La Corne, Quebec: History, Things to Do and Travel Guide
La Corne is a rural municipality in Quebec’s Abitibi-Témiscamingue, between Amos and Val-d’Or. Farms, forest, the Harricana-area road network and resource history give the village a clearer identity than its small population suggests.
The best visit keeps the scale local: a village on Route 111, a colonization-era history, birding trails, community recreation sites and practical stops before continuing across Abitibi.
How La Corne Started
The municipal history page says La Corne’s territory was already being visited and inhabited in the mid-1910s by prospectors and woodcutters. During the hard economic years of the 1930s, families came to Crown land to escape poverty elsewhere in Quebec.
The Plan Vautrin changed the pace of settlement. In 1934, the provincial colonization program organized groups of men to clear lots, build houses and open roads. In 1935, the first contingents arrived at La Corne, built roads and homes, and brought families to the new land.
The place name honours Louis de La Corne, an eighteenth-century French military officer. The modern municipality was created in 1975 under the spelling Lacorne and corrected to La Corne in 1978. Mining also left a mark: toponymy records note molybdenum and bismuth activity from 1938 to 1971, along with later mineral interest.
What La Corne Is Like Today
La Corne had 778 residents in the 2021 census. It remains a small service and residential municipality with a rural Abitibi setting, a municipal office on Route 111, forest roads, recreation facilities and local events.
The official site shows a community built around both daily services and outdoor use. It lists a library, covered rink, pumptrack, boat launch and wash station, community committees and visitor attractions. That mix makes La Corne feel less like a bypassed village and more like a working local centre for nearby farms, lakes, camps and roads.
Travellers should still plan with distance in mind. Amos and Val-d’Or remain the larger service anchors, while La Corne gives the route a specific local stop.
Things to Do and Places Nearby
Forêt ornithologique Askikwaj is the strongest outdoor anchor. The municipality describes two walking and snowshoe routes in the 3e and 4e Rang Ouest area: the Sentier des Belvédères, which can be done in under an hour from the hilltop area, and the five-kilometre Sentier des Oiseaux. Birdhouses and interpretive panels support bird observation along the route.
The municipal attractions list also points to Dispensaire de la Garde, Fontaine Orignal, Mont-Vidéo, the municipal park, pumptrack, illuminated slides and Sentier Natur-Ô-pattes. Check opening seasons and conditions before planning around any single stop.
Quick Facts
- Province: Quebec
- Region: Abitibi-Témiscamingue
- Municipality type: Municipality
- 2021 census population: 778
- Official website: https://lacorne.ca/
- Main visitor anchors: Forêt ornithologique Askikwaj, Route 111 village services and local recreation sites
Travel Notes
La Corne is easiest by car. Fuel, meals and lodging should be planned before long Abitibi drives, especially in winter. Askikwaj trails are outdoor routes, so bring insect protection in summer, traction in winter and daylight for rural-road parking. Respect mine, forestry and private access roads unless they are clearly signed for public use.