La Vérendrye: Canada’s Largest Canoe Camping Reserve

[Glenn MacGrady]

This Quebec gem is twice the size of Ontario's Algonquin Park and is reportedly much less crowded.

"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."

Canada’s Largest Canoe Camping Reserve Is Hidden in Plain Sight—And It’s Not Algonquin

Boasting more than 800 kilometers of maintained routes traversing rivers, reservoirs and some 4,000 scenic lakes, Réserve faunique La Vérendrye is one of

paddlingmag.com

I know several of our members have paddled in La Vérendrye, so let's hear some experiences and recommendations as well as seeing some pictures.

 

[Tryin']

Thanks for sharing, Glenn. Thats a place I've never heard of.

 

[Jmharrick]

I’m very interested in this thread, as my move next month to upstate NY brings this park much closer!

 

[Crazy Trout Craft (CTC)]

Not sure how to link my older post.. but I posted a report in 2022… La Verendrye- fulfilling a boyhood dream - if anyone is interested

 

[scratchypants]

I've posted a couple of times about the change of administration from a canoe-tripping-centric group to SEPAQ (Wikipedia link). For the experienced backcountry canoeists, this is a bit of a problem as SEPAQ sells very structured, packages/routes.

 

[Paddlinhal]

From my house in central mass, it's about the same 10 hour drive as to Allagash Village. It has a lot less visitation than Algonquin. We paddled the Chochoquan, which starts outside the reserve. As I recall, we had the place to ourselves, all the campsites were great.

 

[recped]

I've posted a couple of times about the change of administration from a canoe-tripping-centric group to SEPAQ (Wikipedia link). For the experienced backcountry canoeists, this is a bit of a problem as SEPAQ sells very structured, packages/routes.

Up until the takeover by SEPAQ the canoe aspects of La Verendrye were operated by FQCK (https://canot-kayak.qc.ca/) an organization dedicated to paddling throughout Quebec. They were great to work with as opposed to SEPAQ which is really only interested in front country camping and the fishing/motorboat crowd. In Quebec "camping" means trailers that park in the same spot for weeks and spend most of their time motoring on the reservoirs with paddlers being an afterthought with all kinds of rules that are not conducive to the back country paddling crowd.

It's an unfortunate change but still La Verendrye can be a nice place to paddle, frequently referred to as Algonquin without the crowds (once you get past the first portage). Personally I have only paddled there during the "closed" season when you can pretty much do as you please. Most of the paddling I've done there was either trips starting in the park for a day or two or ending trips that are within the park for the last day or two.

 

[Glenn MacGrady]

Not sure how to link my older post.. but I posted a report in 2022… La Verendrye- fulfilling a boyhood dream - if anyone is interested

Here is your trip report thread, CTC. You just go to the beginning of the thread, copy its URL from the address bar in your browser, and paste that URL in the reply box here (after a line space, so it will "unfurl").

La Verendrye- fulfilling a boyhood dream

As I am new to the site… I wanted to express my thanks for everyone’s input over the past months both in my endeavor to restore my ol’ Yankee and to successfully complete my first canoe camping trip that I have dreamed of for 40 years since I was eight years old. A close family member and...

www.canoetripping.net

 

[Glenn MacGrady]

I'm pretty sure @Robin and @Gerald have paddled La Vérendrye more than once, so hopefully they'll chime in when they see the thread.