L'Étape (English: The Halt) is a rest area and a campground located on route 175 at km 135, on the shores on Jacques-Cartier Lake, halfway between Québec City and Saguenay.

[1] In the heart of the Laurentides Wildlife Reserve, where about 1.7 million pass through on a yearly basis.

In 1951, the road was completed to Saguenay and the Quebec Government decided to build a hostel, a restaurant and a gas station to provide services to motorists and promote sport fishing the area.

l'Étape provides motorists with such services as a restaurant, a depanneur, a Petro-Canada gas station that offers towing and boarding for workers.

During the summer and fall season, the Sépaq's Laurentides Wildlife Reserve La Loutre registration center and campground is opened to visitors.