Market
Bowman Farmers' Market
BowmanSaturdays 9 a.m. to noon, June to late AugustLittle market huts in Parc du Centenaire, local growers, a booth of Outaouais products and a covered games corner for kids. Each Saturday…
Town · MRC de Papineau
Bowman
The Lièvre on one side, Poisson Blanc Lake on the other, Route 307 down the middle.
- Population
- 746 (2026)
- Area
- 165.14 km²
- Founded
- 1913 (canton détaché de Bowman-et-Villeneuve)
- Town hall
- 214, route 307, Bowman (Québec) J0X 3C0 · 819 454-2421
Bowman is the far northwest corner of the MRC. The Lièvre River runs along its whole eastern edge, widening into the Escalier reservoir to the southeast, and the south end of Lac du Poisson Blanc is inside its borders. The township is named after Baxter Bowman, a businessman, and dates from 1913.
For visitors, the big draw is the Parc régional de la Forêt Bowman: 680 hectares of cliffs, lakes and old forest, 9 km of trails and more than 40 climbing routes. It's open all year. In summer the campgrounds along the 307 fill up and boats go in at Poisson Blanc.
For people who live here, the weekly meet-up is the Saturday market at Parc du Centenaire, June to early September. Winter has a torchlight hike. The rest is hunting, fishing and the woods.
Good to know
- Town hall: 214, route 307.
- Route 307 is the main road through the village.
- Lièvre River, Escalier reservoir, Lac du Poisson Blanc (boat launch and residents' dock).
- Forêt Bowman regional park: entrance at the pavilion on chemin du Lac-du-Brochet.
- Public market every Saturday, June to early September, at Parc du Centenaire.
- Air-Eau-Bois outdoor centre and access to the Parc régional du Poisson Blanc.
Events in Bowman
Market
Bowman Christmas Market
BowmanLate November, a Saturday · 2026 dates to be announcedThe farmers' market huts come back out for Christmas in Parc du Centenaire: local products and a village feel.
Outdoors
Bowman Forest Torchlight Walk
BowmanA Saturday evening in late February · 2027 dates to be announcedA walk by torchlight to the Cèdre shelter, with a bonfire waiting at the end. 2026 was the 8th year. Simple, pretty, and fine for kids.
Community
Easter Egg Market
BowmanWeekend before Easter, 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. · 2027 dates to be announcedA big outdoor egg hunt in the woods, with draws and chocolate to win. A good excuse to get the kids out in the forest in spring.
Holiday
Saint-Jean in Bowman
BowmanJune 23 or 24 · 2027 dates to be announcedBowman marks the Fête nationale with a village party; 2026 included a country night.
Places in Bowman
Groceries, bakeries & butchers 2
IllustrationGrocery
Dépanneur Bowman
Gas, craft beer, wine and local products, including meats like wild boar and bison. Open seven days.
IllustrationMarket
Marché public de Bowman
A summer market in Parc du Centenaire with Outaouais producers and stuff for the kids.
Where to stay 8
Illustration
Illustration
IllustrationCampground
Camping Thom
Campground and RV park on Route 307 with power, water and sewer. Mid-May to mid-September.
IllustrationLodging
Bliss Cottage
Waterfront cottage with a hot tub, beach and kayak, about fifty minutes from Gatineau.
IllustrationLodging
Chalet Formidable au bord du lac navigable
A cottage right on the Escalier reservoir, with lake access for swimming and fishing.
Illustration
IllustrationOutfitter
Pourvoirie Chevreuil Blanc
Twenty-six lakes on 42 km² of exclusive territory, across the Lièvre. Trout in summer, deer in the fall, under an hour from Gatineau.
IllustrationOutfitter
Pourvoirie de la Lièvre
Cabins on the Lièvre with a boat ramp and game storage. Walleye, pike and bass in the river, and dogs are welcome at no charge.
Outdoors 2
IllustrationPark
Base de plein air Air-Eau-Bois
An all-in outdoor centre on the Poisson Blanc reservoir since 1972. Go for the day or stay the week.
