The Dumoine is not only an ideal river for improving your paddling (and in this case if you wish poling) skills, it is also considered one of the prettiest rivers of the Ottawa Valley.  It is ideal for the intermediate paddler, but experienced canoeists love it as well. Whitewater experience is not 100% necessary, a strong flatwater background will put you in good stead.  We'll spend lots of time teaching on the river's class  1 & 2 rapids.  Water levels in August are usually moderate so the river becomes a fun technical river.  This is great for folks wanting a less intense paddle. We will concentrate on the whole river from Lac De Mille down to the Ottawa River. 

We'll spend some nights camped beside whitewater on some of the Dumoine's famous campsites.  We'll paddle the full river right from the top.  After shuttling into Lac De Mille, we'll paddle down the small creek intot the Dumoine proper.  We'll spend 7 days descending the river right down to the Ottawa.

Note this is a suggested itinerary only.  Each trip itself will form its own exact itinereary.

Day 1:  We'll meet at 8 am at Noel Le Clerc's House in Swish and leave ...

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  The Dumoine is not only an ideal river for improving your paddling (and in this case if you wish poling) skills, it is also considered one of the prettiest rivers of the Ottawa Valley.  It is ideal for the intermediate paddler, but experienced canoeists love it as well. Whitewater experience is not 100% necessary, a strong flatwater background will put you in good stead.  We'll spend lots of time teaching on the river's class  1 & 2 rapids.  Water levels in August are usually moderate so the river becomes a fun technical river.  This is great for folks wanting a less intense paddle. We will concentrate on the whole river from Lac De Mille down to the Ottawa River. 

We'll spend some nights camped beside whitewater on some of the Dumoine's famous campsites.  We'll paddle the full river right from the top.  After shuttling into Lac De Mille, we'll paddle down the small creek intot the Dumoine proper.  We'll spend 7 days descending the river right down to the Ottawa.

Note this is a suggested itinerary only.  Each trip itself will form its own exact itinereary.

Day 1:  We'll meet at 8 am at Noel Le Clerc's House in Swish and leave your cars here.  We will embark on the three and a half hour shuttle up logging roads to Lac De Mille.We would hope to be at the put in spot for a late lunch.  In the afternoon we'll paddle the small Riviere Du Nord for several km down to the Dumoine proper at Lac Grulart and then on down to Lac Laforge.  Along the way we'll encounter several small rapids which is a great way to begin day 1.

Day 2:  The remaining days will be spent at a relaxed pace enjoying the beautiful scenery and fun filled whitewater of the Dumoine River.  The trip begins with two short portages around spectacular small falls.  We can practice maneuvers in the current at the outwash of these falls.   A couple of kilometers across the small lake to a campsite, in time to hopefully catch some fish for dinner.

Day 3:  At the end of the lake we enter into a series of small R1 rapids where we can practice whitewater maneuvers.  After a section of swifts we enter into a long complex set of rapids which will likely be portaged completely along the left shore.  It is sometimes possible to run a short section in the middle of this complex between two R4's.  After passing underneath a bailey bridge we will run two small R1-2's before entering into Lac Benoit.  At the outlet of the Lake is a nice easy set where we will spend some further time practicing and reviewing skills.  This is followed by a short liftover around a falls and then Canoe Eater rapid.  At Canoe Eater we will get out and scout.  Depending on group skill, interest, and time, we may scout and run this R3 rapid empty.  Camp will be made next to this rapid.

Day 4:  Following Canoe Eater there are a series of enjoyable R2's and R1's that go on for many kilometers.  We will spend considerable time practicing in these wonderful rapids.   This section ends with Little Steel Rapids, a long technical R1-2.  We will lunch at a site nestled in the trees next to Little Steel.  After Little Steel Rapids, a 300m portage takes us around Little Steel Falls.   Below the falls are several swifts and rapids before Burnt Island Lake.  Camp will be made on the small island in this Lake or on the point preceding it.

Day 5:  Below burnt Island Lake there are more swifts as well as Big Steel Rapids before Sheerway and the Dumoine Rod and Gun Club.  We will stop for lunch at the Margot Spry Shelter near the Rod and Gun Club.  After Sheerway we will paddle through some beautiful widenings in the river as well as the enjoyable Shoreway and Turner Rapids.  There is a nice campsite at Turner rapid where we will set up camp in time to do some more playing in this R2 rapid. 

Day 6:  In the morning  we will reach the "Grande Chute" .  We will take time out here to hike the scenic river trail. Lunch will be eaten on a spectacular site overlooking the impressive gorge and falls.   After completing the 1km portage around Grande Chute we will again head out onto the water.    Below the portage there are several easy R1 rapids before Robinson Lake.  The fun begins below the Lake with Red Pine Rapids. Red Pine Rapids is really a complex of 5 individual sets that run together.  It will take us some time to complete these sets as scouting will be required.  We will likely make camp near the last of these rapids.

Day 7: This day involves our final day of whitewater and the end of the trip. Below Red Pine rapids there are several kilometers of swifts and R1 rapids before Examination Rapid.  Examination involves a double ledge which can be run but will provide great opportunities to practice some of the skills learned along the way.  This represents the last major rapid of the trip.  Around the corner from examination is a small falls which we will lift over on the right.  This leads into a section of fast current that will bring us to the famous "bald eagle rock".  This is an impressive cliff face that towers above the left bank of the river.  Time permitting we may take a hike here.  Several more kilometers of paddling brings us to the final short portage of the trip around frothing 10 foot falls.  From the end of the portage it is about 2 hours of paddling out the flooded river mouth and across the Ottawa River to our pick up spot. We should arrive back at your cars (Misty Mountain Resort) at about 4pm.

Cost $1795, Dates Aug 3-9