• Those threads you like to read—someone has to start them. How about YOU! 🧵

La Vérendrye with Kid(s)—Recommendations?

Joined
Jan 11, 2022
Messages
50
Reaction score
59
Location
Massachusetts
Background: My brother and I grew up paddling and got back into tripping in 2019, doing the Allagash (from Churchill Dam), St. Croix (Me./N.B.), Bog River-Oz Traverse (Adk.), Moose River Bow (Me.), Lake Kushaqua-Seven Carries (Adk.), Raquette River (Long Lake-Tupper Lake, Adk.). Both my brother and I also have decades of experience backcountry skiing and hiking. In other words, we are comfortable in the outdoors.

My son is now eleven. He's grown up car camping, hiking, and quiet-water day paddling with my wife and I. He loves nature. He joined us on the two most recent trips, Lake Kushuaqua-Seven Carries (4.5 days, including a rain day at camp) and the Raquette River (2.5 days).

We would like to paddle the Vérendrye this summer in August and are currently looking at two loops: the five-day Petite boucle Chochoucane (#61), and the four-day Carrière (#35). We will like do two boats—both Royalex OT Penobscot 16s—with four people.

Does anyone have any comments, suggestions, cautions, and/or recommendations? Are there other similarly-lengthed trips in La Vérendrye that we should consider?
 
I did #61 yers ago with my son, it was very nice. We did it in the spring with lots of water, a friend did it in August and had issues with low water. I guess you could get info on water levels when you buy your permit. We saw 6 moose in one day. paddling upstream on Canamiti Creek was easy. https://www.canoetripping.net/threads/laverendrye-circuit-61.366/.
I also did Carriere but don’t know if it was the same route as it is now, sorry.
One route I did that I really liked was Lac Gaotanaga (#70). I extended it into Lac Cawasachouane, but #70 is a very nice https://www.canoetripping.net/threads/laverendrye-quebec-8-days-solo.587/
The area around Chute Big was very nice,
1746575966165.jpeg

1746576012128.jpeg


1746576097424.jpeg
 
I did #61 yers ago with my son, it was very nice. We did it in the spring with lots of water, a friend did it in August and had issues with low water.
Robin, your report is the one that pops up in searches, so thanks! In your opinion, is the route appropriate for an eleven-year old who has done a couple of trips before—ones that included multiple portages?
 
Yes, I would say it is fine for an 11 yo. Canamiti Creek has some fast water to paddle up at the portages, but no rapaids, just a steady current irrc. Not hard at all.
I liked the campsite on the island I mentioned, although it might be small, we only had one tent. Nice site downstream at the small falls.
 
Back
Top