Boasting more than 800 kilometers of maintained routes traversing rivers, reservoirs and some 4,000 scenic lakes, Réserve faunique La Vérendrye is one of North America’s most expansive—and least crowded—canoe camping destinations. Paddlers can choose from 500 backcountry campsites and 20 established canoe camping circuits, ranging from easy two- or three-day loops to challenging routes of 10 days or more.
For backcountry travellers weary of the crowded portage trails and booked-out campsites in popular destinations like Algonquin Park, canoe camping La Vérendrye offers a blissfully quiet alternative in the beautiful boreal forest landscape. At over 12,500 square kilometers, this Quebec reserve is nearly twice the size of Algonquin Park. Whether you enjoy portage-free paddling, intimate lake-to-lake journeys or navigating rapids on a thrilling wilderness river, La Vérendrye’s diverse canoe routes offer something for every paddler.
To get started planning your canoe camping La Vérendrye adventure—known locally as canot camping La Vérendrye, from the French “canot” for canoe—here is everything you need to know about paddling in this spectacular wildlife reserve.
Where Is Réserve faunique La Vérendrye?
Réserve faunique La Vérendrye is in western Quebec, near the border with Ontario, straddling the Outaouais and Abitibi-Témiscamingue regions. The wildlife reserve’s southern entrance is a two-hour drive from Ottawa and less than three hours from Montreal. From Toronto, the southern entrance is a seven-hour drive.
Quebec Route 117—which serves as the Trans-Canada Highway northern route in the province—bisects the reserve for nearly 200 kilometers from north to south, with the towns of Val d’Or and Mont Laurier serving as gateway communities. More than 30 canoe camping access points are accessible from Route 117 with registration centers at the northern (km 453) and southern (km 275) entrances, Le Domaine (km 329) and Lac Rapide (Rapid Lake, km 358).
Best La Vérendrye Canoe Camping Routes
La Vérendrye canoe routes include lake and river travel as well as portage-free touring on two massive reservoirs, with route distances varying from 23 km to 240 km. The wildlife reserve offers 20 designated routes, or circuits, overseen by Sépaq and identified by name and route number.
The first step to planning your La Vérendrye canoe camping experience is deciding how many days you want to spend paddling and camping. Then, review the route options for that length of trip on Sépaq’s canoe-camping La Vérendrye web portal. Or choose from the suggested routes below:
Réservoir Cabonga (#25)
Duration: 2 to 15 days
Difficulty: Beginner
Portages: None
Why paddle it: Studded with countless islands and rimmed by beautiful sandy shores, sprawling Réservoir Cabonga offers endless no-portage canoeing and sea kayaking. Choose from nearly 50 campsites with options for linear or loop routes. Access to the central reservoir is from Lac-Rapide visitor centre or launch just a few kilometers from Le Domaine to explore the southern end of the lake. Be prepared for treacherous waves on windy days.
Portage-Larouche (#34)
Duration: 3 days/2 nights
Difficulty: Beginner
Portages: 6 (735 meters total)
Why paddle it: This charming 44-kilometer loop begins near the Lac-Rapide visitor centre and makes a scenic circuit of mid-sized lakes connected by peaceful streams and narrow meanders. Few motorboats along most of this route add to its tranquillity. Be sure to make camp at one of the stunning rock slab sites near the outlet of Lac Nizard.
Lac Gaotanaga (#70)
Duration: 3 days/2 nights
Difficulty: Intermediate
Portages: 3 (385 meters total)
Why paddle it: Suitable for more experienced canoe campers, this 47-kilometer route in the northwest corner of the wildlife reserve combines open-water paddling on scenic Grand Lac Victoria with swift-flowing sections of the Ottawa River. A highlight of the loop is spectacular Big Chute, where you can score a rocky campsite overlooking this hypnotic cascade. For a longer intermediate trip in the same area, try the Lac Granet – Ouatouais (#73) loop, which begins at lovely Lac Granet and explores the upper reaches of the Ottawa River (115 km, 7 days).
