Raft the West Magpie and Magpie Rivers – Paddle over 100 class III, IV, and IV+ rapids – See Giant Waterfalls and Gorges – Camp on Lake Magpie’s Sandy Shores – Travel Over 180 Kilometers (112 miles) Through Remote and Untouched Forest –Watch for Moose, Bear, Osprey, and Lynx – Fish Speckled Trout and Ouananich (landlocked Salmon) – Experience the culture of Quebec’s ‘Cote Nord’ region.
2012 Trip Dates
Sun. August 12 - Sat. August 25, 2012
Price
$3,950 Canadian dollars plus taxes
Who’s this trip for?
This trip is for anyone who has paddled whitewater before and is keen on running challenging rapids and exploring a remote and rarely travelled section of river. Participants should have some experience with wilderness camping, be in good physical condition, comfortable walking on rocks and uneven terrain, ready to spend full days on the water, and be able to swim. Ages 12 and up.
How do I join?
Step 1
Call 1-866-242-9383 or e-mail info@borealriver.com to place a reservation for the trip and pay a $500 deposit.
Step 2
Receive a confirmation e-mail with a 'Trip Packing List and Timeline' as well as a 'Guest Registration Form'.
Step 3
Pay the balance 30 days before your trip start date.
1. Small groups Maximum twelve participants per trip. (Larger groups possible for Custom Trips)
2. We take care of the details, it’s your vacation! Specialized equipment provided making your packing list simple.
Trip price includes accommodations before and after expedition and airport pickup and drop-off.
3. The most professional
From your first contact with us to your complimentary trip DVD, our service will exceed your expectations. Boreal River guides, safety standards, and equipment are the best in the industry.
Day 1: Rendezvous, welcome dinner, overnight lodging in Sept Iles. Day 2: Float Plane fly-in to West Magpie. Raft to first camp. Days 3 to 12: Rafting Descent of West Magpie, cross Lake Magpie, Rafting Descent of Magpie River. Day 12: Depart from last camp at Magpie Gorge, stop for lunch at Magpie falls, and paddle to the take out by the St. Lawrence Gulf. Overnight lodging in coastal village. Farewell Dinner. Day 14: Breakfast and airport drop-off.
Getting started - Welcome to Boreal River
Fly in an otter float plane above the boreal forest in this 30 second video.
Our trip starts in Sept Iles where your guides will greet you at the airport. Those who arrive in their own vehicle can meet at the Hotel Sept Iles. We check in to our rooms and can go for a walk around town before a welcome dinner at a local restaurant. Guides will go over packing tips as well as the plan for the days ahead.
After breakfast the following morning, a short drive takes us to the float plane docks. The flight to the river is one of the highlights of every trip. We get spectacular views and the great sensation of leaving civilization far behind. Flying inland, the terrain steepens as we pass over mountains, rivers, and lakes. The hour-long flight takes us to the upper reaches of the West Magpie. Here, untouched wilderness stretches for vast distances in every direction. In this northern Boreal Forest – where spruce and lark trees alternate with open hillsides of shrubs and berry bushes – moose, black bear, and woodlands caribou can wander for their lifetimes without ever encountering a road or a person.
Waving goodbye to our pilot, we ready our rafts and start downstream. The river narrows as we approach our first rapid. Today we will get a taste of the excitement to come as we scout and run two class IV’s before pulling off to make camp and settle in for our first night under the stars.
On the River & Rapids The Magpie West offers some of the best expedition rafting in the world with stunning scenery and continuous white water. Before running any rapids we review safety instructions and practice paddling techniques. We use 14-foot paddle rafts that can fit up to six people plus a guide. Safety kayakers lead the way. Our equipment and food is carried in ‘gear rafts’ that are steered by a guide using long oars.
Over the following days the river drops though numerous rapids. Many are straight forward and we can charge right through them while others require careful scouting and precision. At several spots we line our rafts, using ropes to guide them while walking around on shore.
So few people have paddled through here that most of the rapids are still unnamed…something we can work on as we relax in the evening recounting the day’s adventures.
The last obstacle of the Magpie West is an unrunnable slot canyon that we portage our equipment around. Along the 600 metre trail, we see that the forest has changed as we have moved south and dropped in elevation. The evergreens are bigger and joined by some broadleaf trees. The floor is covered in thick moss and multi-coloured mushrooms. We camp below the canyon before paddling into the lake, marking the next stage of our journey.
