Access to Outdoors

Menu

Kipawa Archipelago Paddling Trail

Kipawa Archipelago Paddling Trail

Laniel, Témiscamingue

  • electrocardiogram Moderate
  • mountain 63.7 Km (Linear)
  • calendar Early June to late September

Adventure story

Filter

Close the map

Sections

Parc national Opemican

  • electrocardiogram Easy
  • mountain 7.23 km (Linear)
  • elevation Elevation

Baie du Deux Milles

  • electrocardiogram Easy
  • mountain 2.86 km (Linear)
  • elevation Elevation

Baie des plongeurs

  • electrocardiogram Moderate
  • mountain 4.17 km (Linear)
  • elevation Elevation

Baie du Huard secteur Ouest

  • electrocardiogram Moderate
  • mountain 2.56 km (Linear)
  • elevation Elevation

Raccourci Baie du Huard

  • electrocardiogram Demanding
  • mountain 4.62 km (Linear)
  • elevation Elevation

Passe Boudel

  • electrocardiogram Easy
  • mountain 2.80 km (Linear)
  • elevation Elevation

Passe à Boutillette

  • electrocardiogram Easy
  • mountain 3.23 km (Linear)
  • elevation Elevation

Baie du Huard secteur Est

  • electrocardiogram Demanding
  • mountain 2.71 km (Linear)
  • elevation Elevation

Chenal Kipawa

  • electrocardiogram Moderate
  • mountain 9.33 km (Linear)
  • elevation Elevation

Passe Fox

  • electrocardiogram Easy
  • mountain 1.68 km (Linear)
  • elevation Elevation

Passe au nord de l'île McKenzie

  • electrocardiogram Moderate
  • mountain 5.56 km (Linear)
  • elevation Elevation

Baie du Canal

  • electrocardiogram Easy
  • mountain 4.25 km (Linear)
  • elevation Elevation

Lac Kipawa

  • electrocardiogram Demanding
  • mountain 5.04 km (Linear)
  • elevation Elevation