La Perche-Chartier (#78)
Duration: 4 days/3 nights
Difficulty: Advanced
Portages: 6 (1,680 meters total)
Why paddle it: Another fine option for more advanced canoe trippers, this 62-kilometer lollipop loop begins at Baie-Barker in the Wanaki biodiversity zone and encompasses three large lakes with beautiful scenery and clear water for exceptional swimming. Watch for the glacially formed esker on Lac Graham.
Rivière Chochocouane (#60)
Duration: 6 days/5 nights
Difficulty: Advanced/expert
Portages: 12 (1,465 meters total)
Why paddle it: The unspoiled Rivière Chochocouane is one of La Vérendrye’s premier whitewater paddling rivers. This 60-kilometer route offers numerous class I-III rapids for experienced paddlers to run, along with well-maintained portages and options to extend your trip by one or two days. A shuttle service is offered for downriver trips. Alternatively, allow 10 days for a 138-kilometer loop—the Grand Boucle Chochocouane (#63)—combining a descent of the river with upstream paddling on the Rivière Canimiti and a diverse mix of large and small lakes and streams. Expect 17 portages (3.5 km total) on this challenging circuit in the northeast reaches of the reserve.
How to Plan Canoe Camping in La Vérendrye
Whether you’re a beginner or expert canoe tripper, planning a backcountry adventure exploring La Vérendrye canoe routes is simple. Choose a river or lake circuit that suits your interests and aspirations, reserve the required number of campsites and arrange equipment rentals or shuttles if needed from Sepaq. Canoes and kayaks are available to rent on-site, and a shuttle service simplifies logistics for one-way journeys.
Permits and reservations
Canoe camping circuits in La Vérendrye must be reserved before your arrival at the park registration center. Backcountry canoe camping reservations cannot be booked online and must be made over the phone by calling Sépaq at 1-800-665-6527, or Canot-Camping La Vérendrye at 1-844-897-4980. Reservations open at the end of February for the upcoming paddling season. Registration centers are open daily from mid-May to the end of September.
Campsite reservations at Réserve faunique La Vérendrye work a bit differently than the site- or lake-specific reservations you may be familiar with from other canoe tripping destinations. Canoe campsites at La Vérendrye are reserved by circuit, or route, with limits on the number of parties on a circuit at any given time. This means you choose one of the 20 established canoe circuits based on how many nights you wish to camp, then within this route you have the freedom to sleep on any site you want.
Canoe camping sites can accommodate up to 10 people. Most sites have a pit toilet and firepit. La Vérendrye canoe camping fees are $16.25/adult/night (children under 17 are free of charge).
La Vérendrye canoe route maps
La Vérendrye canoe route maps are available to download from the Sépaq website in both printable PDF and GPX (GPS) file formats. You’ll find detailed map downloads for each of the reserve’s 20 canoe camping circuits. Each map set includes the paddling route, distances, campsites, portages and any rapids, as well as a QR code to download the map for offline use with your smartphone. Note these La Vérendrye canoe route maps are available in French only.
For general planning purposes, you can also view and download an overview map (1:225,000, French only) displaying all of the canoe camping circuits in Réserve faunique La Vérendrye here.
When to go
The best time to plan your La Vérendrye canoe camping experience is from mid-May to late September. Plan an early-season trip in May or June to witness spring wildflowers and vivid greens blooming across the lakeshores. Even better, this is prime time for viewing iconic wildlife like moose, beaver and black bear, and you’ll likely have much of the park to yourself (just be prepared for biting bugs).
If you prefer warm waters for swimming, the peak summer months of July and August are your best bet and the berry picking is superb. Late summer is also a great time if you’re looking to avoid blackfly and mosquito season. Alternatively, plan an autumn trip to catch the hardwood canopy ablaze with fall colors. The cooler days and crisp nights of September reward with bluebird skies and bug-free campsites.
Gear and canoe rentals
For visitors looking to rent equipment, lakewater and whitewater canoes and tripping barrels are available to rent from the La Vérendrye canoe camping registration centre at Le Domaine (Route 117, km 329). Canoe rental includes paddles, PFDs and safety gear; rates start at $40.50/day. Booking in advance is recommended and can be done at the same time as your camping reservation, by phone at 1-844-897-4980.