We paddle into the open space of Lake Magpie which is ringed by high bluffs and cliffs. It looks a bit like an ocean fjord though we are still a long way from the sea. If we have tail winds we can sail down the lake and if not we use an electric motor to cruise along, soaking in the landscape and letting our muscles rest. We camp on a large beach and settle in to watch the sunset while listening to the call of loons from distant bays. The following day we continue on, reaching the outflow of the Magpie River before lunch.
We now start into this section’s many rapids. We spend three or four nights along this classic stretch and we will try to have a lay-over day at one of the camps. The second to last day on the water brings us through the last class IV’s of the trip -- Double Drop, Trust Falls, and Borealis – before arriving at the impressive Magpie Gorge. Our incredible camp sits high on a canyon rim overlooking three thundering rapids.
Camp Life Over the course of the trip we camp at a variety of sites, like beaches or rock slabs by big rapids. Everybody pitches their tents and the guides set up a kitchen area and prepare appetizers. People can relax with a book or take photos, go fishing, or chat by the campfire.
Meals are always delicious, plentiful, and made with high quality and fresh Quebec ingredients. We cook sauces on a stove, grill meats and fish over open fire, and use a Dutch oven to bake desserts. Snacks are always available.
The pace of the West Magpie Expedition is faster then that of our other Boreal River trips. We wake up and break down camp early to give ourselves lots of time on the water. Some days we will be on the river until late afternoon. However, while we won’t have many hours of downtime every day, there will still be opportunities to relax and to explore the forest. We can take side hikes to get views from up high, learn about local plants, and look for wildlife and their tracks.
Fishing spots along the rapids are terrific. Anglers will enjoy fishing for Speckled Trout, Ounanich, Pike, and Lake Trout. Guides will teach those who are newer to fishing and fly fishing and who want to try it out.
We very likely won’t see any other people over the course of our trip. By our tenth and final night in the wilderness we will be a close knit group, used to living outdoors. Often people feel like they want to just keep going with the simple river life. As the realization that things are coming to an end sets in, plans begin to emerge for our next adventures.
Saying Goodbye
On the morning of our last river day, most of our equipment is flown out from above the gorge and we continue downstream with only our paddle rafts and personal drybags. We reach Magpie Falls for lunch. We can revel in the mist of the beautiful 90 foot falls, a perfect ending for our trip. We paddle around a few more corners and arrive at our pick up spot on the coastal highway.
A twenty minute drive brings us to our hotel in the seaside village of Riviere Au Tonnerre. The picturesque and friendly ‘Cote Nord’ (North Shore) settlement, once a cod and crab fishing centre, is the perfect place to ease back into civilization. After a farewell dinner and good night’s sleep, we drive to Sept Iles in the morning to see everyone off.
Click any photograph for a larger version. You can navigate between the larger version of the photographs using the arrow keys on your keyboard or the buttons on the top left corner of each large image.
Experienced Kayakers & Canoeists
The West Magpie and Magpie Rivers are an intermediate/advanced boater’s paradise featuring many class II, III, IV, and IV+ rapids with numerous runnable lines and tons of surf waves.
While friends or family paddle close by in the rafts, you can kayak or canoe with a guide. The Magpie is similar in nature to the Quebec’s Gatineau, California’s Cal-Salmon, and West Virginia’s Lower Gauley while the West Magpie is more intense then any of those rivers and kayakers and canoeists should be prepared to walk several rapids that are above their skill level and who’s consequences are not worth the risk, given the remoteness of the run.
Boaters considering this option are required to have a solid whitewater roll and to have experience with both big and technical water.
Bring your own boat or choose from one of ours:
Kayaks
Dagger Nomad 8.5
Dagger RPM Max
Wavesport Big EZ
Wavesport Diesel 65
Wavesport Diesel 75
Canoes
Mad River Outrage
Mad River Outrage X
We will provide you with a boat and a straightshaft 197cm paddle. Please indicate your boat choice from the above options with your reservation to insure its availability.
You need to provide your sprayskirt and we recommend that you bring your own pfd, helmet, paddling top, and paddle for comfort and familiarity.
Packing List
The Magpie typically has great weather in August with warm sunny days and cool starry nights. The river is fairly warm and full wetsuits or drysuits are not necessary.
We will, however, be relatively far north and any combination of strange weather can occur. We carry a full set of ‘river clothes’ as well as ‘camp clothes’. It is best to dress in layers.
The first layer is a ‘wicking layer’ of thin material that sends moisture away from our body. Next are some thicker synthetic (fleece) or wool “insulating layers” and lastly is an outer layer that provides a barrier from wind and water.
Cotton garments should be avoided as they dry very slowly and steal body heat when wet. Please follow the packing list closely and let us know if you have any questions.
