Pipmuacan reservoir - Blog

Michel Tremblay

Forest survival specialist, explorer, adventurer, trainer, speaker and author

Published on 06 July |Last updated on 16 September

Several years ago, with a group of sea kayaking friends, I made a partial tour (two thirds) of the three hundred kilometers of shoreline offered by this immensity of open water. This reservoir is part of the Résolu company's water management, just like the Onatchiway, Lamothe and Sébastien reservoirs, which are interconnected by the Shipshaw River. Several dams and dykes are surrounding it to make this huge lake as we know it.

I went back, this time by canoe, with my girlfriend to explore an unknown section in the middle of the reservoir. Made up of about a hundred islands and islets, this new sector was just waiting to be discovered. The challenge was not mileage, but rather an orientation challenge in itself. Indeed, it is not uncommon for people to get lost on this mega labyrinth where Mother Nature can be quite unpredictable.

It is loaded with a week of autonomy that we embarked on the water from the Pipmuacan Outfitter where a landing allows everyone to access the water.

At this moment, with astonishment, we noticed that the level of the reservoir was 5 meters lower than its normal level. This was a result of the winter without much snow accumulation in the area...

The landscape that appears to us, at this level, is composed of a sand and gravel strip that overlaps the horizon on 360 degrees, topped with boreal forest. Water, beige, green and sky. A true forestry shepherd's pie! 😊

We reached the Islands section on the first day. Due to the exceptionally low water level, the bottom of the reservoir became islands and islets... uncharted. So, it was much trial and error to make our way through this rocky, sandy and muddy amalgam to find our way moving forward. Even with map and GPS. Sometimes even pushing ourselves to the bottom with our paddles. A 700 meters portage was even necessary for the progression. That's what adventure is all about! All this happening under the watchful eye of the caribou, the bald eagle, the terns and through the bear tracks...

In spite of the jolts of Mother Nature who revealed her unpredictable character, the sector is enchanting by its beauty. The camp sites abound, offering a superb panorama at sunset that will take your breath away. The pike was there for a very fresh fish dinner. How could we ask for something more?

This kind of trip sounds interesting to you?

To get there: Go to the Saguenay in the municipality of St-David de Falardeau. Take Chemin Price until you reach the gravel road. From there, the kilometers are posted on the side of the road. At km 32, take a right that will take you over the Onatchiway Reservoir dam. Continue to km 74 where you will need to take a right following the "Rouvray" area. At km 104, turn left. The road narrows to the Pipmuacan outfitter which is 24 km further. It is thus, 128 km which await you, but which were well maintained at the time of our passage.

It is strongly recommended to use an SUV or a pick-up truck to get to your destination.

I hope you will enjoy it as much as we do...