IllustrationPark
Parc régional de la Forêt Bowman
Cliffs, old forest and a loop called Panorama that looks out over the Lièvre and four lakes. Climbers come for the wall. In February there's a…
Lakes, beaches & marinas 3
Illustration
IllustrationBoat launch
Quai et descente de bateaux de la route 307
Dock and launch along Route 307 on the Bowman side.
IllustrationBoat launch
Rampe de mise à l'eau du lac du Poisson Blanc
Bowman's way onto the Poisson Blanc reservoir: a ramp, a dock, and the whole regional park's water in front of you.
Services 4
IllustrationService
École d'escalade de l'Outaouais
Instructors who take you climbing on real rock, at Bowman or Notre-Dame-de-Bonsecours, whether you've climbed before or not.
Illustration
IllustrationService
Municipalité de Bowman
The municipal office sits on Route 307. Closed Fridays, and it closes a bit earlier on Thursdays.
IllustrationGroups & organizations
Health & support · Val-des-Bois
La Mie du Partage food bank
The food bank for Val-des-Bois and Bowman, run entirely by volunteers. Emergency food help, community kitchens, a Christmas 'Magasin-Partage' and an annual food drive.
Arts & culture · Val-des-Bois
Val-des-Bois and Bowman Arts and Culture Movement
MAC organizes and backs arts and culture in Val-des-Bois and Bowman, and puts local artists and artisans in front of people. Anyone who supports its mission can join.
Community · Val-des-Bois
Val-des-Bois and Bowman Women's Circle (Cercle de Fermières)
Going since 1938, this circle has about forty active members doing textile crafts, cooking and helping out. They run the Christmas bazaar and the bingo at the country festival, and give handmade pieces to seniors and the sick.
Every Thursday, daytime
Volunteering & mutual aid · Val-des-Bois
Knights of Columbus Council 6045
Knights of Columbus Council 6045 for Val-des-Bois and Bowman, a Catholic fraternal group focused on charity and helping out locally.
Seniors · Val-des-Bois
Les Bons Copains Golden Age Club
Val-des-Bois's 50-plus club. Military whist on Tuesday afternoons from September to May; in summer, Tuesday morning games (pétanque, mini-golf, horseshoes, bean bags) and a picnic in August.
Tuesdays 1 to 4 p.m. (Sept. to May); Tuesdays 10 to 11:30 a.m. (June to Aug.)
Volunteering & mutual aid · Val-des-Bois
Val-des-Bois/Bowman Volunteer Firefighters' Association
Every firefighter on the brigade belongs to it, and they show up at community events in both towns. A good chance to go say hi.
Community · Val-des-Bois
Val-des-Bois/Bowman Recreation Committee
The recreation committee shared by the two villages, listed in Bowman's directory of groups.
Sports & recreation · Bowman
Bowman/Val-des-Bois Hunting and Fishing Club
The hunting and fishing club for Bowman and Val-des-Bois, listed in Bowman's community directory.
Community · Bowman
Bowman/Val-des-Bois Country Festival
The group behind the two villages' country music festival. The local Cercle de Fermières runs its yearly bingo there.
Youth · Bowman
La Voix des Parents (parents' group)
A parents' group listed in the Bowman and Val-des-Bois community directory.
Sports & recreation · Val-des-Bois
Club Chasse et Pêche de Val-des-Bois/Bowman
The hunting and fishing club for the Lièvre side of the MRC. It runs youth fishing intro days and an ice-fishing day open to everyone. Reach the club through the Val-des-Bois town office.
Magazine
Where to stay in La Petite-Nation, from inns to teepees
A log château, an 1898 Victorian full of artists, an old post office, teepees next to the wolves. Our rundown of the ways to spend the night out here.
Winter in La Petite-Nation, from cross-country skis to snowmobiles
Free ski trails behind the high school, 40 km groomed by volunteers for $15, hundreds of kilometres of snowmobile and ATV trail. Your winter guide, club by club.
Christmas markets and holiday events in La Petite-Nation
A parade of lit-up tractors, a pine forest full of lights in Ripon, Montebello's European-style market and turkey bingo. Our guide to November and December.
Nearby: Val-des-Bois · Notre-Dame-de-la-Salette · Mulgrave-et-Derry · Mayo · Montpellier