This lake which is located in a forest and mountainous area, in the eastern part of Grands-Jardins National Park.

This mountain lake is entirely located in an area where forestry has always been the predominant economic activity; recreational tourism, second.

Due to the altitude, this lake is normally frozen from the beginning of December to the end of April; however, the safe period for traffic on the ice is usually from mid-December to mid-April.

Étang Malbaie is mainly fed by the outlet (coming from the north) of the Petite rivière Malbaie, the outlet of Lac de la Galette and Lac Rameau, as well as an unidentified stream.

The toponym “Étang Malbaie” was formalized on June 6, 1973, at the Place Names Bank of the Commission de toponymie du Québec.