Rivière-aux-Outardes

Rivière-aux-Outardes is an unorganized territory on the Côte-Nord in eastern Quebec. It is part of the tourist region of Manicouagan.

The main tourist attractions of Rivière-aux-Outardes are:

• its major hydroelectric infrastructures, in particular: Jean-Lesage power station (Manic-2), Daniel-Johnson dam and Manic 5 power station (Manic-5);
• its magnificent valleys along Route 389: in particular the valley of the Manicouagan River (with its majestic cliffs),
• hunting and trapping: hunting small game (hare, white partridge, etc.) or big game (moose) via two outfitters;
• fishing: fishing on bodies of water or streams abundant with fish of native species;
• wild camping: in an angelic territory, far from the hectic life of urban areas and in the most beautiful scenery of nature;
• the descent of rivers in kayaks, canoes or other light boats;
• expeditions by quad (in summer and on the trails in winter) or by snowmobile (in winter): the intrepid venture further and further on the territory to discover the jewels of these endless forests;
• aerial flight over this territory to admire from the air, the hydroelectric infrastructures, René-Levasseur Island (formed by the fall of a meteorite 214 million years ago) and Lake René- Levasseur surrounding this last island, the deep valleys, the remaining mountains capped with snow longer in the spring, the rivers manifesting themselves in different moods, the immense virgin forests, the bodies of water of all shapes decorating the forest landscape, and the impressive cliffs;
• the Manic-5 or Monts Groulx hiking trails;
• the observation of the sky: the aurora borealis, the clear starry skies allowing to distinguish the movement in the sky of large satellites, the superb sunrises and sunsets, the clouds announcing the weather to come, and the migratory birds passing by millions in the spring and fall.

Understand

Daniel-Johnson Dam (Manic-5)

This vast territory not organized into a municipality was incorporated on January 1, 1986. More or less rectangular in shape, this territory includes all the land north of the coastal municipalities of the MRC of Manicouagan: Pessamit, Ragueneau, Baie-Comeau, Franquelin and Godbout.

In 2016, 94 people live in the territory, most of them French-speaking.

This territory has mainly developed thanks to the development of hydroelectric infrastructures (including the transport of electricity by high-voltage lines), the forest industry and recreational and tourist activities (in particular resorts around the Toulnustouc River).

Photo of Route 389 (linking Baie-Comeau and Labrador City) taken 23 km northeast of Manic-5, on the east side of the Manicouagan River

The origin of this toponym derives from the Rivière aux Outardes which flows south to empty into the St. Lawrence River at the height of Chute-aux-Outardes (southwest of Baie-Comeau).

Get in

By plane

The seaplane is a practical means of transport to access the territory, usually for fishing & hunting, trapping, or any other expedition in wild forest areas. In winter, planes landing in this territory are equipped with skis.

By car

The territory is accessible via Quebec Route 138 which runs along the north shore of the St. Lawrence River and Gulf, then Route 389 which begins in Baie-Comeau and heads north via Gagnon, Mount Wright, Fermont, Labrador City and Wabush (Labrador).

• From Montreal (689 km, time: 8 hours. From downtown Montreal, take the Jacques-Cartier bridge (east); take route 132 (east), highway 20 (east); then successively Autoroute 73 (north), Autoroute 40 (east) and Route 138 to Baie-Comeau; take Rex Fort Road to Manic 2, going up the west bank of the Manicouagan River for 28 km.

Get around

This territory does not have drivable roads, except in the southern part of the territory where a few forest roads connect to the municipalities to the south. 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 TNO.

This territory has one main road, Quebec Route 389. It connects Route 138 (in Baie-Comeau) and the Labrador border (Route 510 in Wasbush) over 582 km. In summary, the route of route 389 passing through the unorganized territory of Rivière-aux-Outardes is (successively starting from the south):

• 21 km, to the bridge downstream of the Manic 2 dam (Jean-Lesage generating station);
• 193 km, to the middle of the Manic 5 dam, at the top of which passes Route 389;
• 162 km, up to the height of the old village of Gagnon (located in the unorganized territory of Rivière-Mouchalagane).

