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Photo: courtesy of Auberge Le Baluchon
By KAT TANCOCK
The first thing you notice as you approach Auberge Le Baluchon is the lack of cell phone service—and that’s kind of the point. (Rest assured, however, that it does have Wi-Fi.) About a two-hour drive from either Montreal or Quebec City’s airports, the property’s raison d’être is its beautiful natural setting: eight islands, forest and plains and the winding, rocky Rivière du Loup, all criss-crossed with 22 km of trails that pass waterfalls, bird sanctuaries and even a beaver dam.
The 88 rooms at Le Baluchon are in four lodges, each with its own lounge area, sauna and whirlpool room. The Auberge sur l’Île or Island Lodge, on its own island across the river from the dining hall, has 22 rooms exclusive to guests doing a spa or health package. The property, built in 1982, is at the beginning stages of a four-year upgrade; 20 rooms in three of the lodges have been renovated in the past year and these are definitely the ones to book: individually decorated in rustic-modern style, they have hardwood floors and overhead beams and simple, modern furniture with brightly coloured accents, plus oversize tubs and walk-in rain showers.
The inn’s many packages are designed for guests of all stripes: the Equestrian Package, for example, includes dinner, breakfast and a one-hour horseback ride; those in need of a complete reboot might pick the Complete Harmony Package, with all meals, snacks, a massage, a body wrap, a reflexology treatment and access to the Nordic spa. The spa, opened in 2011, has a full menu of massage treatments, hot tub, dry sauna and cold plunge pool overlooking the spectacular scenery.
Any package you choose should include the four-course table d’hôte dinner prepared by chef Yan Gabriel Gauthier, whose résumé includes stints in Lake Louise and at the Intercontinental Montreal; 75 per cent of his menu is comprised of local ingredients, including smoked trout, pork and even wapiti, or elk.
Click on the photos to tour the hotel »

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- Cure Lounge
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- Nita Lake Lodge garden
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- Rainforest Suite
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- Studio
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- On 1,000 acres, the property is surrounded by forests, rivers, fields and waterfalls.
- Photo: courtesy of Auberge Le Baluchon
- Auberge Le Baluchon aerial view
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- Photo: courtesy of Auberge Le Baluchon

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- Auberge Le Baluchon is a year-round destination, with skiing, sleigh rides and dog sledding in winter, in addition to the Nordic spa with its outdoor hot tub and sauna.
- Photo: courtesy of Auberge Le Baluchon
- Le Baluchon in winter
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- Photo: courtesy of Auberge Le Baluchon

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- Twenty rooms renovated in the past year are the first to be upgraded in a complete property refurbishment project, ongoing through 2015.
- Photo: courtesy of Auberge Le Baluchon
- Room in the Auberge de la Rivière
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- Photo: courtesy of Auberge Le Baluchon

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- A bathroom in one of the newly renovated room, with luxurious bathtub and separate glass-enclosed shower.
- Photo: courtesy of Auberge Le Baluchon
- Bathroom in an Auberge de la Rivière king room
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- The new rooms combine rustic and modern furnishings.
- Photo: courtesy of Auberge Le Baluchon
- Room in the Auberge de l'Archipel
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- Photo: courtesy of Auberge Le Baluchon

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- Some of the newly renovated rooms, like this one in the Island Lodge, have fireplaces.
- Photo: courtesy of Auberge Le Baluchon
- New room in the Auberge de l'Île
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- Photo: courtesy of Auberge Le Baluchon

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- There are three rooms in a private, family-friendly chalet.
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- Photo: courtesy of Auberge Le Baluchon

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- The hotel's activities include canoe rental ($16 for half a day) for trips down the river, with access to trails included.
- Photo: Kat Tancock
- Canoe Rentals
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- Stop by the Éco-Café au Bout du Monde for a drink or meal: offerings include Quebec wine- and beer-tasting menus and platters of local cheeses and jams. Or shop the range of Quebec-made food products to purchase.
- Photo: courtesy of Auberge Le Baluchon
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- Photo: courtesy of Auberge Le Baluchon

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- The Auberge de l'Île (Island Lodge) has 22 rooms as well as the spa, pool and Nordic spa.
- Photo: courtesy of Auberge Le Baluchon
- Auberge de l'Île
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- Photo: courtesy of Auberge Le Baluchon

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- The Nordic spa includes a hot tub with jets, sauna and cold plunge pool with waterfall, all overlooking the river and forest.
- Photo: Kat Tancock
- Nordic Spa
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- Cool off in the plunge pool at the Nordic spa.
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- The spa has an outdoor hot tub.
- Photo: Kat Tancock
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- Cross a bridge and picturesque river to get from the spa building to the dining hall.
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- Path to the restaurant
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- The four-course table d'hôte dinner at the dining room might include locally sourced dishes such as roasted beets with smoked trout, rack of pork with mushrooms and, to finish, green tea crème brûlée.
- Photo: courtesy of Auberge Le Baluchon
- Restaurant
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- In sugaring-off season, typically most of March, sign up for a traditional meal complete with horse-drawn carriage ride; the rest of the year, book the building for weddings and events.
- Photo: Kat Tancock
- Sugar Shack
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- The property's 22 km of trails of varying difficulty offer the opportunity to hike, run, cycle or ride in the warm season and snowshoe or ski in the winter, plus 800 metres of boardwalk connecting many of the buildings.
- Photo: courtesy of Auberge Le Baluchon
- Horseback Riding
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- Photo: courtesy of Auberge Le Baluchon

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- The property is in the heart of Quebec's pastoral Mauricie countryside.
- Photo: Kat Tancock
- Around the auberge
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DETAILS:
Auberge Le Baluchon
3550 Chemin des Trembles
Saint-Paulin, QC J0K 3G0
map it
1-800-789-5968, 819-268-2555
www.baluchon.com
info@baluchon.comHave you stayed at a special hotel or B&B in Canada that we should know about? E-mail us, let us know in the comments below, or tell us on Facebook or Twitter @wherecanada, and we’ll consider it for our Hotel of the Week!