• Launching ramp Rampe de mise à l’eau du Club nautique d’Amos (chemin de la Marina, Amos) 48°33'31.39”N
  78°6'41.461”O
• Cultural Visit Abitibi8inni55, rue Migwan, PikoganT 819 732-3350 48°35'51.5"N
  78°07'11.8"O
• Point of interest Abitibiwinni, l'expérience algonquine 55, rue Wigwan,
 PikoganT 819 732-3350 48°35'51.7"N
  78°07'11.8"W
• Wild camping Camp algonquin 48°40'52.473”N
  77°59'45.241”O
• Carrying Portage du rapide de Pikogan 48°36'4.482”N
  78°6'35.077”O
• Rapids Rapide de Pikogan 48°36'4.34”N
  78°6'31.924”O
• Carrying Portage du rapide Ka Kinwatciwanak 48°37'37.91”N
  78°1'24.813”O
• Wild camping Camping sauvage de la rivière Harricana 48°12'50.189N
  77°58'2.425”O
• Launching ramp Rampe de mise à l’eau aux abords du pont couvert du chemin Rivest 48°38'38.206”N
  78°0'12.779”O
• Rapids Rapide au centre de la ville d’Amos 48°34'44.017”N
  78°7'15.455”O
• Rapids Rapide Ka Kinwatciwanak 48°37'40.025”N
  78°1'23.86”O
• Wild camping Camping sauvage de l'île du lac Obalski 48°44'16.255”N
  77°57'32.111”O
• Sandy beach / Swimming Plage 48°44'40.776”N
  77°58'2.816”O
• Launching ramp Rampe de mise à l'eau du lac Obalsky 48°46'41.7"N
  77°57'43.9"O
• Launching ramp Rampe de mise-à-l'eau de Saint-Dominique-du-Rosaire 48°47'34.3"N
  78°00'51.0"O
• Circonflexe RécréOsisko 48°14'21.9"N
  79°00'57.0"O
• Circonflexe Carrefour Jeunesse Emploi Abitibi-Ouest 48°48'12.312"N
  79°12'18.108"O
• Circonflexe Maison du Tourisme Amos Harricana 48°3'28.87978"N
  77°47'36.96644"O
• Circonflexe Coop de L’Arrière-Pays 47°19'58.512"N
  79°26'15.108"O
• Circonflexe Parc du Belvédère à Malartic 48°8'1.86"N
  78°7'25.068"O
• Circonflexe Participarc, LaSarre 48°47'35.9052"N
  79°12'29.7126"O

Directions to the starting point

To Amos, go to the end of the way to the Marina.

Public outdoor parking and launching ramp.
Position : 78°6'41,461"O  48°33'31,39"N

Directions to reach the point of arrival:

From Amos, take the 395 North road towards Saint-Maurice-de-Dalquier. Turn left on the Rivest road to the covered bridge.

Public outdoor parking and launching ramp.
Position : 78°0'12,779"O  48°38'38,206"N

Topographic Maps

Topographic maps at a scale of 1/50,000 exist for the entire river route and we recommend that you use them in conjunction with this guide map.

32   D/9      Harricana River
32   C/12    Harricana River, Obalski Lake

Total slope: 3 metres

Danger, fast and carry

Lake Obalski is turbulent in strong winds.

The three rapids are class Rl.

It is possible to carry the first rapid in urban areas on the right bank but no portage is arranged.

Well-maintained portage trails for rapids 2 and 3.

Campsite

Sufficient camping sites. They are spread out along the route and vary in quality.

Geography

James Bay watershed

The Harricana River flows northwards, originates in Blouin, De Montigny, Lemoine and Mourier lakes, and empties into James Bay some 553 km further north.

The Harricana River is the second longest waterway in Canada (170 km of waterway). It originates in the lakes Blouin, De Montigny, Lemoine and Mourier near Val-d'Or and flows into James Bay some 553 kilometres to the north.

Fauna

The course is known for its very diverse wildlife which includes, among others, black duck, kingfisher, great heron, great woodpecker, porcupine, red squirrel, beaver, muskrat, hare, weasel, marten, mink, striped skunk, otter, orignal, black bear, grey wolf, coyote, red fox, lynx.

Flora

The water bodies are located in the boreal forest in the area of white birch fir, which includes, among others, cedar, white and black spruce, balsam fir, aspen and birch.

History

An interesting flow and relatively calm terrain, relative to the other rivers of James Bay, have made the Harricana River a busy waterway. The first users were the Algonquins. As a tributary of James Bay, and thus of Hudson Bay, the Harricana River and its basin were owned by the Hudson’s Bay Company until they were purchased by Canada in 1869. The territory was officially annexed to the province of Quebec in 1898 and settlement efforts began. In 1906, Henry O'Sullivan explored the banks of the Harricana and in 1908, the first camps were established on the banks of the river at the height of the rapids. These are supply camps for the construction of a transcontinental railway. Some years later, in 1910, the first settlers arrived and founded the town of Amos in 1912 at the point where the railway crosses the river.

Toponymy

The original name of the Harricana River is "Nanikana". But the missionaries of the time learned the Algonquin language from sound and distorted this word to make it "Harricana". The Algonquin expression Nanikana takes on its full meaning when it is explained that it means " The main way". Some sources claim that the name is of Algonquin origin and means Biscuit River. The term biscuits refers to the many flat pebbles found on the banks of the river.