A few forest roads in this territory connect to the southern municipalities of Manicouagan allowing various recreational tourism activities related to forestry. The main secondary roads are:

• a 28-km forest road between the intersection of Route 138 (at Pointe-Lebel) and the village of Manic-5 (Route 389), linking the two places via the west bank of the Manicouagan River;
• a 74-km forest road between the intersection of Route 389 (south of Manic-5) and Lake Manicouagan;
• a 34-km forest road between the intersection of Route 138 (in Ragueneau) and Lac au Loup Marin.

Visitors can circulate in this territory by quad in summer or more efficiently by snowmobile in winter, thanks to the freezing of the bodies of water. Several snowmobile trails cross the territory.

See

• 1 Barrage Daniel-Johnson et centrale Manic-5 (at kilometre 214 of route 389), ☏ +1 866-526-2642. The Daniel-Johnson Dam is the largest multiple-arch, buttress dam in the world; it was erected in the 1960s by Hydro-Québec. The fruit of Quebec genius, this 214-m-high dam is embedded in the valley of the Manicouagan River. This distinctive dam makes visitors vibrate, as much from its interior, at its feet or on its crest. The amount of concrete used in its construction is the equivalent of a sidewalk connecting the two poles of our planet earth. The main vault of this dam could contain the Place Ville-Marie of Montreal. This hydroelectric infrastructure generates a reservoir of 140 billion cubic meters of water, one of the largest reservoirs of fresh water in the world. Its area is 2.5 times that of Lac Saint-Jean. A guided tour of this dam and the Manic-5 generating station is a must; these tours are educational, interactive and packed with information. Free. (updated Jul 2022)
• 2 Manicouagan Reservoir/Crater, ☏ +1. Covering 1942 km² and having an elevation of 359 m above sea level, the Manicouagan Reservoir looks like a misshapen donut; René-Levasseur Island (2,020 km²) is in its centre. This geological structure is the result of the impact of a meteorite on the earth's crust at a speed of 17 km/s, 214 million years ago; this meteorite is reputed to be 5 km in diameter. The transitory diameter of the crater is estimated at 85 km (the diameter from ridge to ridge is 100 km); its apparent size is nowadays reduced to 72 km. In the centre of Île René-Levasseur, stands Mount Babel (summit at 952 m). (updated Jul 2022)
• 3 Louis-Babel Ecological Reserve (Réserve écologique Louis-Babel) (in the north centre of the island, on the west shore of Memory Bay (length: 26 km); you must go by boat to access the reserve), ☏ +1. This reserve includes the northern part of René-Levasseur Island on the Manicouagan Reservoir. It is the largest ecological reserve in Quebec. Its mission is to protect boreal, mountain and alpine ecosystems in the middle north of Quebec. (updated Jul 2022)

Do

Several activities are offered to visitors to enjoy an immersive outdoor experience and discover the jewels of Manicouagan's backcountry.

• Hunting. Two outfitters offer various services for hunting small game (hare, partridge) and big game (moose). (updated Jul 2022)
• Pêche. Fishing is particularly popular on the Manicouagan Reservoir and surrounding lakes. (updated Jul 2022)
• Yachting. Recreational boating is particularly popular on the reservoirs, notably the Manicouagan Reservoir. Some groups go kayaking around Île René-Lévesque; 180 km journey (one way). (updated Jul 2022)
• Snowmobiles. The vast territory allows snowmobilers to venture into the backcountry thanks to frozen bodies of water and streams. (updated Jul 2022)
• Walking trails. The main hiking trails are:
  **Sentier Monts Groulx: 28.5 km (estimated duration: 9 hr 12 min), located in the northeastern part of the territory;
  **Sentier Massif Provencher: 17.2 km (estimated time: 5 hr 49 min). Departure from Route 389, near a bay in the Manicouagan Reservoir;
  **Daniel-Johnson Dam trail: various trails around the Manic-5 village and the dam. One of the trails starts from Route 389 (east side of the Manicouagan River) and goes up the majestic valley leading to the foot of the Daniel-Johnson dam. (updated Jul 2022)

