Canoeing in Appalachian Park

Discover Appalachian Park from a whole new angle with a canoe trip on the Rivière Noire Nord-Ouest. Join Gérard and Roxanne on their adventure, accompanied by their husky, Jack!

Over the past few months, we’ve discovered the Parc des Appalaches through its 140 km of hiking trails. We’ve enjoyed them in all seasons, so much so that we’ve been won over by the diversity and beauty of the landscapes they cross. So when we learned that we could canoe on the Rivière Noire Nord-Ouest, whose meanders we’d crossed on several occasions, we didn’t hesitate for a second to let ourselves be tempted by the experience!

Departure and launch are from the park’s reception office in Sainte-Lucie-de-Beauregard. The river’s rapids are much further upstream, and from there on the water is calm, which is perfect for beginners like us. For the occasion, we decided to take Jack, one of our huskies, with us for the experience, as he has a “marine paw”. In fact, he’s already been on a motorboat, and even paddleboarded on several occasions.

Once all the equipment has been received and we’ve donned our flotation jackets, we show Jack our canoe while it’s still lying on the grass. Then it’s off to the water! Right from the start, as we get our bearings with the paddles, the gentle current of the Rivière Noire Nord-Ouest pulls us along. As for Jack, he immediately finds his cruising position between the two of us, in the center of the canoe. Contemplative at heart, he admires the scenery.

During our first few minutes on the water, we skirt the village of Sainte-Lucie-de-Beauregard and the houses that make it up. As soon as you reach the first bend in the river, they become increasingly rare. All you come across are a few cottages, most with direct access to the river, bathed in the tranquility of the surroundings. As you move away from the village and all its buildings, you find yourself in the middle of a wilderness rich in flora and fauna.

A multitude of bird species accompany us. Some, despite the beauty of their plumage, are unknown to us. Others, like this small family of barnacle geese, are more familiar. Each meander reveals a spectacle of its own. We wander through water lilies, cross a marsh, sail past a small island of lush vegetation. It’s easy to see that you’re in the middle of nature in its raw state, untouched by man.

The fullness of this river washes over us as we progress. And, aided by the sun’s rays that envelop us in their gentle morning warmth, we almost forget to paddle, so exquisite is the moment. Quite simply, you feel alone in the world! Like the forest that surrounds it, this river soothes and relaxes our bodies and minds. Even Jack seems totally caught up in its energy.