Virtual Tour of the North Road

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The North Road is a very remote road that runs from near Chibougamau to Km 275 of the James Bay Road. It is 424 km long, and is a modern gravel road, with smooth curves and hills, unpaved for its entire length. There is very little traffic - most of the traffic is trucks. The first 50 km or so are used by mammoth logging trucks. Use caution! There are numerous warning signs about them. There are no towns on the road except for Nemaska, which is 10 km north of this road at km296.

If the road is dry, expect a complete whiteout after a truck passes you.  Slow down and pull to the right as far as you can safely go.  This will help preserve your front windshield, as well as keep you out of the way if the oncoming driver does not pull over to their side of the road far enough.  Generally speaking, the truckers to be very considerate of the other vehicles on the road.  It's the occasional passenger vehicle and pickup truck being driven by a maniac that are the problem.  Watch for graders that are continually working on the road.

Generally the scenery is fairly level (some people will say it's downright boring).  The road crosses some medium-sized rivers. The road is open year-round, however, it gets VERY cold up there in the winter, so if you go in the winter, or even the fall or spring, be prepared.  In the summer it can get just as hot as down south. There are regular picnic and rest areas to stop and take a break.  There is only one campground. You may instead to choose to camp in old gravel pits, which are plentiful and usually not all that ugly. Cell phones do not work here.

I don't have many photos of the North Road. I've only been along it once. I fully intend to go back soon, and when I do, there will be a lot more photos here.

See also Travelogues, Driving the North Road.

Km 12: Waconichi Lake. There is a "Northern Arboretum" there, quite interesting to walk in the forest.
SEPAQ have some very nice camps there. (SEPAQ is the "Société des éstablissements de plein air du Québec")

Km 26: Backroad to Oujé-Bougoumou and Chapais -- some 46 Kms for Oujé, and 11 more for Chapais.

Km 63: Brock River

Km 66: Samuel Bedard Lake

Km 81: Domergue Lake

Km 100: Frotet Lake

Km 106: Cellular phones do work here for a short ways.

Km 108: Junction of access road for the Troilus Mine, 44 Kms away.
At about km 27 of this access road, there is a gravel pit, just over the hill after crossing the Broadback River. This is the access for "Square Tail Lodge" outfitting camps. This is A world Class fishing spot, for speckled trout mainly. So far, at least 3 world records come from this camp. The biggest trout ever caught at the Lodge since opening in 1966 was 9 pounds & 9 ounces. This record catch was exceeded in 2004 with a trout weighing 12 pounds & 1 ounce!
The road turns west just after Km 108; there is a nice valley on the north side of the road. Lake Lezai is visible down there, quite pretty scenery with all the small islands in the lake.

Km 131: Broadback River: This river may also be seen at Km 232 of the James Bay Road.

Km 132: Cheniapiscau rest area. Picnic tables, toilets, scenic viewpoint, camping.
Camping & fishing note: This campsite and any other campsite before Km 164 are inside the SEPAQ territory. You need to register and pay for camping or any other activities inside the Reserve. No registration paper might mean a fine from the Quebec Game Wardens. They are all over the place in the summer. Same thing for fishing. First "free" fishing spot is the Marteen River at Km 178.

Km 162: Entering the areas of Assinica, Albanel-Mistassini and Waconichi Games Preserves. 1-800-665-6527

Km 177: Marteen River. By paddling downstream from here, you can reach the Rupert River after a week or so of paddling.

Km 221: Small side road on the right hand side (north bound): access for Mesgouez Lake & the Rupert River. There is an extensive set of Cree camps here (spring fishing camps). Boat ramp, camping, fishing.

Km 238: Rupert River Gorge. STOP HERE AND TAKE A LOOK. Picnic tables, toilets, shelters, fishing. Spectacular rapids!! It isn't anywhere near as big here as it is downstream where it crosses the James Bay Road. But these rapids are a seething mass of wild roaring water nonetheless.
There are plans to divert the Rupert River, upstream from here, in 2007. Get up here and see this magnificent wild river while it is still unaltered!

It is possible to camp here, but NOT at the rest area. Just before the bridge (Northbound), on the right side, there is a small road. This is the portage trail. There is room down there for 1-2 cars & tent. But if you try this, you may not sleep well during the first night ...this rapid is loud

The "cut-off" point for the Rupert River Diversion project is only about 4-5 kilometers upstream. At low water, it is possible to walk on the North shore of the River and reach this point, about a days walk.

To have another view of the Rupert River, one can walk North on the road for +/- 300m -- there is a trail there. This is the portage trail, ends in a nice "pool", where there's a nice view of the second set of rapids (Class V).

There is also another trail. Just in front of the entrance for the small road (the portage trail mentioned above), at the south side of the bridge. This trail leads right on top of the chute, one can take breathtaking pictures from there. But take great care, it is almost scary!

Same note here about fishing, you are in the WEES-SEES-INDOHOUN zone, so you need a pass.

Km 248: Hydro Quebec transformer station Albanel

Km 255: Hutte Lake

Km 258: Junction:
Left turn for the Route du Nord.
Right turn for the Hydro Quebec Poste Albanel transformer station.
Straight ahead is the "Auclair" road, for a 4x4 only. Leads to the Nemiscau River (38km) & the Eastmain River (68km).

Km 288: Hydro Quebec Nemiscau transformer station.

Km 290: Cree Construction Garage. Gas and diesel might be available from 7-9am and 4-6pm, Monday to Saturday, closed on Sunday. But you're probably better off going into Nemaska for this.

Km 300: Access road to the village of Nemiscau (Nemaska), 10 km to the north. Gasoline, diesel, restaurant, store, lodging (819) 673-2512.

Km 381: Boisrobert Lake. Picnic tables, toilets, boat launching ramp, camping.