Ferland-et-Boilleau, Quebec: History, Things to Do and Travel Guide
Ferland-et-Boilleau is a forest-and-lake municipality on route 381 in Quebec’s Saguenay-Lac-Saint-Jean region. The drive is part of the experience: river valleys, forest work, campgrounds, Lac Ha! Ha!, roadside lookouts and a municipal story built from two former settlements.
How Ferland-et-Boilleau Started
The Commission de toponymie places early forest exploitation in the Ferland and Boilleau townships in the 1880s. A sawmill known as the Shoppe à Petit was already operating around 1884 on the old route between Grande-Baie and Saint-Urbain. Later, settlers from La Baie formed the Société des Trente and began clearing land in the two townships.
The same source describes a more complicated colonization story: lots sold to William Price and the Battle Island company, Finnish settlers brought in around 1910-1911, and stronger settlement growth in the 1930s. Ferland and Boilleau became a single municipality in 1978, after earlier merger attempts had failed.
What Ferland-et-Boilleau Is Like Today
Ferland-et-Boilleau had 632 residents in the 2021 census. The official municipal site identifies forestry and tourism as the two main economic sectors, with the Coopérative forestière Ferland-Boilleau as a major local employer.
The present-day visitor feel is tied to route 381 and the surrounding forest. The village services are small, but the landscape feels large: lakes, camps, hunting and fishing territory, winter roads and scenic pauses between Saguenay and the Charlevoix-facing interior.
Things to Do and Places Nearby
The municipal homepage names the most practical local activities: hiking, hunting, fishing, snowshoeing, cross-country skiing, swimming, chalet stays and camping. It also highlights Camping Camp d’accueil and Camping du Lac Ha! Ha!, which are useful anchors for travellers who want to stay in the municipality instead of only passing through.
Route 381 is central to the visit. The municipality points travellers to the Halte routière du Pont Couvert and the lookout above Mont Dufour, both sensible stops on a road that deserves unhurried time. The Kayak Ha! Ha! page adds a seasonal event angle for paddlers and people following local outdoor programming.
The business directory helps explain what services to expect. It names forestry as a leading economic sector, but also lists the two municipal campgrounds and a local dépanneur as practical supports for visitors. That mix is useful on a long route: plan the scenery, but also note where food, fuel, camping and emergency help are realistic.
Quick Facts
- Province: Quebec
- Region: Saguenay-Lac-Saint-Jean
- Municipality type: Municipality
- 2021 census population: 632
- Official website: https://www.ferlandetboilleau.com
- Main travel areas: route 381, Lac Ha! Ha!, Halte routière du Pont Couvert, Mont Dufour lookout, Camp d’accueil and Camping du Lac Ha! Ha!
- Key routes: route 381 and local roads serving the Ferland, Boilleau and Lac Ha! Ha! areas
Travel Notes
Confirm campground openings, road notices and seasonal recreation details before leaving Saguenay or the larger service centres. Route 381 is scenic, but winter weather, fog, construction and wildlife can slow it down.
Respect forestry roads and private camp access. The best public stops are the signed halts, municipal facilities, campgrounds and officially promoted outdoor sites.