Magog is a town in Quebec. Located at the northern end of Lake Memphremagog, this hamlet flourished in the 19th century thanks to the construction of flour, saw and card mills by Ralph Merry III, the founder of Magog. Arriving in the region around 1797, he constructed the first dam on the north side of the river, between an island and a stream, where the railway now lies.

The town’s original name was “Outlet,” as it is located where the lake drains. For the same reason, the parish of Saint-Patrice-de-Magog, founded in 1861, carried the name Saint-Patrice-d’Outlet at the time. Outlet was the official name for many decades, although Magog started appearing on official documents in 1783.

In 1850, Outlet became Magog, which was officially incorporated on January 28, 1888 as a village, and in 1890 as a town.

Magog became a city in autumn 2002 when it merged with Magog Township, which covers a large area divided into three districts by two shores of Lake Memphremagog and the Town of Omerville, formerly a parish attached to Magog. The merger increased the municipality’s population to 23 540 residents. In a historical context, this merger appealed to a strong sense of mutual ownership based on over 200 years of sharing and developing a common land.

Get in

By car

• From Montreal take the Autoroute 10 East. Take exits 115, 118, or 123.

• From Sherbrooke take the Autoroute 10 West. Take exits 115, 118, or 123.

• From Vermont take I-91 North to Canadian border (Rock Island border crossing between Stanstead, QC and Derby Line, VT). It becomes Autoroute Joseph-Armand Bombardier (route 55). Take exit 29 or 33.

By bus

Greyhound [1] motorcoaches used to connect Magog to Montreal and Sherbrooke. Limocar (1619, ch. de la Rivière Aux Cerises, Magog Québec, Canada, J1X 3W3) currently offers service from Montréal to Sherbrooke and Magog to Sherbrooke.[2]

Get around

• Trolley Magog-Orford, ☏ +1 819 678-7888, trolleymagogorford@yahoo.ca. 

See

MacPherson Wharf

• Lake Memphremagog
• Mount Orford

Do

Throughout the year

Magog is alive with sports, cultural events and a wide variety of activities, including the [Traversée Internationale du Lac Memphrémagog http://www.traversee-memphremagog.com/] swimming event, the Memphrémagog Arts Circuit in the summer, the Magog-Orford Grape Harvest Festival, the Vieux Clocher de Magog, boutiques, art galleries, cafés, terraces, restaurants.

Summer

• Water sports
  • Swimming
  • Jet ski rental (Magog Marine), 675, rue l'Archevêque (Highway 10, exit 118, take route 141 into Magog), ☏ +1 819 843-3788. $95/hr including temporary boating license. 

• Golf and mini putt

• Horseback riding

• Tennis

• Cycling

• In-line skating

• Boat cruise on lake Memphremagog (Croisières Memphrémagog) (Highway 10, exit 118, take route 141 into Magog), ☏ +1 819 843-8068. 

• Stroll through the Baie-de-Magog park (see l’extrait de la brochure Loisirs, culture et services)

• Visit Plage Ouest or Plage des Cantons (Plages du Magog).  (see l’extrait de la brochure Loisirs, culture et services)

• Bleu Lavande, a producer of lavender products

• Climb Magog tower (Parcs municipaux Magog), on wharf MacPherson. 

• Paintball

• Visit vineyards

• Go for a scenic drive (Chemin des Cantons), Chemin des Cantons. 

While you’re having fun in the water, keep an eye out for Memphré, a legendary lake creature that has been making waves for over 200 years. Memphré has been seen over 225 times, with sightings dating back to 1798.

Winter

• Downhill skiing (Mont Orford Ski Area), 3074, chemin du Parc Orford, QC, J1X 3W3 (Highway 10, exit 118 North), ☏ +1 819 843-6548, fax: +1 819 847-2487, info@orford.com. 

• Downhill skiing (Owl's Head). 

• Cross-country skiing (Parc national du Mont-Orford), 3321, chemin du Parc Orford, J1X 7A2, Quebec, Canada (Highway 10, exit 118, direction of Parc national du Mont-Orford or Highway 55, exit at Highway 10, exit 118 Lac-Stukely sector), toll-free: +1-800-665-6527. 

• Snowshoeing (Parc national du Mont-Orford), 3321, chemin du Parc Orford, J1X 7A2, Quebec, Canada (Highway 10, exit 118, direction of Parc national du Mont-Orford or Highway 55, exit at Highway 10, exit 118 Lac-Stukely sector), toll-free: +1-800-665-6527. 

• Skating on the ice path that borders Lake Memphremagog

• Snowmobile trails

Eat

The main street of downtown Magog offers great dining and retails options. During the summer, the Liquor Store Cabaret offers an excellent menu with indoor as well as terrace dining, usually accompanied by live music on the weekends. In the winter, it's a cozy spot to warm up after a day's worth of skiing at Mont Orford.

Whichever restaurant you choose, look for the traditional comfort food, poutine (french fries, cheese curds, and gravy) or smoked meat.

• Guacamole y tequila, 112 rue Principal ouest, ☏ +1 819 868 0088. Very good Mexican cuisine. (updated Feb 2015)

Go next

Routes through Magog

Montreal ← Eastman ←	W  E	→ Sherbrooke → END
Drummondville ← Sherbrooke ←	N  S	→ Stanstead → Saint Johnsbury via