La Verendrye car access

[Erica]

Messing around in Circuits 77/70/73

My plan, such as it is, was to put in at Baie Barker on Grand Lac Victoria and see where the water takes me. I am not committed to any particular circuit, or even staying on a circuit, but this is the general area I want to paddle in. I prefer little water to big water. I have two weeks, but I am a puttering paddler, not a racer.

The problem is that Le Domaine says that I cannot get to Baie Barker in an ordinary car: 2002 Grand Marquis. I could drive all the way to the put-in on Lac Granet, but that is a lot of extra driving. Does anyone have some recent actual experience driving into this area? Suggested access points?

Thanks,
Erica

 

[Robin]

I took that road 44, long ride from Le Domaine. I put in where the road crosses the Ottawa River (two bridges close together where the Ottawa goes underneath, I parked at the first bridge by a small portage that leads to the river upstream of the bridge ) paddled the upstream section (easy) to Lac Lambert and came back to my truck via Chute Big and Lac Gaotanaga section of the Ottawa. I liked that section of the park, but it is a long ride. I met a motor boat family during a storm and he told me most folks you see there are from Val Dor/Noranda towns above the park.

It is a long ride though.

 

[Erica]

Thank you Robin. Nice to know you have been up there. It does look like a loooong ride, but it would be an interesting area to paddle in.
Erica

 

[yellowcanoe]

I have been there too and the ride in was long but compared to the 10 hours from home a fraction
dirt roads always take longer
IIRC that road ran through a FN community
but its been seven years or so
i also like putting it Grand Barrage or Antostagsn
each route has its charms
At Grand barrage you can run 35 and 37
access is good road

 

[Erica]

I took that road 44, long ride from Le Domaine. I put in where the road crosses the Ottawa River (two bridges close together where the Ottawa goes underneath, I parked at the first bridge by a small portage that leads to the river upstream of the bridge ) paddled the upstream section (easy) to Lac Lambert and came back to my truck via Chute Big and Lac Gaotanaga section of the Ottawa. I liked that section of the park, but it is a long ride. I met a motor boat family during a storm and he told me most folks you see there are from Val Dor/Noranda towns above the park.

It is a long ride though.

Robin, I am unable to piece together your description. You put in off of 44, which looks to me like over the Ottawa River like you say. But then you say you paddled north to get to Lac Lambert, and I think Lac Lambert is south? Are you referring to the little loop on the Ottawa that goes north and and then turns south to Lambert? This route looks more or less like Circuit 70. It looks like an enticing area on the map.

Thanks,
Erica

 

[Robin]

Robin, I am unable to piece together your description. You put in off of 44, which looks to me like over the Ottawa River like you say. But then you say you paddled north to get to Lac Lambert, and I think Lac Lambert is south? Are you referring to the little loop on the Ottawa that goes north and and then turns south to Lambert? This route looks more or less like Circuit 70. It looks like an enticing area on the map.

Thanks,
Erica

Yes, I paddled south to Lac Lambert ( I said I paddled upstream, not north) The Ottawa runs north at the put in. It's an easy paddle upstream if you take the fork that heads towards Lac Lambert, a couple of easy ports (iirc) and one swift thru a narrow passage that I waded. If you stay on the part of the river that heads towards Lac Gaotanaga from the put in, it's a tough upstream paddle to "Chute Big" It's a wonderful paddle from Chute Big downstream to your vehicle. I camped on an island on Gaotanaga, very nice.

Hope this helps.

 

[Erica]

Of course you said upstream, not north. I do that frequently. Thank you.