Join us as we paddle, play and float our way down the majestic Magpie River. We fly in by float plane and camp at the water’s edge, exploring virgin Boreal forest and whitewater canyons. Days are filled with action, evenings comfortable and relaxed. Connect with nature.
2011 Trip Dates
Sun. August 7 - Sun. August 14, 2011
Price
$2,495 Canadian Dollars plus taxes
Who’s this trip for?
This trip is for anyone ages 12 and up who is physically active. No previous whitewater or wilderness camping experience is necessary. Swimming ability is recommended.
.PDF Download
Download our complete trip information packet with trip details, packing lists and more. Click here to download
How do I join?
Call our reservations specialist toll free (866) 242-9383 to book your trip.
Video Preview of the Magpie River Adventure
Why join the Magpie River Adventure?
1. Small groups Maximum ten 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 Coastal Village. Day 2: Float Plane fly-in to Lake Magpie. Raft to first camp. Days 3 to 6: Descend and explore the Magpie. Camp by the river, each night at unique and beautiful spots. Day 7: Paddle from spectacular Magpie Falls to the take out by the St. Lawrence Gulf. Overnight lodging in coastal village. Farewell Dinner. Day 8: Breakfast and airport drop-off.
Getting started - Welcome to Boreal River
Our adventure begins with introductions and a glimpse of the land and culture of Quebec’s North Shore region. Boreal River guides greet you at the airport in Sept-Iles. The hour and a half drive to the town of Riviere-au-Tonnerre takes us along rugged shoreline and over hills blanketed with black spruce Boreal forest. We settle in to our comfortable lodgings and can walk through the charming village or down to the Gulf to look for whales. Tonight we enjoy a welcome dinner, go over the plan for the coming days along with some packing tips, and get to know our guides for the week ahead.
The following morning we get an early start, driving to a lake about an hour further east down the coastal highway. Excitement mounting, we weigh in and board a Twin Otter, the classic Canadian float plane. For our 30 minute flight, views are of endless forest, hilltop ponds, and rivers in every direction.
Landing on Lake Magpie, we wave goodbye to our pilot and rig our boats on a small rocky beach. It is a great feeling as the plane flies away, leaving us alone on a massive lake surrounded by mountains and immense wilderness with no other humans for miles around.
The River and Rapids
Over the next six days we descend the Magpie river running numerous rapids. We switch between crafts to maximize fun, using guided six-person paddle rafts for class 3+ and class 4 drops and solo inflatable kayaks for class 1 to 3 rapids. Guides give thorough safety briefings and paddling instruction, making sure that everyone is comfortable on the river.
In the rafts we paddle as a team, improving our technique and co-ordination and building confidence. Towards the end of the trip we are ready for the three hardest rapids, Double Drop, Trust Falls, and Borealis.
The inflatable kayaks are stable and easy to maneuver, allowing people to confidently steer their boat through whitewater in no time at all. Guides lead the way in safety kayaks and are always nearby. Of course, all rapids are ‘challenge by choice’ and at any time guests can opt to ride in the guided rafts or to walk around.
Several unrunnable rapids occur as the water travels from source to sea. We can ‘line’ (guide our boats with ropes from shore) or do short portages to get around these. The guides handle the rafts and equipment packs and everyone takes part in carrying drybags. Standing in the mist and blowing wind of falling water, the effort of portaging feels well worth it as we appreciate the power of these thundering falls.
The scenery is ever changing throughout our trip. Trees grow in stature as we descend the river. Calm sections allow us to gaze at giant cliffs and adjoining rivers tumbling off of the hilltops. The many beaches can be scanned for tracks of moose, wolves, lynx, and bear and the treetops searched for Osprey nests, the fishing birds of prey that circle high above. So seldom are people here that the curious and cautious animal inhabitants watch us from afar.
Camping in comfort: Each camp has its own character and allows us different vantage points of the river valley. We set up tents on beaches and flat rock ledges and collect driftwood for a fire. Guides prepare ‘happy hour’ and you can change into dry clothes, relax with a book, take a swim, or go fishing.
Experienced anglers will rejoice in the quality of speckled (brook) trout fishing in the evenings and early mornings. We also bring along several fly fishing rods and guides will teach those interested how to flycast.
Meals are delicious, wholesome, and plentiful. We cook sauces on a stove, grill meats and vegetables over open fire, and bake desserts in a dutch oven. We use as many fresh, locally bought ingredients as possible: produce from a greenhouse near Sept-Iles, organic Quebec farmed cheeses and meats, and wild caught seafood from Matane and Havre-St-Pierre. Some imported items still make it in...we have a soft spot for wines from the world over.