Outfitters

• 1 Relais Gabriel Outfitter (Pourvoirie Relais Gabriel) (at km 316 of Route 389, along the bottom of Kauashapishkau Bay on the east shore of the Manicouagan Reservoir, 99 km north of the Manic-5 generating station). Various services are offered by the outfitter: restaurant, gas station (24 hours a day), fishing in the great outdoors (on a chain of bodies of water near the Manicouagan reservoir), hunting (moose, white partridge (ptarmigan and grouse grouse), hare), boat descent, and tire repair. This outfitter offers six cabins and accommodation in rooms at the Relais. The Relais Gabriel is the last supply stop in the direction of Fermont, 250 km further. (updated Jul 2022)
• 2 Panomaguy Outfitter (Pourvoirie Panomaguy) (at km 180 of route 389; then, 11 km of forest road to the west to reach the north shore of Lake Okaopeo), ☏ +1 418-860-1612. Hunting and fishing outfitter. Fishing activities (indigenous speckled trout) on many pristine lakes, accessible by car, mountain bike or on foot. Four fully equipped chalets. (updated Jul 2022)

Sleep

• 1 Motel de l'Énergie, km 211, route 389, Manic-5, ☏ +1 418-294-2294, toll-free: +1-800-760-2301 ext 0. Accommodation, restaurant, service station, convenience store. (updated Jul 2022)
• 2 Station Uapishka, km 336, route 389 (on the shore of the lake of the Manicouagan crater at the foot of the Uapishka (Groulx) mountain), ☏ +1 418-296-8514. Accommodation and restaurant. Outdoor activity packages (e.g., summits and paddle package, in the mountains and offshore; Ilnu-Aitun package to discover the many facets of the life of the Innu community such as traditions, legends and elders' stories), including for organized groups (family, friends, colleagues, researchers). (updated Jul 2022)

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

• 1 Rivière-Mouchalagane An unorganized territory of Caniapiscau.
• 2 Mont-Valin Unorganized territory of Fjord-du-Saguenay, between the Mistassibi River and the Côte-Nord administrative region. Magnificent territory for recreational tourism activities.

• 3 Lac-Walker Unorganized territory of Sept-Rivières, in the Côte-Nord region.
• 4 Lac-au-Brochet Unorganized territory of the RCM of La Haute-Côte-Nord comprising four controlled harvesting zones (zec). Huge territory for hunting and fishing, wilderness camping, ATV/snowmobile trails, river descent in light boats and nature observation.
• 5 Pessamit A reserve of the Innu band of Pessamit at the mouth of the Betsiamites River, 54 km southwest of Baie-Comeau.
• 6 Baie-Trinité Coastal municipality on the north shore of the Gulf of St. Lawrence. The main attractions and recreational tourism activities are: hiking in the forest or near the St. Lawrence River, land-based whale watching sites, sea kayaking expeditions, shellfish gathering, hunting, fishing, snowmobile and ATV trails.
• 7 Godbout Coastal municipality on the north shore of the Gulf of St. Lawrence. The main attractions and recreational tourism activities are: hiking in the forest or near the St. Lawrence River, land-based whale watching sites, sea kayaking expeditions, shellfish gathering, hunting, fishing, snowmobile and ATV trails.
• 8 Franquelin Coastal municipality on the north shore of the St. Lawrence River. The main attractions and recreational tourism activities are: Village Forestier d'Antan, hiking in the forest or near the St. Lawrence River, swimming, land-based whale watching sites, golf on the beach, sea kayaking expeditions, shellfish harvesting, hunting, fishing, snowmobile and ATV trails.
• 9 Baie-Comeau Industrial city offering various services to travellers, many events (e.g., musical and epicurean events, the Côte-Nord Beer Festival) and recreational tourism services: guided heritage tour, hiking trails, sea kayaking, Via Ferrata, paddle board, observations of marine mammals and aquatic birds, sea excursions, visits to local port facilities.
• 10 Ragueneau Coastal municipality of Manicouagan, on the north shore of the Gulf of St. Lawrence.