Lac-Saint-Jean

Lac-Saint-Jean is a large rural area composed of multiple small villages surrounding the lake of the same name. The lake and villages are located to the west of Chicoutimi-Jonquière (and the Saguenay River) in the Saguenay-Lac-Saint-Jean region of Quebec in Canada.

. . . Lac-Saint-Jean . . .

A geographically-isolated region, Lac-Saint-Jean is mostly francophone and known for its blueberries (the locals are known as “les bleuets”). Much of the area is agricultural land; weather permitting, blueberries are ready for harvest in mid-August.

• Alma
• Roberval
• Desbiens
• Métabetchouan–Lac-à-la-Croix
• Dolbeau-Mistassini
• Normandin
• Saint-Félicien

By automobile, take Route 155 from Trois-Rivières to Chambord or Route 175 from Québec City (exit onto Route 169). From Chicoutimi-Jonquière, head west on Route 170 (south shore) or Route 172 (north shore).

By air, it is possible (but expensive) to fly into Bagotville (near Chicoutimi), then head west by road.

There is intercity bus service westward from Chicoutimi-Jonquière through the region to Chibougamau-Chapais.

• Intercar, 55, rue Racine Est, Chicoutimi, ☎+1 418-543-1403. Bus from Chicoutimi-Jonquière west via Lac-Saint-Jean (Dolbeau, St. Felicien, Alma, Roberval) to Chibougamau. Connections at Chicoutimi for Quebec City and Tadoussac. 

The region as a ring around the lake is followed by Route 169, a circle route which branches off Route 175 (the main road from Quebec City to Chicoutimi) to enter the region at Hébertville. In counterclockwise order, the route goes through Alma, Péribonka, Mistassini, Saint-Félicien, Roberval, Val-Jalbert, Chambord, Métabetchouan and back to Hébertville and Saint-Gédeon. The full circle is 200 km (100 mi) in circumference.

. . . Lac-Saint-Jean . . .

. . . Lac-Saint-Jean . . .