Aux Berges Du St-Maurice Inc

We didn’t stay at the lodge, but we did join the bear observation tour. The booking process was straightforward and easy, which we appreciated.nnThat said, the experience itself was not quite what we expected. The bears are semi-domesticated — they live in the wild, but the guide leaves food for them regularly, so they reliably appear at the viewpoint. The “observation” is essentially standing at a viewing spot rather than walking around in search of bears.nnThere were also about 40 other tourists with us, which made it feel crowded, and given the high price, it didn’t feel like great value for money.nnOn the positive side, the guide was very theatrical and entertaining. Even if you don’t speak French, it’s fun to listen to him.

Meet Éric, the Bear Whisperer of Quebec and for the most incredible black bear watching experience, head to his base in La Mauricie National Park nnÉric has a lifelong passion for nature and over 30 years of experience as a wild bear observation guide. Thanks to his fascinating scientific insights and deep respect for wildlife, I was lucky to observe beautiful black bears for hours in their natural habitat, totally wild and free, sometimes less than a meter away as we watched quietly from the safety of a wooden cabin… It’s not every day you get to observe wildlife from so close, fully immersed in nature while respecting bears’ freedom and natural behaviors. In fact, we humans were the ones in a container — not the bears!nnÉric is kind, passionate, and an absolute mine of knowledge when it comes to bears and their ecosystem. He even offers accommodation in his lovely chalet right in the heart of nature, just a stone’s throw from Shawinigan, where you can hear birds singing and wolves howling in the quiet of the night… Absolutely recommended for anyone who loves authentic nature experiences!

Great location and great black bear experience with Eric, we were very lucky to see a mommy with her two pups. Eric was very keen on sharing his experience. About the accommodation, it was very comfortable and you can collect fresh eggs for your breakfast in the morning. The location is very near the Mauricie National Park.

Great place in front of the river, Eric was very nice. It's possible to go see black bears and moose with Eric. Looking for moose in canoe in mauricie national park at sun rising is a must. Sitting 4 meters close to a black bears is astonishing.

Amazing stay and great bear excursion for very reasonable price even if you're on a budget. We rarely experienced this level of service for this price.