Equipment that we will provide for you:
- A giant drybag in which to keep all of your personal items.
- A smaller drybag that will be accessible during the day in which you can keep your rainwear, sunscreen, etc.
- An expedition tent. Shared for couples, individuals will get their own.
- An inflatable mattress
- A cozy sleeping bag
- A sleeping bag liner
- A pillow and pillow case
- Whitewater helmet and flotation device
- Wind and waterproof ‘splash’ jacket
Your Packing List
River Clothing:
- 1 pair of shoes for the river. The ideal river shoe is lightweight and draining yet supportive enough for walking on portages and scouting rapids, with a grippy sole. These can be lightweight running shoes, water shoes with a supportive sole, or sturdy sandals with toe covering.
- 2 pair of thermal socks for the river. Wool, fleece, or synthetic.
- bathing suit / surf shorts
- lightweight synthetic t-shirt
- top and bottom medium-weight long underwear.
- longsleeve neoprene ‘surf’ top or longsleeve medium-weight fleece top
- thick fleece sweater
- thick fleece pants
For Camp:
- 1 pair of shoes
- 3 or 4 pairs of thermal socks
- undergarments
- lightweight t-shirt
- lightweight long-sleeve shirt
- lightweight ‘quick dry’ long pants
- thick fleece or wool sweater
- thick fleece pants
- top and bottom medium-weight synthetic or wool long underwear
- rain gear top and bottom
- toque (wool or fleece winter hat)
- sun hat
- small quick-dry towel
- small flashlight or headlamp with extra batteries
- sunscreen, lip protection, and insect repellent
- water bottle, 1 litre
- sunglasses with strap
- prescription glasses with strap if necessary
- toiletry kit with biodegradable soap and shampoo as well as personal medications
- optional: reading material, journal, binoculars, camera (waterproof or with waterproof case)
- optional: fishing rod with tackle and hard carrying case. We provide basic equipment but experienced anglers will enjoy using their own specialized gear
General:
- some clothes for the trip home
- travel documents (passport) and medical insurance cards or policies.
Traveling by Air
Arrival rendezvous: Sept-Iles Airport, Sept-Iles, Quebec. Flight arrival prior to 7pm Day 1. Look for your Boreal River guide holding a paddle.
Departure point: Sept-Iles Airport, Sept-Iles, Quebec. Flight departures from 9:30am, Day 13.
Air Canada, Provincial Airlines, and Air Labrador offer daily flights to Sept-Iles connecting through Montreal and Quebec City.
Note: Trip participants traveling from overseas, Western Provinces and States will likely need to plan for a night in either Montreal or Quebec City in order to make it to Sept-Iles for the 7pm rendezvous time. Our reservation specialists would be happy to help you with hotel and activity recommendations for stopover destinations.
Traveling by Automobile
Arrival rendezvous: Hotel Sept Iles, Sept Iles, Quebec. Arrive by 7 pm of Day 1.
Departure point: Hotel Sept Iles, Sept Iles, Quebec. Day 13.
Driving to Quebec’s North Shore makes for an excellent road trip. We highly recommend allowing ample time to rest and enjoy the many sights en route. Expect about 11 hours of driving time from Quebec City to our hotel rendezvous point in Sept Iles. From Quebec City there are two route options:
1) Via Tadoussac
Follow Hwy 40 East to St. Anne-de-Beaupre. Continue on Hwy 138 East all the way to our rendezvous point. There is a short free ferry that crosses the Saguenay River from Baie-St-Catherine to Tadoussac. It runs hourly 24 hours a day. *Note- This is the more scenic route. The hourly ferry allows for crossing at any time. The historic village of Tadoussac perched on the Saguenay fjords, is an excellent choice for an overnight stay. From Tadoussac it is approximately 7 hours to our rendezvous point.
2) Via Matane
Follow Hwy 20 East to Matane where you will board the Matane - Godbout or Matane - Baie-Comeau ferry. Once you have crossed the river, follow Hwy 138 East to Sept Iles. *Note- this route is slightly faster, following major highways. However, you must co-ordinate your schedule with the ferry as it only crosses up to twice per day and space can be limited.
Matane Ferry Reservations- 1-877-562-6560.
Greyhound buses travel daily to Sept-Iles
Arrival rendezvous: Schedule your pickup at any Sept-Iles location for prior to 7pm, Day 1. Look for your Boreal River guide holding a paddle.
Departure point: Schedule your drop-off at any Sept-Iles location from 9am onwards, Day 13.