Evenings are relaxed with a crackling fire and a pot of fresh picked Labrador Tea as we settle in for nights under the starry northern sky. August is the time for meteor showers and if we’re lucky, dazzling displays of Northern Lights.
A remarkable send-off. On our fifth afternoon, after a fantastic day of whitewater and scenery, we arrive at Magpie Gorge. Our camp overlooks the first of five remarkable drops where the whole river gets channeled into a narrow gap. In the morning the majority of our equipment gets flown out from this point and we are able to continue ‘lightweight’ for a final day of exploration. We walk around the gorge on a forest path and a short paddle takes us to the stunning fifty meter Magpie falls. Another beautiful mossy trail arrives at a breathtaking lunch spot amongst giant water-sculpted boulders at the edge of the drop.
As we float away from the falls we relish in our final afternoon on the river. Before long (just a twenty minute drive from the river take-out), we’ve returned to the charming village of Riviere-Au-Tonnerre, the perfect spot to ease our way back to civilization with a farewell dinner and the recounting of stories from our incredible week.
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 Magpie is an advanced/intermediate boater’s paradise: many class II, III 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.
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
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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
.PDF Download
Download our complete trip information packet with trip details, packing lists and more. Click here to download
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 5:30pm, 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 8.
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 5:30pm 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 Chez Marjo, Riviere-au-Tonnerre, Quebec. Arrive by 5:30 pm, Day 1.
Departure point: Hotel Chez Marjo, Riviere-au-Tonnerre, Quebec. Day 8.
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 12 hours of driving time from Quebec City to our hotel rendezvous point in Riviere-au-Tonerre. 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.
Return to top 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 8.
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.
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FAQ's
Where do we meet?
Flying - Airport, Sept Iles, Quebec (Airport code YZV)
Driving - Hotel ‘Gite Chez Marjo’, Riviere-Au-Tonnerre, Quebec
What is the meeting time?
Day 1 before 5:30pm. Guides will meet you upon your scheduled arrival.
When is the trip over?
Day 8 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 seven nights. (two nights shared hotel room, five nights individual tent).
- All delicious food from day one dinner through day eight breakfast.
- Some wine and spirits for 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 splash jacket.
- 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.
- Alcoholic beverages for evenings in Riviere-Au-Tonnerre (nights one and seven).
- Travel and medical insurance.
- Quebec fishing permit (can be purchased at local convenience store before float plane flight)
- Optional guide gratuities.
What type of experience do I need?
No whitewater experience necessary. This trip is the perfect introduction to river travel. However, experienced paddlers will be satisfied with the quality and challenge of numerous class 3 and 4 rapids.
What type of physical condition should I be in?
Expect five to seven hours of guided adventure activity per day. You need to be comfortable walking on uneven terrain. Swimming ability recommended.
What kind of insurance do I need?
Participants on Boreal River trips need to have 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 above mentioned emergency situations and that you are covered while participating in whitewater activities and remote wilderness travel.
If you are looking for an insurance package for Medical Evacuation, Trip Cancellation, or both, we recommend calling Master Travel at 1-888-567-3534. They are based in Alberta and can provide Canadians or travelers from any country with appropriate insurance for our trips as well as coverage for any travel that you are planning before or after your visit with Boreal River. For more information about the coverage or if you would like a price quote, give them a call and they will be happy to answer any questions.
I am an experienced kayaker/canoeist. Can I paddle the whole river in my own boat?
Yes. If you are a confident class 3/4 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, short side hikes, photography, forest interpretation and looking for edible plants. We can also show you how to bake the perfect dutch oven cake!
How much ‘downtime’ per day to fish and pursue other activities?
You can expect on average 2 - 3 hours per day in the late afternoon to pursue these activities. Or just relax with a book and a glass of wine or cup of tea around the fire.
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. Pike, bass, and lake trout can also be caught.
Will we eat well?
Meals are plentiful, delicious, wholesome, and freshly prepared. Snacks are always available. Our guides love to cook and eat well.
How do we go to the bathroom while on the trip?
We carry a portable toilet, set it up at a beautiful and private location at each camp and voila!...a room with a 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 inflatable kayaks are stable and easy to maneuver, allowing people to confidently steer their boat through whitewater in no time at all. Guides lead the way in safety kayaks and are always nearby. Of course, all rapids are ‘challenge by choice’ and at any time guests can opt to ride in the guided rafts or to walk around.
The Magpie is an advanced/intermediate boater’s paradise: many class II, III 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.