Saint-Étienne-des-Grès is a parish municipality of the Maskinongé Regional county municipality (MRC de Maskinongé), in Basse-Mauricie.

Its geographical location between Shawinigan and Trois-Rivières, along the Saint-Maurice River and its forest environment, provide a pleasant living environment for residents and seasonal visitors. La Gabelle hydroelectric power station and its nature park are popular tourist attractions.

Understand

History

The municipality of the parish of Saint-Étienne-des-Grès was established in 1859.

Geography

This municipality is located on the west bank of the Saint-Maurice River, between the Shawinigan-Sud sector of the city of Shawinigan and the Forges sector of the city of Trois-Rivières. Three exits from Highway 55 give access to the territory of Saint-Étienne-des-Grès, the main one of which links the main village. Given its privileged geographical location, Saint-Étienne-des-Grès is a residential environment close to employment centres and urban services.

Get in

The village of Saint-Étienne-des-Grès is accessible by train, road, snowmobile and all-terrain vehicles.

By car

• From Montreal (151 km (94 mi), 1 hr 34 min). Take highway 40 (north shore) eastbound, to Trois-Rivières; take highway 55 (northbound); take the exit of the village of Saint-Étienne-des-Grès.
• From Quebec City (km|152}}, 1 hr 35 min). Take highway 40 (direction West), to Trois-Rivières; take highway 55 (northbound) to the village of Saint-Étienne-des-Grès.

Get around

Gas stations

• 1 Station service Ultramar, 1410, rue Principale, ☏ +1 819-535-3656. (updated Nov 2021)
• 2 Crevier-Dépanneur, 951, rue Principale, ☏ +1 819-535-9137. Gas station and convenience store. (updated Nov 2021)

Seaplane base

• 3 Hydravion Aventure Inc (Seaplane Adventure Inc), 428, rang des Grès, ☏ +1 819-840-0603. Seaplane base on the Saint-Maurice river upstream from the La Gabelle hydroelectric power station. (updated Nov 2021)

See

Heritage tour

• 1 Parc nature La Gabelle, chemin de la Gabelle, Saint-Étienne-des-Grès (access by Saint-Étienne des Grès, via the Gabelle road; access via Notre-Dame-de-Mont-Carmel, via the rang des Grès), ☏ +1 866-388-1978. La Gabelle Park allows you to practice sport fishing, or to indulge in walking on hiking and cross-country skiing trails in winter. This park has several art structures scattered throughout its territory. A belvedere allows a panoramic view of the Saint-Maurice valley and the La Gabelle power station. This park has several picnic areas to appreciate the wild nature. The entrance to the trail is located on the Notre-Dame-du-Mont-Carmel side. A wooden bridge leads walkers to a very large staircase which leads to more than 10 km of trails. The La Gabelle power station offers an inter-connection link open to road vehicles. (updated Nov 2021)

Do

Events

• Mercredis culturels (Cultural Wednesdays). Series of three outdoor shows for the public organized by the cultural committee. Several artists of various styles perform on the stage of the bandstand located at Parc Réal-St-Onge. In the event of inclement weather, public shows are instead presented in the Jules-Bellemare room of the Community Centre. (updated Nov 2021)
• Concours de maisons décorées Halloween 2021 (Contest of decorated houses Halloween 2021). (updated Nov 2021)

Buy

Foods

• 1 Ferme Éthier (Éthier Farm), 490, 4e rang (north side of the hamlet Lavoie), ☏ +1 819-376-8062, info@fermeethier.com. Main market garden products: Saskatoon berries, blueberries, cameriss, pumpkins, squash and garlic, strawberries, local produce and tulips. (updated Nov 2021)
• 2 Les Terres Maraîchères Norvie (Norve vegetable lands), 1861, rue Principale, ☏ +1 819-535-3242. Main market garden products: asparagus, oats, broccoli, cauliflower, red cabbage, green cabbage, potatoes and soy. (updated Nov 2021)
• 3 Potager de Réjean (Réjean's vegetable garden), boul. Trudel Ouest. (updated Nov 2021)