Train/Boat
For those with extra time available, an adventurous and perhaps the most eco-friendly route is to take a passenger train to the town of Rimouski followed by the weekly boat Relais Nordik* to Sept-Iles. Reservations for the boat must be made well in advance, as it is a weekly boat you will need to plan for extra days around Sept-Iles before and after your trip.
*This ship then continues to the remote lower North Shore, for a six night round trip voyage, carrying supplies to some of the most isolated villages in Quebec as well as providing sleeping berths and meals for passengers.
Where do we meet?
Flying - Airport, Sept Iles, Quebec (Airport code YZV)
Driving - Hotel Sept Iles, Sept Iles, Quebec
What is the meeting time?
Day 1 before 7pm. Guides will meet you upon your scheduled arrival.
When is the trip over?
Day 13 after breakfast. Schedule return flights for 9:30am or later.
What’s included?
- All ground transportation and float plane flights from meeting points onwards.
- All accommodations for twelve nights. (two nights shared hotel room, ten nights individual tent).
- All delicious food from day two breakfast through day thirteen breakfast.
- Local (Quebec and Ontario) and international wine and beer tastings on several evenings at camp.
- High quality camping equipment: large drybag, expedition tent, inflatable mattress, sleeping bag and sleeping bag liner, pillow with pillow case.
- River equipment including personal flotation device, helmet, and paddling jacket and pants.
- Basic fishing equipment.
- Professional guide staff always available.
What’s not included?
- Airfare or ground transportation to and from trip meeting points.
- Personal items. See packing list.
- Day 1 dinner at restaurant in town.
- Alcoholic beverages (we do include some wine, spirits, and beer but if you would like something special or extra, bring it and we will pack it along).
-Quebec fishing permit (can be purchased at local convenience store before float plane flight).
- Travel and medical insurance.
- Optional guide gratuities.
What type of experience do I need?
To join the West Magpie Expedition you should have tried whitewater rafting before and have some experience with wilderness camping.
What type of physical condition should I be in?
Expect six to nine hours of activity per day. You should be comfortable walking on rocks and uneven terrain, ready to spend full days on the water, and be able to swim.
What kind of insurance do I need?
Participants on Boreal River trips need to have appropriate Medical Evacuation insurance as any emergency evacuation costs will be billed to the injured person. Medical insurance should cover emergency air evacuation from the river to a local hospital, medical treatment within Canada, and repatriation to a medical care facility in your home region.
We also strongly recommend obtaining Trip Cancellation insurance, which will reimburse you for the unused portion of your Boreal River trip if you must cancel prior to departure or leave your trip early due to illness, accident, or family emergency.
If you have insurance coverage from a credit card or an existing plan, please make sure that it will cover you for the aforementioned emergency situations and that you are covered while participating in whitewater activities and remote wilderness travel.
For an insurance package that will cover you for the specific situations encountered on our trips, we recommend contacting: TIC Travel Insurance Coordinators Ltd. http://www.travelinsurance.ca/index.php or 1-800-379-9628.
I am an experienced kayaker/canoeist. Can I paddle the whole river in my own boat?
Yes. If you are a confident class IV kayaker or canoeist you will love this river. A kayak guide will lead the way down every rapid. See Kayak/Canoe option tab at the top of this page for more information.
Who will my guides be?
Your guides are professionals who have years of whitewater experience, and are excellent instructors, talented chefs and knowledgeable about the area. They love their jobs and want to share their passion for the river with you. Visit the about us page for more information about our guides.
Besides rafting and kayaking, what other guided activities can I do?
Fishing, side hikes, photography, forest interpretation and looking for edible plants. Those interested in expedition cooking learn how to bake delicious Dutch Oven desserts.
How much ‘downtime’ per day to relax, pursue other activities, and fish?
The West Magpie Expedition has a faster pace than our other trips. On some days there won’t be much time at camp before supper. Over the course of the trip however, we will definitely have downtime and guides will try to work in a rest day if the schedule permits. Keen anglers can always fish in the early morning and at dusk.
How is the fishing?
Excellent. This area is very rarely visited let alone fished. The river is clean as can be and the Speckled Trout populations are very healthy. You can also catch Pike, Ounaniche (Landlocked Salmon), and Lake Trout.
Will we eat well?
Meals are plentiful, delicious, wholesome, and freshly prepared. Snacks are always available. Our guides love to cook and eat well. Please see the trip description for more on our great meals.
How do we go to the bathroom while on the trip?
We carry a portable toilet that is set up at each camp, usually with a great view.
