In the heart of the forest
The Black River is known for the beauty of its tour and this makes it the first
destination of paddlers. We invite you to discover the calm lower part of this beautiful
river which leads to the Black River Inn (Auberge). From the Inn, there are a lot of lakes
and wild mountainous roads which lead in the heart of the Pontiac’s forested mountain
plateau.
From Pembroke : Follow Highway 148 until Waltham towards Hull.
From Portage du Fort : Follow Highway 303 towards Shawville. On
Highway 148 turn left towards Fort Coulonge then Waltham.
From Hull : Take Highway 148 until Fort Coulonge then Waltham.
The tour is 43 km there and back. The road is a sometimes fine gravel or sandy dirt
trail. We recommend that you take your mountain bike. In dry periods, the cars can raise
an unpleasant dust. During week days, there are not many cars and therefore, the dust made
by them is minimal and you also have more chance to see wild animals.
Click on the map to enlarge it.
To go to Black River Road (Chemin de la rivière Noire), leave you car at Waltham
and take the Cyclopark towards Fort Coulonge. At Pk 67.6 you see a road which leads to
Highway 148. Turn left and the beginning of Black River Road (Chemin de la rivière Noire)
is a few kilometers away.
After a little slope of some hundred meters you arrive on a high
plateau where you can see cattle. The plateau is surrounded by wooden hills, the landscape
is beautiful. Soon you leave the prairie and you enter into leafy forest as you travel
along the Black River. The first half part of the tour is rather uneven and some slopes
will be a good challenge for active people. At Pk 8.4, there is an old settler squared
pine timber house on your left. From now an you will always be along the river. At Pk 9.6,
you arrive at a crossroad. Just before it, you will see a little trail on your left which
leads to a little sandy beach, which is perfect for a rest. Continue to the trail on your
left to stay along the river. Admire its meanderings and the rich fauna of this
crystal-clear water. At Pk 12.3 on your right there is an ideal clearing for a resting
place, but be careful because there are a lot of mosquitoes ! At Pk 18.1 you find the
Black River Inn, a lodging place and a restaurant.
From here, you have numerous forestry roads which allow you to discover
the lakes of the region.
It is possible from here, to reach Jim Lake thanks to a road which is
barely used. At Jim Lake, you will see an Inn where you can rest. A lot of trails and
roads lead to numerous lakes. From Jim Lake you can get to Fort Coulonge by an important
trail about 35 kilometers long.
The Black River on canoe
Why not discover the Black River or the Coulonge River by paddling. You
will be out in full nature. There are rapids, falls, waterfalls that you can pass with
canoes thanks to portages. There are imposing landscapes, sandy beaches and numerous wild
animals. Everything is here to give you an unforgettable experience traveling
on the
waters used by natives and woodsmen for thousands of years.
Many companies from the region will organize a trip for you on the
river with experienced guides who will let you discover things safely.
You will find at the Tourist information kiosk all the documentation
that you need or you can phone, toll free, 1-800-665-5217.
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