Parc national Opemican

  • electrocardiogram Easy
  • mountain 7.23 km (Linear)
  • elevation Elevation

Baie Dorval

  • electrocardiogram Easy
  • mountain 5.29 km (Linear)
  • elevation Elevation

portage

  • electrocardiogram Easy
  • mountain 0.03 km (Linear)
  • elevation Elevation

Points of service and interest

Filter

Category Name

  • Parking Parking Stationnement de la baie du Deux-Milles 47°5'4,353"N
    79°13'5,737"O
  • Launching ramp Launching ramp Rampe de mise à l'eau de la baie du Deux-Milles 47°5'3,889"N
    79°13'4,689"O
  • Dock Dock Quai de la baie des Deux-MillesQ 47°05'04.0"N
    79°13'04.3"O
  • Wild camping Wild camping Camping sauvage de la baie des Plongeurs 47°6'7,568"N
    79°10'28,242"O
  • Sandy beach / Swimming Sandy beach / Swimming Plage de la baie des Plongeurs 47°5'30,56"N
    79°8'45,763"O
  • Halte sur galet Halte sur galet Halte (île) de la baie des Plongeurs 47°5'51,346"N
    79°10'25,144"O
  • Wild camping Wild camping Camping sauvage de l'île de la baie des Plongeurs 47°5'20,526"N
    79°9'17,896"O
  • Point of interest Point of interest Pancarte de l'île du Huard et champ des huards 47°5'3,099"N
    79°8'15,416"O
  • Wild camping Wild camping Camping sauvage de l'embouchure de la baie du Huard 47°4'47,662"N
    79°7'51,424"O
  • Wild camping Wild camping Camping de l'île 47°5'42,018"N
    79°5'17,484"O
  • Halte sur galet Halte sur galet Halte de la passe à Bouthillette 47°4'29,766"N
    79°4'22,316"O
  • Wild camping Wild camping Camping sauvage de la petite île du chenal Kipawa 47°3'8,309"N
    79°4'2,013"O
  • Rocky escarpment Rocky escarpment Falaises du chenal Kipawa 47°2'49,732"N
    79°3'49,779"O
  • Wild camping Wild camping Camping sauvage du chenal Kipawa 47°1'35,203"N
    79°3'18,273"O
  • Rocky escarpment Rocky escarpment Falaise du chenal Kipawa 47°1'12,567"N
    79°2'58,477"O
  • Halte sur galet Halte sur galet Halte du chenal Kipawa 47°0'5,21"N
    79°1'49,271"O
  • Wild camping Wild camping Camping sauvage de la passe FoxC 46°58'47,489"N
    79°2'2,603"O
  • Wild camping Wild camping Camping sauvage de l'île Fox 46°58'7,334"N
    79°1'33,982"O
  • Wild camping Wild camping Camping sauvage de l'île voisine de la baie McLaren 46°56'24,727"N
    79°5'44,03"O
  • Wild camping Wild camping Camping sauvage de l'embouchure de la baie du Canal 46°57'39,423"N
    79°5'53,684"O
  • Point of interest Point of interest Canal 46°57'53,667"N
    79°8'43,21"O
  • Wild camping Wild camping Camping de la petite île de la baie du Canal 46°58'47.7"N
    79°06'17.1"O
  • Wild camping Wild camping Camping sauvage de la baie du Canal 46°58'49.4"N
    79°06'10.9"O
  • Rocky escarpment Rocky escarpment Faille de la baie du Canal 46°58'28,361"N
    79°6'12,198"O
  • Picnic table Picnic table Table de pique-nique de la baie du Canal 46°58'49,392"N
    79°6'10,807"O
  • Wild camping Wild camping Plage de l'île Clermontpl 46°57'41,438"N
    79°6'32,799"O
  • Dock Dock Quai de la grande plage de l'île Clermont 46°57'40.7"N
    79°06'31.0"O
  • Picnic table Picnic table Halte de l'île Clermont 46°57'40.6"N
    79°06'31.9"O
  • Toilet Toilet Toilette sèche de l'île Clermont 46°57'40.1"N
    79°06'29.8"O
  • Sandy beach / Swimming Sandy beach / Swimming Petite plage de l'île Clermont 46°57'38.7"N
    79°06'28.2"O
  • Wild camping Wild camping Camping sauvage 46°57'54,422"N
    79°8'18,568"O
  • Picnic table Picnic table Table de pique-nique de l'île aux pêcheurs 46°57'54,422"N
    79°8'18,568"O
  • Wild camping Wild camping Camping sauvage de la presqu'île 46°58'18,203"N
    79°7'48,588"O
  • Wild camping Wild camping Camping sauvage 46°58'6,289"N
    79°9'4,925"O
  • Wild camping Wild camping Camping sauvage de la pointe de sable 46°59'57,294"N
    79°11'54,944"O
  • Sandy beach / Swimming Sandy beach / Swimming Plage de la pointe de sable 46°59'58.504"N
    79°11'54.4"O
  • Paid wild camping Paid wild camping Camping sauvage de l'île du Sandy Portage 46°59'24,853"N
    79°12'6,378"O
  • Paid wild camping Paid wild camping Camping rustique des îles du Sandy Portage (Parc national d'Opémican) 46°58'59,815"N
    79°12'18,61"O
  • Wild camping Wild camping Camping de la baie 46°58'13,345"N
    79°11'50,222"O
  • Paid wild camping Paid wild camping Plage de l'île aux Fraises 46°58'37,779"N
    79°11'26,865"O
  • Rocky escarpment Rocky escarpment Escarpement rocheux du secteur des îles du Sandy Portage 46°58'54.6"N
    79°11'55.4"O
  • Carrying Carrying Portage de la baie Dorval 46°59'15.5"N
    79°13'10.1"O
  • Carrying Carrying Portage de la baie des Dorval 46°59'15.8"N
    79°13'11.9"O
  • Dock Dock Quai du parc national d'Opémican de la baie Dorval 46°58'43,223"N
    79°15'2,279"O
  • Parking Parking Stationnement non aménagé de la baie Dorval 46°58'39.4"N
    79°15'00.1"O
  • Wild camping Wild camping Camping sauvage de l'île près de la baie Dorval 47°00'36,3"N
    79°13'25,2"O
  • Launching ramp Launching ramp Rampe de mise-à-l'eau de la baie McAdam 47°1'38,366"N
    79°11'9,981"O
  • Wild camping Wild camping Camping de la baie McAdam 47°01'19,9"N
    79°14'15,2"O
  • Reception et services Reception et services Poste d'accueil de Laniel et boutique nature 47°02'31.8"N
    79°16'12.1"O
  • Canoe for rent Canoe for rent Parc national d'Opémican, poste d'accueil Laniel 46°58'43.2"N
    79°15'02.3"O
  • Launching ramp Launching ramp Rampe de mise à l'eau de la marina de Laniel 47°2'31,038"N
    79°16'10,051"O
  • Parking Parking Stationnement du quai municipal de Laniel 47°02'35.5"N
    79°16'09.1"O
  • Covered picnic table Covered picnic table Gazébo de Laniel 47°02'35.6"N
    79°16'06.9"O
  • Toilet Toilet Bloc sanitaire de Laniel 47°02'35.9"N
    79°16'07.6"O
  • Dock Dock Quai public de Laniel 47°02'34.1"N
    79°16'06.6"O
  • Picnic table Picnic table Aire de pique-nique du parc de Laniel 47°02'34.3"N
    79°16'07.5"O
  • Circonflexe Circonflexe RécréOsisko 48°14'21.9"N
    79°00'57.0"O
  • Circonflexe Circonflexe Carrefour Jeunesse Emploi Abitibi-Ouest 48°48'12.312"N
    79°12'18.108"O
  • Circonflexe Circonflexe Maison du Tourisme Amos Harricana 48°3'28.87978"N
    77°47'36.96644"O
  • Circonflexe Circonflexe Coop de L’Arrière-Pays 47°19'58.512"N
    79°26'15.108"O
  • Circonflexe Circonflexe Parc du Belvédère à Malartic 48°8'1.86"N
    78°7'25.068"O
  • Circonflexe Circonflexe Participarc, LaSarre 48°47'35.9052"N
    79°12'29.7126"O

