Lac-Saguay, Quebec: History, Things to Do and Travel Guide
Lac-Saguay is a village municipality in Quebec’s Laurentides region, on Route 117 in the Hautes-Laurentides. Lakes, forest, the old colonization road, municipal recreation and a compact service stop give the community its travel identity.
The village is small, but it has a clear reason to exist for visitors moving between Mont-Laurier, Nominingue and the wider Laurentian backcountry. It is a place for lake access, local history, simple services and quiet outdoor time.
How Lac-Saguay Started
The Commission de toponymie traces the municipality through several names and statuses. It began in 1911 as Boyer-Partie-Ouest, later became part of the township municipality of Boyer, was known as Saguay from 1963 to 1985, and then adopted Lac-Saguay to match the post office and the local lake name.
The name Saguay comes from the name of three lakes now known as the Allard lakes. The Commission records Algonquin-language interpretations tied to water flowing out or a river mouth.
Local history is tied to colonization roads. The opening of Chemin Gouin in 1905 helped connect Nominingue, Lac-Saguay and Ferme-Neuve, allowing settlement, farming and service activity to take root along the route.
What Lac-Saguay Is Like Today
Statistics Canada counted 526 residents in Lac-Saguay in the 2021 census. The municipality remains a small Route 117 service and recreation community with a town hall, local facilities, visitor information, public recreation and seasonal lake use.
The Commission de toponymie describes the community’s vocation as villégiature, with outdoor sports, hunting and fishing. That still fits the local feel. The municipal website points visitors toward attractions, sports and recreation, a municipal beach, photos and the Circuit des légendes.
The village is quiet outside peak travel times, so travellers should plan with that scale in mind.
Things to Do and Places Nearby
Start with Lac-Saguay’s visitor pages. The municipality points to the Circuit des légendes, tourist attractions, sports and leisure, and lake photos. These are good first checks for current access and seasonal details.
The municipal beach and local recreation areas are the easiest warm-weather anchors. Fishing, paddling, lakeside stops and quiet road touring are natural fits when conditions cooperate.
Route 117 gives Lac-Saguay practical travel value. Drivers can use it as a rest stop while moving through the Hautes-Laurentides, while cyclists and road trippers can use local roads to understand how the village sits between lake country and forest routes.
Quick Facts
- Province: Quebec
- Region: Laurentides
- Community type: village municipality
- 2021 census population: 526
- Official website: lacsaguay.qc.ca
- Main setting: Route 117 village in the Hautes-Laurentides lake country
- Good for: municipal beach, lake scenery, Circuit des légendes, fishing, paddling and quiet road touring
- Key routes: Route 117 and local roads toward Nominingue and Mont-Laurier
Travel Notes
Lac-Saguay is easiest by car. Check municipal notices, beach conditions, trail access and seasonal services before travelling, and carry extra time if you are continuing onto smaller forest or lake roads.