Northern NB Canoe Routes?

[Bones]

Hey All,

First off - great site, excellent info.

Does anyone know any (hopefully) isolated canoe routes around Edmunston area? Or even heading into Quebec area?

I've just moved here for a summer job, and would love to get away for a weekend every now and then. Some friends were telling me about the Green River - but after reading the story... no thanks!!! I'd prefer not to be around ATV's at midnight and surrounded by canoes, motorboats, etc...

Also, I'll need to rent a canoe as don't have one here. Any suggestions for some good places? There might be a couple of us going, so we can probably use 2 vehicles and do a river trip.

Preferably I'd like a route without many big rapids as I'll probably be taking people who don't have much experience, or just doing the route myself solo.

Thanks for your help!
Paul

[Ken Corbett]

Someone told me the Iroquois River was worth a trip. It's smaller, but looks good from the road. maybe you'll have to scout it. You'd need rain.

Baker Brook from Baker Lake is also do able, there's a five-foot drop near the end I'm told.
Salmon River is a favorite stretch up there as well.

Ken

[ldmrt]

if you wish to go further east from Edmunson, the Restigouche is not bad during the summer, but can be crowded. The upsalquitch is nice for a weekend float but in summer can get low and you have to be on the lookout constantly for rocks, but it is nice and calm and there is almost nobody on it.

[Bones]

Thanks for the suggestions. I'm thinking of giving the Kedgwick a shot, from what I hear its less crowded than the Restigouche. Plus there's an outfitter (http://www.canoerestigouche.ca) that will rent a canoe and drop you off up the river - ideal for my situation.

From a friend has told me, there's a lot less fishermen on the Kedgwick and it's more isolated. Anyone have any coments on that?

[Bones]

Thanks for the advice I got - maybe this should be in the trip report board, but what the heck I'll post it here.

I ended up running the Restigouche over the weekend. I didn't decide to leave until Friday night, so I quickly threw some stuff together and took off Sat morning. I rended from Arpin, the price was reasonable as it included the shuttle. As I was going solo, I had to time my trip to be picked up with another group for my $55 rental fee to include the shuttle - hence the Restigouche.

I was warry of running it because of Ken's trip report, but as it was before Salmon season and the forecast wasn't great I pretty much had it to myself. There were only 2 fishermen Sat on the river and 4 other canoes. Sunday lower down it started to get busy and I certainly wouldn't want to run it later on when it's jam packed like rush hour. The speed of the current (or rather the distance I could cover) surprised me. I'm more use to lake trips with connecting rivers and portages, so covering 90 km in a day and half was a definite first.

The scenery is breathtaking - and if you can manage to go when it will be quite - weekday non fishing season I would recommend it. I'm thinking that later on this summer I'm going to do it again as a night paddle. I figure I can take off from Kedgwick around 10 pm and finish by 9 the next morning. It should be a beautiful paddle in the moonlight - and there'll be no fishermen and few canoes (although unfortunately probably far two many campsites on the way down - but those should close up by 2, 3am at the latest).

Finally, I think I'll be trying the Kedgwick, Upsalquich, and ?Papaquitch? (quebec river going into Kegwick) over the next couple of months.

Cheers!
Bones

[ldmrt]

The best time to run the Upsalquitch is right now. It's much rockier than the Restigouche and you need water to have a good float, without constantly being on the lookout for rocks. If you were surprised of the speed of the Restigouche, the Upsalquitch is much faster. I recommend going in the next two weeks, there is no fishing until after the 15 of June and water levels are still decent for the next two weeks. It's never crowded though, you'll see the occasional fisherman, but they are so surprised to see a canoe, that they are usually friendly, or they are to me anyway.

[jukeboxjunky]

St Francis River, can start from Pohenegamook Qc, or Riviere Bleu Qc,
goes all the way to Connors then dumps into the St John River.
Baker Brook(North Branch) Starts in baker Lake and it quite a ride, not for the inexperienced,
Green River, Canoist there and can take you either on a 1 day, 2 day or 3 day trip.
really a drinking River.
Iriquois river would be fun but is not very wide.

[Ken Corbett]

Iriquois river .... yeah, I look at that every time I drive up towards Edmundston. Always wondered about it. Two-day trip, maybe three?

I've heard the Salmon River up by St. Leonard is great when there's water. Is there an overnighter in it, or just a day trip?

I've been laid up with a bad knee, and my son is getting married next week, so I'm itching to get out soon. Let there be rain!

[jukeboxjunky]

youd have to hit Iriquois early, like around this time of year,
might make 2 days out of it, but im guessing a good days run,

you could do Baker brook and Iriquois all in the same weekend,

Actually baker brook(North Branch) would be 2 days alone.

[jukeboxjunky]

anyone wants to come up to canoe these rivers.
just message me and well set up a nice trip.

[Ken Corbett]

Do you know anything about the Salmon and Grand Rivers, jukey?

[jukeboxjunky]

no sorry, im still a newbie to canoing
i started last year, but plan on doin alot this year,
i have a friend that might be able to give me some insight.
ill see if he wants to join this forum, or at least give me some info on these..


i actually started wanting to do diferent rivers, other then green river when i saw your site and read the stories.
sounded like fun times to experience.
if you ever do those rivers, let me know and i may join the fun..