Sainte-Thérèse-de-la-Gatineau, Quebec: History, Things to Do and Travel Guide
Sainte-Thérèse-de-la-Gatineau is a lake-country municipality in Quebec’s Outaouais region, south of Maniwaki and east of the Gatineau River corridor. It is small year-round, but its visitor life grows around Lac des Trente-et-Un-Milles, local boat access, cottage roads, deer habitat and short forest trails.
The best first visit is practical: understand the village, check the lake and trail access rules, then choose one or two outdoor stops. Sainte-Thérèse-de-la-Gatineau is a water-and-forest community where access details matter.
How Sainte-Thérèse-de-la-Gatineau Started
The Commission de toponymie traces the name to the parish of Sainte-Thérèse-de-l’Enfant-Jésus, erected in 1934, with the Gatineau addition reflecting the local geography and the nearby Gatineau River. The municipality was erected in 1946.
The municipality’s own visitor page calls Sainte-Thérèse-de-la-Gatineau the youngest municipality in the MRC, aside from more recent municipal regroupings, and gives 1946 as its founding year. That late municipal start helps explain why the present identity is tied less to an old commercial main street and more to lakes, cottages, recreation land and modern municipal services.
What Sainte-Thérèse-de-la-Gatineau Is Like Today
Sainte-Thérèse-de-la-Gatineau had 588 residents in the 2021 census, while the municipality lists a 2023 population of 666. The official visitor page describes a small permanent population and a significant seasonal cottage population, especially along Lac des Trente-et-Un-Milles.
Water defines the map. The municipality lists Lac des Trente-et-Un-Milles, Lac Beaulieu, Lac Marcelin, Lac Michel and Grand lac Rond among its main water bodies. It also notes that part of the Lac des Trente-et-Un-Milles white-tailed deer yard lies in the municipality and is considered the largest continental deer yard in Quebec.
Things to Do and Places Nearby
Start with the municipal “Quoi faire chez nous” page. It lists the Centre d’interprétation du cerf de Virginie, where visitors can learn about deer in a log pavilion, see local artisan exhibitions in season and use nearby walking trails. The same page points to the Sentier de la Chute Rouge and an exercise trail, with access instructions from chemin Principal, chemin du lac Michel, chemin Talbot and chemin du Cerf.
For water access, the municipality provides a Lac 31 Milles boat launch at 89 chemin du Quai-Public. The official directions are detailed from both Montreal and Gatineau, which is a clue: do not assume the launch is obvious from the main road. Check current boat-washing, parking and water-level notices before arrival.
In the village, the park and outdoor rink are beside the school at 25 chemin Principal. For a wider lake-country day, Bouchette and Blue Sea help frame the surrounding Vallée-de-la-Gatineau route, but Sainte-Thérèse’s own lake access and deer interpretation should come first.
Quick Facts
- Province: Quebec
- Region: Outaouais
- Municipality type: Municipality
- 2021 census population: 588
- Official website: https://www.sainte-therese-de-la-gatineau.ca
- Main travel areas: Lac des Trente-et-Un-Milles, boat launch at 89 chemin du Quai-Public, Centre d’interprétation du cerf de Virginie, Sentier de la Chute Rouge, village park
- Key routes: Route 105 and Route 107 approaches, chemin Principal, lake and forest access roads
Travel Notes
Plan by car and verify directions before leaving cell coverage. The boat launch instructions involve several turns from both Gatineau and Montreal approaches, and winter or cottage-season traffic can change the pace.
Check municipal notices for boat washing, parking, lake access, trail conditions, deer-centre hours and rink status. Many shorelines are private, so use the official launch, signed public trails and marked village facilities.