Other businesses

• 4 Boutique Lucette Enr, 452, rue Principale, ☏ +1 819-373-1772. Clothing store. (updated Nov 2021)
• 5 Boutique Western Nolet, 680, avenue Omer-Bourassa, ☏ +1 450-471-7669, info@boutiquepepin.ca. Equestrian centre in Saint-Étienne-des-Grès. Products available in store for all types of riding: items for riders, horse accessories, stable products, Western riding products, Standardbred products, etc. Affiliated with the Pépin store in Terrebonne. (updated Nov 2021)

Eat

• 1 Cantine du domaine chez GE, 671, chemin Marcotte. (updated Nov 2021)
• 2 Restaurant Chez Lulu, ☏ +1 819-535-9207. (updated Nov 2021)
• 3 Pizza Dit'Ally, 1212, boul. de la Gabelle, ☏ +1 819-535-1274. (updated Nov 2021)
• 4 Café du Marché, 1226, rue Principale, ☏ +1 819-655-0344. (updated Nov 2021)
• 5 Méchoui Michel Chainé, 250, pl. Louis-Denis, ☏ +1 819-692-5774. (updated Nov 2021)

Sleep

Chalet, gîte, inn

• 1 Clau ranch St-Pierre, 151, rue Principale. (updated Nov 2021)
• 2 Le Domaine des Grès, 299, rue des Grès, ☏ +1 819-697-5839. High-end chalet for rent, located on the banks of the Saint-Maurice river. An exceptional site with a great history. The Domaine des Grès has a stable with saddlery and a private lounge. (updated Nov 2021)

Camping

• 3 Camping Mauricie Lac Blais, 2191, 7e rang, ☏ +1 819-535-2783, melissa_hutchins@hotmail.com. mid-May to mid-September. Rental of chalets and camping pitches. Wi-Fi network, restaurants, convenience store and laundry room. (updated Nov 2021)
• 4 Camping les Lions d'Or, 310, ave. Ringuette, ☏ +1 819-535-4124, campingleslionsdor@gmail.com. mid-May to mid-September. 65 locations. Snack bar, massage therapy, small Saturday market, bicycle rental, swimming pool, laundry room, activity room... (updated Nov 2021)

Connect

• Seven municipal parks. Seven municipal parks: Parc de la Terrasse, des Dalles (soccer fields), Domaine Lavoie, François-Chrétien, Réal-St-Onge (outdoor training station, bandstand), Saint-Thomas (outdoor rinks, fields boules, soccer fields, water games, gazebo), des Grès (outdoor skating rinks, ice ring, tube sliding, Deck surfaces, baseball field, basketball court, pickleball fields). (updated Nov 2021)
• 1 Bibliothèque municipale, 190, Saint-Honoré, suite 300, ☏ +1 819-299-3854, biblio019@reseaubibliocqlm.qc.ca. Documentary resources: books, comics, magazines and CD-ROMs. Free Internet access thanks to the Biblio network. Organization of various animated activities in connection with its mission. Free for residents and seasonal workers. (updated Nov 2021)

Go next

• 1 Saint-Barnabé Locality mainly agricultural. Cycle tourism has developed well there. Several old, well-restored residences reflect local history.
• 2 Charette Laid out at the foot of the Laurentians, Charette has developed through agriculture and forestry.
• 3 Saint-Boniface (Quebec) Municipality of the western suburbs of Shawinigan.
• 4 Trois-Rivières Principal city of Mauricie. A city of business, industry, commerce, government services.
• 5 Notre-Dame-du-Mont-Carmel On the edge of the Saint-Maurice River (west side), this municipality offers many tourist and natural attractions including campgrounds, a municipal recreation center, and a mountain (with ski centre).

Routes through Saint-Étienne-des-Grès

Shawinigan ← Saint-Boniface ←	N  S	→ Trois-Rivières → Drummondville
Shawinigan ← Saint-Boniface ←	N  S	→ Saint-Barnabé → Yamachiche