Since summer is going to be hot, hot, hot on the streets of Montreal, we’ll have the chance to explore the countryside and take a dip in the area’s most beautiful lakes. In Coaticook, right across from one of Quebec’s most scenic hikes, you can swim in Lake Lyster all summer long.
At Baldwin Beach, you can go kayaking (rentals available here), swim across from Mont Pinacle, play volleyball, or launch your boat.
It’s a 1-hour-and-50-minute drive from Montreal, and the road trip is almost as beautiful as the water is refreshing at Lake Lyster.
Baldwin Beach, across from Mont Pinacle
Little Baldwin Beach, on Lake Lyster, is a municipal beach with all the laid-back, nostalgic vibe of those long summers after school let out during our childhood. There’s grass, cool water, supervised swimming, and a view of little Mount Pinacle—very cute and perfectly round, just like something out of a colorful Tim Burton movie.
After (or before) a swim in the lake, we recommend:
- like hiking the 3 km up Mont Pinacle to enjoy one of the most beautiful views in the region
- …a chance to stop for ice cream at the iconic Laiterie Coaticook and visit its Dairy Museum
Practical Information
Where? Baldwin Beach, 144 Chemin des Chalets, Coaticook J1A 2S4
When? June 20–August 16, 2026 / open 7 days a week from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. / August 22–30 and September 5–7, 2026: open weekends only from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m.
What? Free admission
*Dogs are allowed on the beach, but not in the swimming area
