Expédition de rafting sur la Mutehekau Shipu (rivière Magpie)

Points forts

• Découvrez la culture innue avec des membres de la communauté locale à Ekuanitshit au début du voyage
• Voyagez au cœur de l’un des plus vastes territoires de forêt boréale sans route au monde
• Explorez le littoral sauvage et les villages charmants de la Côte-Nord du Québec
• Descendez une rivière d’eau vive exceptionnelle, ludique et de calibre mondial, avec des guides experts
• Campez dans des endroits spectaculaires au bord de la rivière
• Activités optionnelles : pêche à la truite mouchetée, randonnées secondaires, apprentissage des techniques d’eau vive et d’expédition
• Ressourcez-vous comme seul un voyage en nature éloignée peut le permettre, loin des écrans et entouré d’eau vive, d’air frais et de toute la beauté de la nature

Itinerary & description

Day 1

We meet in the coastal Innu village of Ekuanitshit (Mingan) at 4pm on day 1. If you need a ride from Sept-Îles, we’ll pick you up from there by 1pm free of charge (Air Canada has several daily flights between Sept-Îles, Montreal, and Québec City).

We check-in to our lodging for the first two nights: Ekuanitshit’s new motel on the water, owned and operated by the community, where solo travellers get their own room, while couples share. Located on the water, we can easily walk into the village or go for a stroll along the beach. We settle in and then gather for a welcome dinner and orientation.

Day 2

This morning, we’re hosted by the Maison de la Culture Innue (House of Innu Culture) for an incredible visit with local people where we learn about their history, community, and connection with the land and river. The Centre was founded by Rita Mestokosho — a writer, poet, band councillor, community leader, and activist — and is now run by her and her niece, Lydia Mestokosho, with whome we’ve had the privilege of working for several years.

The visit, begins with Labrador Tea served alongside bannock (delicious homemade traditional bread) and jams made from local berries, then evolves into a meaningful discussion that for many becomes an emotional experience and a highlight of the entire trip.

In the afternoon, we make final preparations for the river expedition. The guide team gives everyone tips on how to pack their drybag (which we provide) and how to dress for tomorrow’s flights to the river. Dinner is followed with an optional walk on the coast and a campfire.

Note: You’ll be able to leave a bag with items you’re not bringing on the expedition in secure storage, and we’ll have it for you at the river takeout on the last day.

Day 3

We fly to the river trip starting point by float plane or helicopter. We fly over lakes, rivers, cliffs, and rugged hills to our starting location, where the Mutehekau Shipu (Magpie River) flows out of Lac Magpie. It’s an amazing and peaceful feeling as we watch the aircraft leave us and we realize how deep into nature we are, and what a special and magical place we’ve come to. The guides give a thorough whitewater briefing, followed by practice paddling in the rafts. We paddle a short way to our first camp, or camp at the landing spot.

Day 4 to 8

We get into the flow of the river and expedition.

Mornings at camp are quiet, watching the mist rise off the river with a steaming coffee or tea, and a hearty breakfast.

The days are full of excitement and exploration. Your guides will teach you how to read the river and maneuver, as we continue to build up our teamwork and coordination in the rafts. The Mutehekau Shipu is amazing for rafting because of the continuous nature of the whitewater. Days are action-packed, with rapid after rapid and little flat water in between.

Big waves lift us airborne into smile-inducing drops. It’s a sporty, splashy, and refreshing bit of fun and challenge.

We paddle 14′ to 16′ self-bailing ‘paddle rafts’. Each raft has a professional guide steering and providing instructions at the back. One of the guides rows all of the food and equipment in a ‘gear raft’ with long oars. Another guide paddles a hard-shelled whitewater kayak and acts as a safety boat and also a guide for participants who choose to kayak.

There are three giant rapids / chutes that are too big to raft down. Here, the guides are usually able to ‘line’ the boats — send them down without people on board with ropes attached to pendulum them back to shore — an exciting spectacle to observe!

There are several optional side hikes along the way that take us up the hills to great vantage points. While walking, we can have a closer look at the plants and flowers, look for animal tracks, find blueberries, and collect Labrador Tea.

Meals are a highlight of these trips. Our guides double as chefs as they whip up unreal meals featuring Quebec produce and meat from organic farms and locally sourced seafood. We grill on the fire, saute and boil on camp stoves, and bake desserts and lasagnas in dutch ovens.

Evenings around the fire are a time to relax, break out the guitar (Boreal River Expeditions Director and Head Guide Ty Smith has an amazing repertoire and the voice of an angel), talk about the day’s adventures, and gaze at the star-filled sky. August is usually the time for meteor showers and if we’re lucky, dazzling displays of northern lights.

On the last two days, we see the river cascade through thundering falls. On the last night, we camp at Magpie Falls, a spectacular 100′ waterfall.

Day 9

This morning we paddle our last stretch together, to of where the river reaches the sea. There’s a feeling of satisfaction and joy — looking forward to a hot shower and back to a surviving, great river. After lunch and goodbye’s, you can get back into your vehicle and keep exploring the coast, take the road-trip home, or we can drive you back to Sept-Îles.