You can also book a shuttle service to drop off and pick up from the canoe camping registration center to the different routes. Shuttle bookings should be made at least four weeks before your visit, call 819-438-2017 for details or e-mail laverendryecanot@sepaq.com.
Fishing in La Vérendrye
In addition to holding a valid fishing license and following local fishing regulations, canoe campers who wish to fish during their trip must pay a daily right-of-access fee ($20/person/day). The main species in the reserve’s lakes are walleye and pike. There are also fishing and lodging packages available for folks who want to explore La Vérendrye but aren’t interested in backcountry camping.
More Amazing Places to Paddle in Abitibi-Témiscamingue
Looking for even more incredible paddling opportunities? La Vérendrye may be one of the world’s largest canoe camping destinations, but two other parks in the Abitibi-Témiscamingue region of Quebec are equally enticing. Discover outstanding canoeing and kayaking routes at Parc national d’Opémican and Parc national d’Aiguebelle.
Parc national d’Opémican
Stretching from the pine-clad cliffs of Lac Témiscamingue (Lake Temiskaming) on the Ottawa River to the vast watery labyrinth of Lac Kipawa (Lake Kipawa), Parc national d’Opémican is a hidden treasure just five hours north of Toronto or a one-hour drive from North Bay. The Laurentian Mountains provide a beautiful backdrop to a plethora of paddling possibilities, all accessible from the small village of Laniel.
Don’t worry about the details with the park’s canoe camping package, which starts at $109 a day for campsite rental and paddling gear.
Discover the region’s rich cultural history while canoeing or kayaking to peaceful backcountry campsites. Explore the islands of Lac Kipawa, follow along the spectacular cliffs of Lac Témiscamingue, or admire the magnificent scenery of Baie d’Opémican on waterways travelled by the Anishinaabeg since time immemorial.
Ideal for novice canoe campers, the park’s White Lake sector provides access to several small, interior lakes for a tranquil paddle-and-portage journey ending at Russell Bay on Lac Kipawa. In the Île-aux-Fraises sector, the challenging waters of mighty Lac Kipawa entice more experienced canoe and kayak campers to explore its deep water bays and the islands of the Opémican Archipelago. Finally, whitewater paddlers enjoy the wild and thrilling waters of the Rivière-Kipawa (Kipawa River)—the day run from Lac Kipawa to Lac Témiscamingue covers 16 kilometers with 18 rapids and a 30-meter waterfall.
Canoe, kayak and paddleboard rentals available on-site; view a map of paddling routes (French only) in Parc national d’Opémican here.
Parc national d’Aiguebelle
Nestled among the dramatic granite outcrops and verdant boreal forest of the Canadian Shield, Parc national d’Aiguebelle offers spectacular scenery and sublime canoe camping just a day’s drive from Ottawa or Toronto. Whether you are discovering canoe camping for the first time or have lost count of your nights in the backcountry, this compact park rewards paddlers with diverse wildlife, 2.7-bilion-year-old rock walls and breathtaking fault lakes set among the rugged Abijévis hills.
Canoe camping packages, including campsite and paddling gear rental, start at $108 a day.
Explore fascinating geology and dramatic cliffs on the La Haie and Sault fault lakes, which straddle the divide between the St. Lawrence and James Bay watersheds. At just eight kilometers roundtrip, these twin lakes can be explored in a day or book La Guêpe rustic hut at the head of Lac La Haie for an overnight excursion. Combine paddling with hiking the spellbinding trails that climb to the clifftops and cross the lake on a 22-meter-high suspension bridge!
From Taschereau Visitors Centre in the park’s northern sector, navigate the many islands and bays of lovely Lac Loïs. Perfect for beginner canoe and kayak campers, nine comfortably appointed campsites just three to four kilometers from your departure point are ideal places to spend a peaceful night under the stars. Canoe, kayak and paddleboard rentals and camping packages available on-site.
Still dreaming of more exploring? Learn more about the best paddling routes in the Abitibi-Témiscamingue region.
