There’s a country club in the incredibly charming—and somewhat English-style—little village of North Hatley, but since we know the area a bit, we recommend going to swim at the public beach instead. You still have to buy a ticket, because that’s how the village pays for its upkeep, but to spend the afternoon lounging on one of the floating wooden decks, just a few dozen meters from the shore, it’s a small price to pay.
Lakes in Quebec are practically a religion. You can’t swim in all of them because of blue-green algae (or red, or green—in any case, toxic algae) or to preserve their precious ecosystems, and the ones where swimming is allowed are very well protected.
In North Hatley, the beach is on Lake Massawippi, and the lake water is clear and cool. There’s a bit of mud at the bottom—it is a lake, after all—but you can enter the water from the end of a concrete deck so you never have to touch the algae with your bare feet. It’s a little bit like paradise.
North Hatley, the lake, and small-town charm
The village of North Hatley is located in the Eastern Townships, near the U.S. border with Vermont, and was founded by Loyalists—mostly farmers—who left New England after the United States declared independence in 1776.
North Hatley was established in 1803, and the municipality was founded in 1897. It’s a village with very elegant architecture—large houses withwraparound porches, white or green, towering among the century-old trees. They were built by Americans (the American aristocracy, to be more precise), mainly from Virginia (West Virginia).
The village lies on the shores of Lake Massawippi, one of the deepest and most beautiful lakes in Quebec…
And if you’re really lucky, you might spot the Clintons on the terrace of Manoir Hovey. Hint: it’s when the village is mysteriously full of men in black who look way too serious, surrounded by kids eating ice cream while their flip-flops clack on the pavement leading to the beach.
It’sa bitlike *Desperate Housewives*, a bitlike *Twin Peaks*, anda bit like Quebec—and it’s this timeless spirit that may have inspiredcrime novelist Louise Pennyto create the fictional village ofThree Pines (it’s a blend of the region’s most beautiful villages, includingKnowlton, where she lives).
An afternoon at the beach
North Hatley’s public beach, rather aptly named, is called “Pleasant View” and is half pebbles, half concrete, half grass. There’s a bit of shade, but we recommend a cap or a beach umbrella—and always eco-friendly sunscreen.
You can wade right into the water, barefoot or in water shoes (Méduse shoes are all the rage this year)—and there’s supervised swimming and swimming lessons for kids.
After swimming, we recommend stopping by Casa Wippi, a “crab shack” that serves crab legs, fries, and orange soda, just a few minutes’ walk from the beach.
Practical Information
Where? Pleasant View Beach, 2070 Chemin du Lac, North Hatley, QC, J0B 2C0
When? Lifeguard hours (subject to weather conditions) /
June 20–August 16, 2026, from 10:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. (or until sunset) / August 22, 23, 29, and 30, 2026, and September 5 and 6, 2026: from 10:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m.
What? The beach is free for North Hatley residents; otherwise, you bring cash to buy a day pass.
Daily Rates
Non-members (children): $5
Non-members (adults): $10
Non-members (seniors, 65+): $8
