-8593. Cottage rental. (updated Jan 2022)
• 4 Chalet des Hirondelles (Swallows Chalet), 34, chemin du Lac-Nairne (on the southern edge of Lake Nairne), ☏ +1 418-655-5807, info@chaletleshirondelles.com. Chalet rental with an accommodation capacity of 8 people: a kitchen, three bedrooms, two shower rooms, 5 beds. Accessories: spa, pedal boat, ecological mass fireplace, outdoor fireplace, snowshoes in winter. (updated Jan 2022)
• 5 Chez Les Bergeron (At the Bergerons), 13, rue Principale (south of Lac Sainte-Marie), ☏ +1 418-201-8080. Gîte in a large Swiss chalet. Offer of two comfortable suites in the colors of the hinterland, a café and local counter as well as a singing relay. Also offers a private pavilion, Le Pigeonnier du Lac. (updated Jan 2022)
• 6 Domaine du pic-bois, 267a, rue Principale (south of Lac Sainte-Marie), toll-free: +1-888-661-2717. Outfitter offering rental cabins in an exclusive territory of 840 hectares. Suggested activities: ice fishing, moose hunting, bear watching, family vacations. (updated Jan 2022)
• 7 Gîte Au Fil du Temps, 43, rue Principale (south of Lac Sainte-Marie), ☏ +1 418-633-5329. (updated Jan 2022)
• 8 Gîte Au P'tit Paradis, 7, chemin Lavoie (on the eastern edge of Lake Nairne), ☏ +1 418-439-3177. Room rental with breakfast. (updated Jan 2022)
• 9 Paradis du Lac Nairne, 25, rue de la Réserve (north of Lake Nairne). With spa, barbecue, pool table, outdoor fire place, pétanque, iron and croquet games. Chalet completely renovated in 2018 to accommodate up to 8 people. Four bedroom. (updated Jan 2022)

Camping

• 10 Base de Plein Air du Lac-Nairne, 18, chemin des Pins, ☏ +1 418-665-9999, info@saintaimedeslacs.ca. Campsite on the edge of Lake Nairne. Boat ramp and rustic sites (with two or three services) for recreational vehicles, tent trailers and trailers. The site offers several outdoor activities, such as a beach, a tent, rental of kayaks (single or double), pedal boat, etc. Appropriate site for holding group activities or events. Opening: mid-May; closing: mid-October. (updated Jan 2022)
• 11 Camping Dallaire (Dallaire Campground), 18, chemin des Pins (on the east side of the La Malbaie river), ☏ +1 418-439-2785 (in season), +1 418-270-2785 (off season). Campsite with 96 pitches including 7 without service, 2 with two services and 84 with three services. Ready-to-camp available. Activities: body of water, beach volleyball, mountain bike/quad track nearby (+or- 2 km), playground. Opening: May 20, 2022; closing: October 12, 2022. (updated Dec 2021)

Connect

The federal government installed additional communications infrastructure in La Malbaie (and along highways 138, 170 and 362 between Charlevoix and Quebec (city)) for the G7 Summit in 2018. These facilities were left in place afterwards, so cell phone and wireless internet connections are better than they were before.

Cope

• 2 Bibliothèque municipale "La Plume d'Or" ("La Plume d'Or" Library), 123B, rue Principale, ☏ +1 418-439-2006, . Library affiliated with the library network of the Capitale-Nationale and Chaudière-Appalaches. The library organizes several activities including story time, artist exhibitions and other events. An adult book club holds activities there. Free. (updated Jan 2022)
• 3 Centre Récréatif Aimélacois (Aimélacois Recreative Center), 121, rue Principale, ☏ +1 418-439-4495. Building belonging to the municipality and whose management has been entrusted to an NPO. Rooms for group meetings, such as receptions or conferences (maximum capacity of 300 people standing). Room with stage, projection screen, sound system, catering service, bar service and cloakroom. The building also has a small room for meetings or activities (capacity 75 people). Rental of glassware and crockery for your events. Free. (updated Jan 2022)

Go next

Routes through Saint-Aimé-des-Lacs

Quebec City ← Baie-Saint-Paul ←

W  E

→ Tadoussac → Sept-Îles

• 1 Parc national Hautes-Gorges-de-la-rivière-Malbaie This National Park exposes magnificent cliffs, a setting of high mountains and a strongly boxed valley which was shaped during the great glacial eras. This park is distinguished by its bucolic landscapes, the Malbaie River where visitors can paddle (by canoe, kayak or paddle serf), its riverboat excursions, its panoramic hiking trails of various calibers in the valley and in the mountains, its bike trails, its shop and a campsite surrounded by incomparable nature. The Acropole-des-Draveurs trail is one of the most majestic in the province, with a drop of 800 m. This park offers bicycle/kayak rentals, a gift shop and a restaurant serving local Charlevoix products.
• 2 Zec du Lac-au-Sable Controlled harvesting zone (zec) located in the unorganized territory of Mont-Élie (Quebec); the reception desk is located near the junction of chemin du Friche and chemin Snigole in Clermont. This zec is a territory for hunting and fishing, camping, hiking in nature; the zec offers certain services including boat rental on several lakes, boat ramps and various accommodation services (cottage, yurt and camping) and a snowmobile/ATV storage.
• 3 Clermont (Charlevoix-Est) Town enclosed between the mountains and bordering on the town of La Malbaie. Its territory is crossed by the Malbaie River and by Route 138 which runs along the north shore of the St. Lawrence River. City of shops and services for travelers on Route 138, Clermont also offers a lively cultural life and several recreational and tourist attractions including the Malbaie River, its campgrounds, the Zec Lac au Sable, its municipal parks and the Montagne de la Croix site.
• 4 Saint-Hilarion (Quebec) The village of Saint-Hilarion overlooks the surrounding valley. Annually, a carnival is organized. Locality offering many recreational and tourist activities: resort, bowling, skating rink, cross-country skiing, snowshoeing, sliding, mountain biking, and snowmobiling.
• 5 Notre-Dame-des-Monts Village surrounded by mountains, offering magnificent panoramas. The summit of Gros Mont overlooks the region. The forest and mountainous nature offers many attractions, in particular ATV and snowmobile rides.
• 6 La Malbaie A super-tourist municipality on the north shore of the St. Lawrence River, offering many recreational and tourist activities, a developed reception infrastructure (resorts, accommodation, restaurants, shops, Charlevoix casino, Richelieu manor, golf, hiking, museums) and many attractions around the bay and the La Malbaie River.