I’m in Abitibi-Témiscamingue, Québec to explore their newest park, Opemican National Park, by foot and sea kayak before heading to the annual Kipawa River Festival, where I’m kayaking the rugged and beautiful Class 4 section of whitewater the area is known for.
Following up on our epic trip to Gaspésie, we headed to one of Québec’s hidden gems, located in the southwestern edge of the province–Abitibi-Témiscamingue. With more than 20,000 lakes and rivers and endless pristine wilderness, the region is an outdoor-lover's paradise. And it just so happens that it's only a four hour drive from my home in Ontario.
The Abitibi-Témiscamingue region stands out because of its magnificent landscapes, lush forest, and a population that is bubbling with hospitality and creativity that's a result of the mix of French, English, and Indigenous cultures that reside here. We arrive in the small town of Laniel to find a festival in full swing and, as much as I want to believe they're celebrating our arrival, the event is marking something of actual importance: the opening of Québec’s newest park—Opémican National Park. From everything I've heard, it's an honor well-deserved. The passion displayed by the locals for the near-boundless outdoors that is found, literally, at their doorstep is contagious. Desiring to explore the area and learn firsthand what makes this place so special, I met up with Ambroise Lycke, from Sépaq. Ambroise offered to show me the Inuksuk Trail, one of the many recently completed hiking trails that are found in the park, before hitting the water.
After my hike with Ambroise, I gathered my paddling gear and met up with France Lemire, who has spent the last two years surveying the territory. Her unique knowledge of the area proved incredibly helpful when navigating the innumerable islands on Lake Kipawa.
There are lots of reasons why I love paddling so much. You can get into places that are otherwise inaccessible. You can discover unique perspectives of the land. And the direct connection you have with the water through your boat and your paddle is a very intimate connection. Whatever aspect of an environment captures your imagination, whatever little piece of your surroundings you want to experience in greater detail, it's all just a few paddle strokes away. So in my mind, there really isn't a better way to explore our natural world than with the agility of a kayak, canoe, or paddleboard. And I'm certainly not alone in that feeling.
Within a few kilometers of where we France and I paddled, hundreds of like-minded paddlers had descended on the Kipawa River for the annual Kipawa River Festival.
For almost 20 years I've wanted to run the Kipawa River, and so dropping into the first rapid was exciting for a variety of reasons. The water is big, powerful, and pushy! The kind of whitewater that really forces you to work with the incredible power of Mother Nature because working against it will get you nowhere. I honestly think that this is one of the best lessons that the river has taught me over the years, because the go-with-the-flow idea is something that can be applied for the betterment of everyday life.
My motivations for whitewater paddling have changed over my 30 years of experience, but one of the reasons I've always loved hitting the river is because it's such a good way to spend quality time with friends and family. It’s also a great way to meet new and interesting people who share similar values. While the whitewater of the Kipawa River lived up to the high expectations that I had for it, what I'll remember most about my time on the water here is how it brought together such a passionate group of people. And how lucky I felt for being a part of it.
Even though I've had an amazing time here, I've learning that Abitibi-Témiscamingue is a huge playground for outdoor activities and a few days simply isn't enough to do it justice. I've barely scratched the surface here–there's so much more to explore.
Special Thanks To:
Aventure Écotourisme Québec | Tourisme Abitibi-Témiscamingue
