Godbout

Church of Godbout

Godbout is a municipality in Manicouagan, in the administrative region of Côte-Nord, in Quebec, on the Route des Baleines and the Route Nature aux mille délices (gourmet route). It is part of the township of De Monts and the tourist region of Manicouagan.

The main attractions of the municipality of Godbout are:

• vacationing: especially around lakes: Lac Rond (north part), Lac de Monts (a bay near Route 138), as well as in the village;
• salmon fishing: the ZEC des rivières Godbout & Mistassini manages the exploitation of these two rivers;
• pedestrian paths: the path leading to Mont Caburon, where the cross of Godbout is located, overlooks the bay of Godbout; distance 6.6 km (estimated time: 2 hr 8 min.);
• excursions on the trails by ATV or snowmobile; these excursions allow to appreciate the hinterland of mountain and forest;
• the beaches of the bay of Godbout which give a beautiful view towards the East on the Cran Fer à Cheval, located in the western part of the Mornes de Godbout; and a beautiful view to the west, on Cap Rouge;
• boating on Godbout Bay which is an appendage of the Gulf of St. Lawrence; visitors can admire the coast between Godbout and Baie-Trinité from pleasure craft;
• picking wild berries in the summer season;
• observation of marine mammals and avian species from land sites.

Understand

Godbout bay and the quay on the sea

Godbout is an old coastal village on the Côte-Nord in Quebec in the regional county municipality of Manicouagan. The ferry linking the village to Matane on the south shore of the St. Lawrence is the village's main employer. Moreover, this has created an offer of accommodation and catering in the village. In the village of Godbout, sea or river fishing, especially salmon, is the major economic activity. Nestled between the mountains and at the bottom of a deep bay, the village benefits from protection against the heavy seas of the Gulf of St. Lawrence.

History

In the 17th century, a first fur trading post was opened at the bottom of Godbout Bay; it remained in operation there for nearly two centuries. The toponymic designation "Godbout" appears in the Relations of the Jesuits of 1670. This locality turns out to be the parish of birth of Mgr Napoléon Alexandre Labrie, bishop of the diocese of the North Shore; he was a great visionary, having contributed to promoting education and developing the socio-political context of the region. A second legendary character and resident of Godbout, Napoléon Alexandre Comeau, had many talents: trapper, geologist, naturalist, doctor and an adventurer who loved exploits.

The village of Godbout includes an Innu minority.

• 1 Tourist information office (Bureau d'information touristique) (opposite Godbout Bay and near the Matane-Godbout ferry dock), ☏ +1 418 568-7462. Tourist information centre offering information to travellers on the Côte-Nord. (updated Jul 2022)

Get in

The village of Godbout is accessible by road, boat (via Saint Lawrence River), airplane, snowmobile and all terrain vehicles.

By car

• From Montréal (724 km (450 mi). Time: 8 hr 49 min. From downtown Montreal, take the Jacques-Cartier bridge (east); take route 132 (east), highway 20 (east); then successively Highway 73 (north), Highway 40 (east) and Route 138 to Godbout.

Route 138 passes 2 km east of the village via rue Mgr Labrie. In Godbout (after crossing the Godbout River), Route 138 makes a large loop to the north to bypass Lac Jean-Marie, Lac de Monts and Lac Éden, as well as Morne de Godbout (high riverside cliff); further east, Route 138 returns near the river to Baie-Trinité.

By bus

• Intercar (on Rte 138), ☏ +1 418-665-3443, toll-free: +1-800-806-2167. Intercity bus from Quebec City to Baie-Comeau, via Baie-Saint-Paul, La Malbaie, Tadoussac and Godbout. (updated Jul 2022)

By boat

The ship Camille-Marcoux arriving at Godbout

• 1 Traverse Godbout-Matane via the boat "Camille-Marcoux", gare fluviale de Godbout: 117, rue Pascal-Comeau (at the wharf in the village of Godbout), ☏ +1-877-787-7483. Ferry linking Godbout to Matane on the south shore of the St. Lawrence. Passengers who are lucky, will see whales and dolphins from the ferry. (updated Dec 2024)