Accessibility

  Shuttle Service

Are you looking for a means of transport to get to the starting point of this dream course? You have only one vehicle and you want to move it from the starting point to the finishing point?
La Coop de l’Arrière Pays offers you a road transport service.


  Directions to reach the starting point

From Ville-Marie, take route 101 South. In Laniel, turn left on chemin Baie McAdam.

From Témiscaming, take Route 101 North. In Laniel, turn right on chemin Baie McAdam.

Turn left on Chemin Baie des Plongeurs and keep right (follow the signs for Taggart Bay Lodge).

Private, paid outdoor parking ($10/day)
Position: 79°13’5.737”W 47°5’4.353”N
Contact: Call Réjean Beaudoin at 1 819 627-6030 or
              Grant Simmons at 1-705-930-3900 to make an arrangement.

View the route from your location on Google Map

Launching ramp
Position : 79°16’10,0”O   47°02’31,2”N

View the route from your location on Google Map


  Directions to reach the end point

DORVAL BAY

From Ville-Marie, take route 101 South. Pass the locality of Laniel and turn left on chemin Baie-Dorval. At the Y, turn left.

From Témiscaming, take Route 101 North. Before the locality of Laniel, turn right on chemin Baie-Dorval. At the Y, turn left.

View the route from your location on Google Map

LANIEL

From Ville-Marie, take route 101 South. In the locality of Laniel, turn left to enter the Municipal Park of Laniel up to the boat launch.

From Témiscaming, take Route 101 North. In the locality of Laniel, turn right to enter the Municipal Park of Laniel up to the boat launch.

Public and free outdoor parking
Position: 79°16’09.0”W 47°02’35.1”N

View the route from your location on Google Map

Launching ramp
Position: 79°16’10.0”W 47°02’31.2”N

View the route from your location on Google Map

Specifications

  Topographic Maps

Topographic maps at a scale of 1:50 000 for the entire course of the reservoir are available in PDF format on this sheet and we recommend that you use them during your outing. The use of a GPS containing the route of the route is also strongly recommended.

