Auberge Lac-à-L’eau-Claire

With an enviable lakeside location and direct access to some of eastern Canada’s most beautiful backcountry, the Lac-à-L’eau-Claire is among Québec’s finest wilderness hotels. Accommodation comes in a range of locations and styles, from the main Inn, perched right on the lakeshore, to modern family condos, a grand pavilion with a collection of spacious rooms and suites, and a number of rustic cottages scattered among the forested hills. The décor throughout is stylishly modern, with the exception of the cottages which pair exposed blonde-wood walls with open fires for a genuine log-cabin aesthetic. Whichever you choose, you’ll be treated to spectacular views of the hotel’s 25,000-hectare grounds. 

And it’s these same grounds – all old-growth woodland interspersed with sparkling lakes – that provide the setting for full programme of year-round activities. In summer, there’s everything from fishing and kayaking to forest hikes and wildlife walks, while the winter sees the arrival of deep snow and fun-packed adventures, including dogsledding, snowshoeing and cross-country skiing. And, no matter what time of year you visit, there are pool tables, games rooms, an indoor pool, sauna and spa to enjoy, together with a fully equipped gym complete with all the latest keep-fit gadgetry.

Then there’s the dining, with the Inn’s table d’hôte menu offering regionally inspired dishes that showcases ingredients sourced directly from the hotel grounds. The trout is particularly noteworthy, caught fresh from the lake and prepared by the chef in no fewer than ten different ways. It’s all paired with a cellar of perfectly matched wines, recommended by the resident sommelier, and to stunning views from the dining room which, like the menu, changes with the seasons.