Petit-Mécatina

Petit-Mécatina is an unorganized territory in the region of Le Golfe-du-Saint-Laurent in the North Shore region of eastern Quebec.

The main tourist attractions of Petit-Mécatina are:

• wild camping in a region to discover where nature expresses itself with excess;
• hunting and fishing, with outfitting services; access to these areas is normally by seaplane, ATV or snowmobile in winter;
• river descent in light boats (canoes, kayaks) in the wilderness;
• its vast wild territory allowing in winter expeditions by snowmobile or ATV for unusual adventures.

Understand

This territory extends to the Labrador border (north and east side). The western boundary is more or less a line (north-south) starting near the mouth of the Natashquan River and going up to the Labrador boundary. The border between Quebec and Labrador is contested by the Quebec government; thus, the northern part of the territory partly overflows into the territory of Labrador.

The various Canadian censuses report no residents there. According to the Commission de toponymie du Québec, Petit-Mécatina has 36 rivers, 393 lakes, and eight mountains: Second Mountain, First Back Bone, Pope Head, Porc-Épic, Rye, Second Back Bone, Third Back Bone and Third Mountain.

The lack of access roads hampers the economic and recreational development of this forested and wild territory.

This territory abounds in natural wealth, in particular its thousands of bodies of water, rivers, mountains, mining resources, immense forests. This territory is home to wildlife typical of these northern regions.

History

The term "Mécatina" comes from the Innu word "makatinau" meaning "big mountain". The origin of this toponym derives from the Petit Mécatina river (length: 545 km) which crosses this territory from north to south; the latter flows onto the north shore of the Gulf of St. Lawrence, on the west side of Petit Mécatina Island. This river has its source east of Lake Aticonac, just south of the interprovincial border, between the Atlantic and St. Lawrence watersheds; this region is also the subject of a border dispute between Quebec and Labrador. Thus, in the nature of this dispute, the official boundaries of Petit-Mécatina as claimed by Quebec include part of the territory of Labrador.

Get in

By plane

Seaplanes are a convenient means of transportation for landing on bodies of water, usually for fishing, hunting, trapping, or other wilderness expeditions. In winter, planes landing in this territory are equipped with skis.

By snowmobile

The Petit-Mécatina is indirectly accessible in winter by snowmobile via the route Blanche from Natashquan. This 525-km snow road passes through the villages of Kegaska, La Romaine, Chevery, Harrington Harbour, Tête-à-la-Baleine, Mutton Bay, La Tabatière, Saint-Augustin, Rivière-Saint-Paul (Bonne-Espérance) and Blanc-Sablon. Trail layout and conditions may vary from winter to winter. Users of this trail should have enough fuel, geolocation instruments, a satellite telephone system, spare parts in case of breakage, mechanical repair tools, a gun, a map and survival gear. Group travel is recommended.

By car

• From Montreal (1,313 km (816 mi), 14 hr 55 min (non-stop)). From Downtown Montreal, take the Jacques-Cartier bridge (south); take Route 132 (east); take Autoroute 20 (east) to Lévis; cross Quebec City via Autoroute 73 (north) and Autoroute 440 (east); take Route 138 to Kegaska. From there, it is possible to access the territory of Petit-Mécatina using special means of transport: mountain biking, snowmobile, or seaplane.

Kegaska is the end of Route 138, which runs along the north shore of the St. Lawrence River and Gulf. Kegaska is the only village in the municipality of Côte-Nord-du-Golfe-du-Saint-Laurent accessible by the Quebec road network. However, the Middle Bay area (in the township of Phelypeaux, in the far east of the municipality) is served by a segment of Route 138 between Vieux-Port and Blanc-Sablon. Kegaska is the westernmost village of the Côte-Nord-du-Golfe-du-Saint-Laurent municipality. To go further east, travellers can embark at the wharf of Natashquan or Kegaska on the cargo-passenger boat Le Bella Desgagnés of the Relais-Nordik for one night and two days to go to Blanc-Sablon.

In 2021, the Government of Quebec announced the extension of Route 138 eastward, from Kegaska to the village of La Romaine. A 350- to 400-km stretch of road is missing (depending on the route that will be retained by the government) between Kegaska and the village of Old Port (in the municipality of Bonne-Espérance, Quebec). Then the 71-km section of Route 138 (Quebec) continues between the Old Port and the Labrador border. Once Route 138 is fully completed to the east, residents of Bonne-Espérance will be able to access Baie-Comeau on a journey of approximately 1,000 km (approximately 11 hours non-stop), or approximately 700 km less (equivalent to saving 9 hours non-stop) compared to taking the detour via the Trans-Labrador Highway (routes 510 and 500) to reach Baie-Comeau, via Wabush/Labrador City, Fermont, Mont-Wright, Gagnon and Manic 5.

