West Magpie River Rafting

The Magpie West, in Quebec, Canada offers some of the best expedition rafting in the world with stunning scenery and continuous white water.

Arriving to this untouched wilderness via float plane, we will travel 112miles and paddle over 100 class III, IV & IV+ rapids, seeing giant waterfalls and gorges. In this northern Boreal forest we will watch out for moose, black bear, caribou and lynx.

So few people have paddled through here that most of the rapids are still unnamed…something we can work on as we relax in the evening recounting the day's adventures.

Who's this trip for?
This trip is for anyone who has paddled whitewater before and is keen on running challenging rapids and exploring a remote and rarely travelled section of river. Participants should have some experience with wilderness camping, be in good physical condition, comfortable walking on rocks and uneven terrain, ready to spend full days on the water, and be able to swim. Ages 12 and up.

What if I don't have experience?
Don't worry, we also have an 8 day Magpie River adventure for those without white water or wilderness camping experience.

0845 0047 801

Itinerary / Highlights

Day 1: Our trip starts in Sept Iles where your guides will greet you at the airport. After checking into our rooms we can go for a walk around town before a welcome dinner at a local restaurant. Guides will go over packing tips as well as the plan for the days ahead.
Dinner, Hotel

Day 2: After breakfast, we take a short drive to the float plane docks, where we take our flight to the West Magpie. Flying inland, the terrain steepens as we pass over mountains, rivers, and lakes. The hourlong flight takes us to the upper reaches of the West Magpie. Here, untouched wilderness stretches for vast distances in every direction. Waving goodbye to our pilot, we ready our rafts and start downstream. The river narrows as we approach our first rapid. Today we will get a taste of the excitement to come as we scout and run two class IV's before pulling off to make camp and settle in for our first night under the stars.
Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner, Overnight Camp

Days 3 to 11: Rafting Descent of West Magpie.
On the River & Rapids - Before running any rapids we review safety instructions and practice paddling techniques. We use 14-foot paddle rafts that can fit up to six people plus a guide. Safety kayakers lead the way. Our equipment and food is carried in ‘gear rafts' that are steered by a guide using long oars.

Over the following days the river drops though numerous rapids. Many are straight forward and we can charge right through them while others require careful scouting and precision. At several spots we line our rafts, using ropes to guide them while walking around on shore. So few people have paddled through here that most of the rapids are still unnamed…something we can work on as we relax in the evening recounting the day's adventures.

The last obstacle of the West Magpie is an unrunnable slot canyon that we portage our equipment around. Along the 600 metre trail, we see that the forest has changed as we have moved south and dropped in elevation. The evergreens are bigger and joined by some broadleaf trees. The floor is covered in thick moss and multi-coloured mushrooms. We camp below the canyon before paddling into the lake, marking the next stage of our journey We paddle into the open space of Lake Magpie which is ringed by high bluffs and cliffs. It looks a bit like an ocean fjord though we are still a long way from the sea. If we have tail winds we can sail down the lake and if not we use a motor to cruise along, soaking in the landscape and letting our muscles rest. We camp on a large beach and settle in to watch the sunset while listening to the call of loons from distant bays. The following day we continue on, reaching the outflow of the Magpie River before lunch.

We now start into this section's many rapids. We spend three or four nights along this classic stretch and we will try to have a lay-over day at one of the camps. The second to last day on the water brings us through the last class IV's of the trip - Double Drop, Trust Falls, and Borealis & before arriving at the impressive Magpie Gorge. Our incredible camp sits high on a canyon rim overlooking three thundering
rapids.

Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner, Overnight Camping

Day 12: Depart from last camp at Magpie Gorge, stop for lunch at Magpie falls, and paddle to the take out by the St. Lawrence Gulf. Overnight lodging in coastal village. Farewell Dinner.
Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner, Overnight in Lodge

Day 13: Breakfast and airport drop-off.
Breakfast

Other Details

Accommodation Details

All accommodations for twelve nights. (two nights shared hotel room, ten nights individual tent)

Camp Life
Over the course of the trip we camp at a variety of sites, like beaches or rock slabs by big rapids. Everybody pitches their tents and the guides set up a kitchen area and prepare appetizers. People can relax with a book or take photos, go fishing, or chat by the campfire.
Meals are always delicious, plentiful, and made with high quality and fresh Quebec ingredients. We cook sauces on a stove, grill meats and fish over open fire, and use a Dutch oven to bake desserts. Snacks are always available.

The pace of the West Magpie Expedition is faster then that of our other Boreal River trips. We wake up and break down camp early to give ourselves lots of time on the water. Some days we will be on the river until late afternoon. However, while we won´t have many hours of downtime every day, there will still be opportunities to relax and to explore the forest. We can take side hikes to get views from up high, learn about local plants, and look for wildlife and their tracks.

Departure Dates, Options & Prices

This is a real one off expedition and is scheduled to run:- 24th August - 5th September 2010.
Other dates are available for the shorter 8-day Magpie River adventure

0845 0047 801