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Virtual Tour of the James Bay
Road
Page 1 of 12
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Km 0:
Beginning of the James Bay Road, just outside
Matagami -- the start of your remote highway adventure!
"Matagami" is a Cree word meaning "where the waters
meet".
This is the last town you'll see for 620 km (375
miles)!! Stock up on what you need for the trip,
especially gas. There's only one gas station between
here and the end of the road. The Shell station (the
first one you encounter on your way in to town) is open
24 hrs, 7 days a week. There's a basic store here as
well where you can get ice, some groceries, and other
things. In Sep 2005 gas was $1.21 per liter, and
diesel was $1.07 per liter. But this was in the
aftermath of Hurricane Katrina, when gas prices went a
bit nuts.
You may encounter logging trucks through km 200 or so.
The James Bay Road is reached via
Hwy 109.
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Km 0: "Route de la
Baie James" -- The James Bay Road. |
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Km 2:
Bell River. This is the longest bridge on the James
Bay Road. The Bell River flows into Matagami Lake. The
northern part of the lake then becomes the Nottaway
River which flows north to James Bay.
This is the first of the large rivers that you will
cross. |
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| Km 6: Junction with bush road R1005, just south of the
Checkpoint, running east from the road. This bush road leads south &
east to Lebel-sur-Quevillon on Hwy 113. |
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Km 6:
Checkpoint: Stop here and register.
Due to the remoteness of this road, you must stop here
and register your travel plans. Open 24 hrs, 7 days per
week.Tourist information, maps, souvenirs, restrooms,
picnic tables, shelter, telephone. You can also register
for tours of the hydro-electric power installations of
Robert Bourassa and LG-1, and make reservations for
hotel rooms in Radisson & Chisasibi. Open 24 hours, all
year 'round. (819) 739-4473. You are strongly urged to
register here, due to the remoteness of the country
through which you will be passing.
Information panel: "One territory ... six seasons".
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Km 6: "Isolated
Route for 375 km". From here on, you will see
diminishing amounts of traffic, and only a handful of
buildings over the next 375 km. |
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Km 6: Just beyond
the checkpoint. No gas for 375 km. This sign is not a
joke! There really is no gas or fuel of any sort for
375km! Nor any services. |
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Km 6: It's a long
way to anywhere. |
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Km 8:
Mont Laurier
comes into view. There is a network of hiking trails
there, including one to the top of the mountain. |
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Km 8: Strung out at
various locations along the Road are these "Information
Panels." Each one describes a different aspect of the
country and the Road. Unfortunately, they are all in
French and Cree, not English.
This one is about Bogs and Fens, of which there are a
lot in the part of the world. |
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Km
10:
Mont Laurier
trail, to the west of the Road. You can climb to the
top via trails and enjoy a magnificent view of
Matagami's
surroundings.
There is a network of trails surrounding the hill,
and extending to km 12 & km 18. A straight hike up
and back would take about 1.5-2 hours. Note that it is a
lot farther and higher than it looks from the road. The
trail starts at the "Telebec Laurier" sign and is
directly across the road from the Information panel.
This photo shows the start of the trail. It climbs by
a roundabout route to the microwave tower at the top of
the mountain, seen here in the distance. Don't block the
gate when you park here. |
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Well, it's not really a "mountain", but it sure seems like it
from the top! The top of the hill is at an altitude of 1550 ft
(about 480 m), a climb of 565 ft (about 185 m). A straight hike up
and back would take about 1.5 -2 hours.
Information panel: "Mont-Laurier - A taste of northern
environments". |
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Km 10: Here are a series of photos along
the trail to the top of Mont
Laurier |
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Km 10: A trail map.
Km 10 is at the lower left corner where the hiker symbol
is. The top of Mont Laurier is at the red triangle that
is located directly above the "Mont Laurier" label on
the map. I recommend you take the right-hand trail up
to the top, and return the same way. I tried to come
down via the left-hand trail, but it was so poorly
marked that I couldn't find it in time to come down
before it got dark.
Click here
for more info about the Mont Laurier area. |
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Km 10: About 1/4 of
the way up. The trail is fairly easy to follow if you
elect to take the "right" branch from the start. |
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Km 10: The first
viewpoint. |
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Km 10: Farther up
the trail passes through a quite different landscape
than lower down. Lichens, moss, spruce trees and rocks
dominate. |
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Km 10: The view
from the top, looking north. |
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Km 10: The
microwave tower and helicopter landing pad at the top. |
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Km 10: Looking down
from the top to the pull-off along the Road where the
trail starts (it's the light spot in the center of the
photo). |
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Km 10: Looking
south along the James Bay Road. Matagami is visible in
the distance (but not in this photo). |
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Km 12:
Second access point to the
Mont Laurier hiking trail system. Park along the road or drive
in a short ways and park off to the side. No sign along the road. |
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Km
18:
Here is the third access point to the
Mont Laurier
trail system.
The trail leads up the abandoned road seen on the far
side of the James Bay Road here. No sign along the
road. Park along the road. |
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