Get around

This territory does not have motorable roads, except in the southern part of the territory where a few forest roads connect to the municipalities in the south of the MRC. However, you can travel there to a limited extent by all-terrain vehicles (ATV) in summer or more efficiently by snowmobile in winter, thanks to the freezing of the water bodies. Several snowmobile trails, which are connected to the Route Blanche pass through this territory.

See

In this unorganized territory, courageous travellers and adventurers can admire nature in all its splendor: immense forests, sunken valleys at the bottom of which an often winding and/or tumultuous river meanders, snow-soaked trees, seasoned wildlife to the rigors of northern life, migratory birds passing by the millions, wild flora adapted to this Canadian climate, and waterfalls of all kinds. You can admire the starry night sky there with a clarity that distinguishes large moving satellites, marvel at the aurora borealis, bucolic sunrises and sunsets, and see the clouds coming, heralding the weather. In short, all of nature is the scene of a continuous spectacle. And the spectators immerse themselves in this full Nordic nature by being disconnected from the hectic life of urban areas.

Do

• Pourvoirie Étamamiou inc, ☏ +1 450-658-7308, info@pourvoirieetamamiou.ca. This outfitter has exclusive fishing rights on the Etamamiou River basin. A fishing experience allows a warm cultural relationship with the Innu community of Unamen Shipu, with quality accommodation and cuisine. This Innu outfitter offers an air transport service: plane charter, seaplane or helicopter to bring vacationers to the fishing grounds. (updated Jul 2022)

Eat

Apart from the services offered by outfitters, this unorganized territory has no businesses. Thus, travellers staying in this territory must be self-sufficient in food. Travellers can eat locally from:

• wild berries in the summer season, including: cranberry, crowberry (popularly called "black berry"), partridge bread (popularly called "cranberry" or "red berry"), cloudberry, blueberry, raspberry, mushrooms;
• fish: fishing is available on the various bodies of water and rivers in the territory;
• game: hunting is possible by following the standards of the Ministère des Forêts, de la Faune et des Parcs: small game (e.g., hares), big game (moose, white-tailed deer, bear), wild birds (e.g., duck, Canada geese, snow geese).

Connect

Low-altitude satellite communication services (e.g., Starlink satellite constellation) are increasingly accessible in remote areas such as the North Shore; they allow you to make video calls, play online games, view streaming video, and perform other high-speed activities, among other things. In remote areas, these satellite communication services offer security and efficiency.

Go next

Routes through Petit-Mécatina

New York State ← Elgin ← Montréal ←

W  E

→ Kegaska → Blanc-Sablon→Labrador

• 1 Lac-Jérôme This territory is a hunting & fishing paradise under the aegis of outfitters, with access by seaplane. It can be crossed by snowmobile.
• 2 Natashquan Natashquan is a community focused on cod fishing, seal hunting, trapping, and the fur trade. At the end of Route 183, its main tourist attractions are: the old school, the general store reconstituted in 39 themes, the promenade of the Elders, the pebbles where the cod were salted and stored.
• 3 Gros-Mécatina Isolated municipality of the Lower North Shore of Quebec. It brings together the magnificent villages of La Tabatière, Mutton Bay and Baie-des-Ha! Ha!
• 4 Bonne-Espérance Besides the main village, visitors can see the hamlet Vieux-Fort (on Baie du Vieux-Fort) and Rivière-Saint-Paul (on Baie des Esquimaux). The route 138 circuit allows you to admire the seascapes, shorelines, icebergs drifting in the Strait of Belle Isle, ice breaking on the banks in winter, marine fauna and winged fauna.
• 5 Blanc-Sablon Blanc-Sablon is the easternmost municipality in Quebec. Blanc-Sablon is a must-see destination for travellers arriving from the island of Newfoundland via the Strait of Belle Isle ferry and heading to Labrador.
• 6 Saint-Augustin (Le Golfe-du-Saint-Laurent) Its economy is based on fishing, services to travellers/tourists, in particular snowmobilers using the Route Blanche (in winter) which runs along the north shore of the Gulf of St. Lawrence, between Kegaska and Blanc-Sablon, as well as tourists arriving by the airport or the cargo-passenger boat Le Bella Desgagnés which serves the coastal villages.