31M/3, 31M/2, 31L14, 31L/15

 Water Level

"Kipawa Dam" station Data Form.

  Obstacles and dangers

  • Lake Kipawa is tumultuous and even dangerous in high winds. It is recommended to paddle along the banks. Some sections run along large rock faces with no possibility of landing. 
  • The wind can change rapidly in strength and direction. It can create short, sharp waves that make steering difficult, which can destabilize boats and cause capsizing. 
  • Near the large rock faces, the waves collide (choppy areas) making the boats unstable.

  Campsites

Camping sites are sufficient and of good quality located on points, beaches and islands.

They are distributed throughout the course. It is essential to leave campsites in immaculate condition by following Leave No Trace ethical principles.

  Human presence

  • Movement of motor boats. 
  • Several outfitters scattered throughout the reservoir.

Natural Environment

History

Kipawa Lake is located on the ancestral territory of the Anicinabeg of Hunter's Point.

From the middle of the 18th century, several logging companies started logging the white and red pine forests of Kipawa. At the end of the 19th century, the logging company J. R. Both Lumber was well established there.

Part of the Kipawa River became a reservoir following the construction of the Laniel and Kipawa dams in 1911. The Kipawa dam, built to supply electricity to the mill and the town of Témiscamingue, is located at the mouth of Gordon Creek, near the municipality of Kipawa.

Geography

With a surface area of 300 km² and 1,307 km of shoreline characterized by numerous rocky escarpments, this body of water extends over five townships. The lake form is complex, being connected with several other bodies of water: Green, Grindstone, Bedout, McLachlin, Sheffield, Audoin, Sheffield, Trout, Hunter, Sunnyside and Moran lakes.

The body of water reaches a maximum depth of 40 meters and its average depth is 11.5 meters.

The main hydrographic slopes of the Kipawa Reservoir are:

  • North side: African stream, Lavallée river;
  • East side: Lac Bois Franc which flows into the Kipawa River;
  • Southwest side: Beauchêne River which drains Lac Beauchêne, Petit lac Beauchêne, Windy, du Diable, du Pin Blanc, Grand lac George and Petit lac Georges;
  • East side: the Ottawa River.

The tank turns out to be a real labyrinth made up of:

  • Bays: Chemagan, des Plongeurs, Profonde, du Huard, Dorval, Pratt, des Anglais, Campbell, McLaren, Dubreuil, Coalpit Bay, Trout and Pratt;
  • Islands: McKenzie, Fox, aux Ours, Grosse île du Moose, Garrot, aux Fraises, La Tortue, Bronson and Latour.
  • Peninsulas.

The Kipawa Reservoir is fed by:

  • North side: outlet of Carr Lake; Lac Moran, St-Amand, Lac du Grand Couteau and Lac Guay; outlet of Lac en Cœur; outlet of Lac du Caribou; outlet of Lake Aubry; outlet of Bat Lake; outlet of Lac Clément, Jack-White and McKeown; outlet of Lake Raisenne; Lake Audoin; Hunter Point Lake; Little Grindstone Lake; outlet of Lake McCullough; Outlet of Lake McKillop;
  • East side: McLachlin Lake; Outlet of Lake McKillop; Kipawa River;
  • South side: outlet of Trout Lake (which empties into Pratt Bay).

Wildlife

The species observed on the Kipawa reservoir are the loon, the great blue heron, the osprey, the crane, the bald eagle and a multitude of ducks.

Flora

The giant red pines, often 300 years old or more, line the Kipawa Reservoir in several places. There are also sugar maple and black ash forests. This body of water is characterized by areas with a high concentration of mature forests, including McKenzie Island, which has never undergone intensive logging

Toponymy

Kipawa's name comes from Algonquin and means "It's closed". The toponym was spelled in multiple ways before the Kipawa variant was formalized: Kippawa, Kippewa, Kepawa, Kipakowe, Kipahowe.

Related tracks

You can stretch your pleasure by combining the following related route with your itinerary:
Kipawa Southeast Paddling Trail

Comments social0