Regional Info
The Magpie River flows through the heart of the expansive ‘Cote-Nord’ or North Shore region of Quebec. This zone follows the St-Lawrence from the Saguenay Fjord to Labrador. Along the rugged coastline, river after river - all wild Atlantic Salmon runs - bring freshwater to sea. These rich estuaries are feeding grounds for whales, seals, dolphins, and colonies of puffins. Inland, on the glaciated rock shield, vast stretches of Boreal forest extend into Quebec’s central mountains and to the tundra. This is one of the three biggest areas of intact forest in the world. It is home to common Canadian animals -- black bear, moose, beaver, loons -- and rare and endangered ones like lynx and woodland caribou.
The earliest human inhabitants of this area arrived eight thousand years ago. For the last two thousand years it has been the home of the Innu or Montagnaise people, who used to live as nomadic hunters. The first Europeans appeared on Viking and Basque fishing fleets. Then, the French settled in fishing villages along the coast.
Visit a Souvenir shop in Sheldrake, Quebec
Today, the region is on the frontier of ‘development’. Highway 138 connects the villages and few roads extend inland. With the collapse of the Atlantic fisheries, the main industries are now mining and aluminum processing (in the biggest town of Sept Iles). Construction of the Romaine River hydroelectric dams began in the summer of 2009. The controversial $8 billion dollar development is currently the biggest infrastructure project in Canada. Other potential imminent projects are the extension of the road past Natashquan into the ‘Basse-Cote-Nord’ or Lower North Shore -- where tiny villages, some French, some Innu, some English, are currently only accessible by a weekly supply boat or snowmobile in the winter -- and massive hydroelectric projects for the Magpie, Little Mecatina, Manicouagan, and Saint Marguerite Rivers.
Local people have mixed feelings toward these projects. Many are supportive and look forward to the short term economic gains while others are concerned about such large scale intrusions into the region’s pristine wilderness areas and the accompanying environmental and social repercussions. The four main Innu communities along the coast have signed settlements with Hydro Quebec and the government agreeing to the Romaine project but many of them are concerned about their loss of traditional hunting lands and the effects on the wildlife and fish that form an important part of their diet. The Innu of Uashat Mani-Utenam, near Sept Iles are presently waging a legal battle in Quebec’s Superior Court for a permanent injunction to stop the construction of the Romaine Project. They, along with environmental groups, are demanding that the environmental assessment be redone in order to include the thousands of kilometers of transmission lines that were not considered in the first assessment and that will criss-cross their traditional territory.
Some regional activities
- A road trip to Natashquan, the end of the Highway, only connected to the rest of Quebec since 1996. Jumping off point for boat or snowmobile trips to the Lower North Shore.
- Sea kayaking or boat trips to the islands of Mingan Archipelago National Park to see monoliths (rock statues carved by the tides) and marine wildlife.
- Slow down and absorb the relaxed seaside charm of Riviere-Au-Tonnerre, Sheldrake, and Magpie.
- Whale watching in Tadoussac, the historic town at the confluence of the Saguenay Fjord and the St. Lawrence Seaway.
- Visit Anticosti island for spectacular canyons, cliffs, and salmon fishing.
The Magpie West offers some of the best expedition rafting in the world with stunning scenery and continuous white water. Before running any rapids we review safety instructions and practice paddling techniques. We use 14-foot paddle rafts that can fit up to six people plus a guide. Safety kayakers lead the way. Our equipment and food is carried in ‘gear rafts’ that are steered by a guide using long oars. 
Over the course of the trip we camp at a variety of sites, like beaches or rock slabs by big rapids. Everybody pitches their tents and the guides set up a kitchen area and prepare appetizers. People can relax with a book or take photos, go fishing, or chat by the campfire. 
The West Magpie and Magpie Rivers are an intermediate/advanced boater’s paradise featuring many class II, III, IV, and IV+ rapids with numerous runnable lines and tons of surf waves.
Today, the region is on the frontier of ‘development’. Highway 138 connects the villages and few roads extend inland. With the collapse of the Atlantic fisheries, the main industries are now mining and aluminum processing (in the biggest town of Sept Iles). Construction of the Romaine River hydroelectric dams began in the summer of 2009. The controversial $8 billion dollar development is currently the biggest infrastructure project in Canada. Other potential imminent projects are the extension of the road past Natashquan into the ‘Basse-Cote-Nord’ or Lower North Shore -- where tiny villages, some French, some Innu, some English, are currently only accessible by a weekly supply boat or snowmobile in the winter -- and massive hydroelectric projects for the Magpie, Little Mecatina, Manicouagan, and Saint Marguerite Rivers.