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I’ve been on a mission to visit all of Canada’s National Parks, and during our trip to Magog in Quebec, I realized we were just a few hours away from La Mauricie National Park, so we had to go!

There were so many amazing hikes to do in the park, but one stood out among the others—Waber Falls. The most intriguing part of this hike is that you have to kayak to even access it.

Here is everything you need to know about kayaking in Waber Falls in La Mauricie National Park.

Kayaking To Waber Falls

The first step was making an online reservation for the kayaks. We booked five days in advance, and there were still plenty available since we visited the first weekend of September. If you’re going during peak summer months, it might be busier, so it’s a good idea to book ahead.

You can rent a kayak or canoe online here: La Mauricie National Park Rentals

Once we got to the park, we headed to Wapizagonke Lake. The parking lot was full, but we found a spot along the road. From there, we walked down a dirt path to the kayak rental area.

We asked for directions, but since we don’t speak much French, I snapped a picture of the map at the counter. The employee told us to keep left as soon as we got on the water.

The Kayak Route to Waber Falls

Once we confirmed our reservation, we chose our kayak and got ready to go.

As soon as we got into the kayak and started paddling, I was blown away by how beautiful the park was. We were surrounded by trees and mountains—it felt like the perfect way to spend the day.

We paddled about a mile out before realizing the left turn the employee mentioned was supposed to be immediate. Instead, we had gone straight and then turned left.

Luckily, we ran into a couple in a canoe who told us we needed to head back. By this point, we were already half an hour in and feeling tired, but we knew we had to keep going.

From here, the journey would be 8 miles round trip—4 miles to the trailhead and then 4 miles back.

Step One: Keep Left Under The Bridge

We paddled back to the rental area and kept going straight where the left turn should have been, passing under a bridge. If you don’t know about this turn, it looks like you aren’t supposed to go down the narrow path. But once we turned, we saw other kayaks and canoes heading the same way.

Step Two: Continue Straight

After crossing under the bridge, we were told to go straight the whole way, which was a relief because I was worried we might mess that up.

The first part of the journey was very relaxing as we paddled around small islands, admiring the campgrounds along the water’s edge. But then we encountered a very shallow area that made it tough to paddle through.

Step Three: Navigate the Beaver Dams

Now it was on to the shallow water and beaver dams. This area had canoes and kayaks getting stuck, forcing people to step out and walk their kayaks over. Once we made it past that, we encountered beaver dams that we also had to climb over.

Step Four: Paddle Straight Towards The Land

After we made it over both obstacles, it was time to continue, and suddenly, I could see the hundreds of canoes docked in the distance.

This part of the trip should have been the light at the end of the tunnel, but no matter how hard we paddled, it still seemed so far away.

Eventually, we reached the land and found one spot to dock our kayak on the sand. It was extremely busy, and we barely had any room. Fortunately, someone was leaving as we pulled up.

Now it was time to hike to Waber Falls.

Hiking To Waber Falls

Waber Falls is the only hiking trail in the area, which means it’s easy to find. Just follow the crowd!

We made our way up the dirt trail where we passed over a wooden bridge and up wooden stairs.

As we got about a quarter mile into the hike, a torrential downpour hit us, and while I love rain, this was one of the heaviest storms I had seen in a while.

We were completely drenched despite being under the trees, and around one hundred mosquitoes appeared out of nowhere. Despite having my rain jacket on, I was soaked and the rain was not letting up.

Fighting the Weather While Hiking to Waber Falls

We continued trekking until the steep dirt trail turned into a waterfall of mud. At that moment, I realized we had to turn around. By the time we made it to the top, the trail would likely be washed out, making the descent extremely dangerous, if not impossible. Looking up at the sky, I could see that the storm would linger for at least another 45 minutes.

It takes a lot for me to turn around on a hike, but when it comes to safety, sometimes you just have to. If we had the whole day, we could have continued, but with the sun going down in a few hours, it was time to start heading back.

We stepped carefully into puddles of mud, slipping on rocks, a long line of hikers behind us, each carefully stepping, some falling. My goal was to not sprain my ankle, we had too many exciting plans for a stupid mistake. After a half hour, we made it back to the bottom, with over 100 mosquito bites, all the size of a dime.

We took shelter with the rest of the hikers by the canoes, and finally, the rain stopped. I saw dark clouds behind it in the distance, and I knew we would have to paddle like hell to get back before the next round. So, we got back in the water, and that’s what we did.

At this point, we were pretty exhausted, and even on the water, the mosquitoes were relentless.

Even though we didn’t finish the hike, I still considered the day a win. We returned soaked from the rain, covered in mud, and with fifty mosquito bites, but it was an adventure to remember!

Tips For Kayaking To Waber Falls

• Pack a lunch! The kayaking part is no joke, and you will be hungry before your hike even starts.
• Bring a lot of water: You also want to have a lot of water, there are no water sources where you are going, so be prepared.
• Start Early: We started too late around noon because of our drive in the morning. I recommend starting early around 9:00 AM. That way you will have more than enough time to enjoy the falls.
• Check The Weather: Don’t end up like us, and check the radar before you go. We did see a storm rolling in that day, but we thought it was a lighter one.
• Be Prepared.

Where Is Waber Falls?

Waber Falls is located in La Maurice National Park.

Experience More of Canada

We also visited Magog during this trip, which is one of our favorite small towns in Quebec.

If you are visiting in winter, here are the 6 Top-Rated Things To Do In Magog This Winter!

You should also spend some time soaking in The Best Nordic Spa Near Magog, Spa Bolton.

Making your way to Montreal? Here are Montreal’s Hidden Speakeasies: The Top Two To Visit!

Want more Canada National Parks? Check out Hike The L’Eperon Trail in Jacques-Cartier National Park.

Read all of my Canada Travel Guides here, or check them out below.