Bog-à-Lanières Ecological Reserve is an ecological reserve of Quebec, Canada. The ecological reserve aims to ensure the protection of ombrotrophic peatlands in the Laurentians region. It is also one of the rare thong bog in Quebec.
Because the reserve is classified as IUCN category Ia, access is tightly controlled and typically limited to accredited researchers. Visitors planning a scientific stop must arrange permits well in advance through Quebec's Ministry of Environment, and be prepared for basic field conditions: no marked trails, primitive campsites and limited satellite reception. Most investigators bring portable weather stations and peat coring rigs, as the ombrotrophic bog offers a rare archive of atmospheric deposition. The nearest settlement, Lac‑Édouard, provides a modest supply point for fuel and provisions, but all waste must be packed out to preserve the site's integrity.
While the reserve itself remains off‑limits to casual tourists, the surrounding Mauricie region presents a network of publicly accessible parks that echo its peatland ecology. A weekend loop can start in La Tuque, follow the Saint‑Maurice River to the edge of the protected zone, and then detour onto the trail that skirts the northern rim of the bog, offering distant viewpoints of the high‑moisture fen. This approach lets travellers appreciate the continuity of the Laurentian peat mosaic without infringing on the strict protection regime.
Field seasons in the Bog-à-Lanières area are dictated by the hydrological cycle. Summer brings a thin overlay of moss that can hide deep water channels, complicating navigation and equipment placement. Autumn, by contrast, sees the water table recede slightly, exposing peat layers and facilitating coring, while the cooler air reduces the risk of equipment overheating. Winter access is possible only by snowmobile from Lac‑Édouard, but the frozen surface can provide a stable platform for heavy instrumentation, albeit with heightened safety protocols due to crevasses in the underlying peat.
Bog-à-Lanières Ecological ReserveIUCN category Ia (strict nature reserve)Interactive map of Bog-à-Lanières Ecological ReserveLocationLac-Édouard, Agglomération de La Tuque, Mauricie, Québec, CanadaNearest cityLac-ÉdouardCoordinates47°35′34″N 72°14′57″W / 47.5928°N 72.2492°W / 47.5928; -72.2492Area4.33 [clarification needed]EstablishedApril 8, 1992Governing bodyMinistère de l'Environnement et de la Lutte contre les changements climatiques du Québec Bog-à-Lanières Ecological Reserve is an ecological reserve of Quebec, Canada. The ecological reserve aims to ensure the protection of ombrotrophic peatlands in the Laurentians region. It is also one of the rare thong bog in Quebec.
[edit] This Reserve was established on April 8, 1992 by a decree of the Government of Quebec.
[edit] The name of the reserve comes from the scientific name of ombrotrophic peatland, a type of peatland fed only by precipitation or water table
[edit] The reserve is located at Lac-Édouard, about sixty kilometres east of La Tuque.