Tourist information

• 2 Centre d'information touristique (Tourist information centre), 154, route 138, ☏ +1 418-233-2663. Tourist information centre providing information to the public about the region: activities, attractions, activities, events, accommodation, and restaurants. (updated Dec 2021)

Do

• 1 ZEC des rivières Godbout et Mistassini, (Administrative office) 117, route des Baleines (access to the salmon pits is via the Route du bois which runs along the east bank of the Godbout River), ☏ +1 418-568-7305. With a length of 112 km, the Godbout River crosses the territory of the MRC of Manicouagan. Salmon caught in the Godbout River are known to be fierce fighters. The ZEC offers fishing packages for the 13 pools in the “Cap Nord” quota sector and the 22 pools in the non-quota sector. (updated Jul 2022)

First Nations and Inuit Museum

• 2 Musée amérindien et inuit, 134, rue Pascal-Comeau (in the village, facing the bay of Godbout), ☏ +1 418-568-7306. History museum. The collection of this museum includes many works of Indigenous (First Nations and Inuit) art. This museum has a pottery workshop and a small art shop. On occasion, bread baked in the traditional bread oven can be tasted by visitors. (updated Jul 2022)
• 3 Godbout Cross (Croix de Godbout) (Located near Petit Belvédère and close to Lac du Pouvoir.). Panoramic view of Godbout Bay. It is necessary to climb about 390 steps to reach this cross which overlooks a relatively steep cliff. (updated Jul 2022)

Eat

• 1 Marché du Capitaine, 100, rue mgr Labrie (Located opposite Godbout Bay and near the Godbout-Matane ferry wharf), ☏ +1 418-568-7340, marcheducapitaine@hotmail.com. Take-out ready meals: seafood, pizza, lasagna, spaghetti sauce. Indoor dining area. Convenience store section: lottery, fishing worms, Sinto oils. (updated Jul 2022)
• 2 Cantine H.P., 119, rue St-Régis (opposite Godbout Bay and near the Godbout-Matane ferry wharf), ☏ +1 418-568-7340. Restaurant. (updated Jul 2022)

Sleep

• 1 Auberge Aux Mille Pêcher, 156, rue Pascal-Comeau (opposite Godbout Bay and near the Godbout-Matane ferry wharf), ☏ +1 418-568-7535. Inn offering seven rooms, in a distinctive decor. (updated Jul 2022)
• 2 Thépi Bec Sucré, 166, rue Pascal-Comeau (opposite Godbout Bay and near the Godbout-Matane ferry wharf), ☏ +1 418-568-7879, lartisaneduvillage@hotmail.com. Gite & unusual accommodation with sandwich bar, in a rustic and friendly decor. Authentic native art shop. Local products. (updated Jul 2022)
• 3 Gîte La Richardière, 109, rue St-Régis (near Godbout Bay and the Godbout-Matane ferry wharf), ☏ +1 418-568-7446. (updated Jul 2022)
• 4 Le Petit-Mousse, 100, rue Monseigneur-Labrie (in the village, near the Godbout river station), ☏ +1 418-568-7785. Hotel and hostel. (updated Jul 2022)
• 5 Ô Victoire d’Angéline, 121, rue Mgr Labrie, ☏ +1 418-378-7638. B & B. (updated Jul 2022)

Campings

• 6 CAMPING L'ESTUAIRE 2022 Camping l'Estuaire, 101, rue Conrad (on the north shore near the Godbout River, near an airfield), ☏ +1 418 378-8578, campinglestuaire@hotmail.com. (updated Jul 2022)
• 7 Camping municipal de Godbout, 256, rue Pascal-Comeau, ☏ +1 418-297-0911, camping@municipalitedegodbout.ca. Check-in: 11:00-20:00, check-out: 10:00. Campsite with a sanitary block with hot water, shower, toilet. Offer of lots with two services (water, electricity) or three services (water, electricity and sewer). (updated Jul 2022)

Go next

Routes through Godbout

Baie-Comeau ← Franquelin ←	W  E	→ Port-Cartier → Sept-Îles
END ←	N  S	→ → Matane