Grande-Entrée: Lobster Fishing, Harbour and Coastal Trails

Grande-Entrée brings together a fishing harbour, a lobster tradition, village history and coastal trails. When comparing hotels for your trip, specific interests can help structure your plans: Would you like to learn more about maritime life, explore traces of the past or reach the coast on foot? The locations and activities differ in theme, trail length and reservation requirements.

Harbour, Fishing and History

Pointe de Grande-Entrée forms a natural harbour for fishing boats. Grande-Entrée is also the main landing site for lobster catches on the Îles. The official 2026–2027 tourism guide lists more than 125 lobster fishing boats for the harbour; the number may vary by season. Every spring, the official opening of the lobster fishing season is celebrated with a large gathering for the entire population.

A historic landmark in the village is the former Grande-Entrée post office. The building retains original features and materials, including cedar shingle siding and corner boards. Owing to its historical value, it is an important testament to the village’s early settlement around the fishing harbour and to the former industrial facility at the Pointe. It is said to have been built in 1952. Its construction and history thus offer two different ways to explore village life in the past.

The Centre du phoque complements its museum offerings with a focus on maritime life, including the work of people at sea, tributes to the village’s founders and the launching of lobster traps. On the second floor, an exhibition explores maritime life at the heart of the Grande-Entrée community; exhibitions may change. Unlike the harbour, the focus here is on the people and activities behind everyday fishing life.

Coastal Landscapes and Trails

Île Boudreau is a peninsula of about 23 hectares in the southern part of Île de la Grande Entrée. It can be reached at any time via Chemin du Bassin Ouest and Plage de la Bluff; access via Plage du Bassin Est is possible at low tide. As local conditions may vary, check them before your visit. The three access options differ in particular because the route via Plage du Bassin Est requires low tide.

There are different routes and destinations to choose from for self-guided hikes. A 6 km round trip follows the lagoon to the Pointe and the Grande-Entrée fishing harbour. Another option is a 0.5 km trail from the Grande-Entrée church to the seashore. The longer route leads to the Pointe and the harbour, while the shorter one goes from the church to the sea: the trails differ both in length and destination.

Stage 9 reaches the Grande-Entrée church via a multi-use trail. This stage also includes a marked 2 km round trip in the direction of Île Boudreau. These are two different reference points for planning your stage: the church as the destination of the multi-use trail, and the peninsula as the direction of the marked loop. The 2 km distance refers to the round trip.

Near Grande-Entrée, a kayak excursion runs for almost 5 km along the coast of Old Harry. It adds an on-the-water activity and a different stretch of coastline to the hiking options.

Reservations and Arrival

A reservation is required for the Grottes excursion. The meeting point is Boutique de la Salicorne, 377 Route 199, Grande-Entrée. Keep this requirement in mind when planning; unlike the self-guided hiking trails, this excursion has a specific reservation requirement and meeting point. The road route is also straightforward: Route 199 ends at the Grande-Entrée harbour.

Discover more destinations: L'étang-Du-Nord, Havre-Aux-Maisons, Cap-Aux-Meules, Fatima.

Go to the main travel overview: Les Îles-De-La-Madeleine.