Haute Madeleine provides an advanced whitewater challenge in upper Gaspésie with 8 technical rapids ranging from R2 to R4, requiring 3 portages around the most difficult sections. This remote headwater section flows through pristine wilderness with limited camping infrastructure (1 campsite), making it ideal for expert paddlers seeking technical challenges in an unspoiled mountain environment. Spring and early summer offer peak water levels for this demanding route. The advanced difficulty rating and remote location make this a destination for experienced whitewater enthusiasts only.
This route's document cites a hydrometric station. The links below open the operating agency's current reading.
The gauge is on Sainte-Anne, Rivière, not the river you are paddling. The document cites it anyway: "Centre d'Expertise Hydrique du Québec station 021407 sur la rivière Sainte-Anne"
The document describes 8. The map shows 10, because it only places rapids a national survey publishes a coordinate for. The two counts measure different things.
| Rapid | Class | Portage | Surveyor's note |
|---|---|---|---|
| rapides continus | R4 | yes rive gauche | premier 1,5 km de rapides continus est excitant et permet un bon réchauffement. Un court rapide R4 annonce la section la plus difficile de 1,5 km avec une pente de 2,0%. Elle est ponctuée de trois (3) seuils 4 assez collants |
| rapides faciles R2 | R2 | du confluent du Lac Barter au 107 km jusqu'au 100 km, les rapides sont faciles R2 | |
| rapides R3 | R3 | suite intéressante de rapides R3 entrecoupés de planjols du 100 km au pont de la route 33 | |
| R2 | R2 | ||
| R3 | R3 | ||
| R2 | R2 | ||
| R3-4 | R3-R4 R3-4 | Dans la section difficile | |
| R4-25m | R4 | Rapide de 25m dans la section difficile |
This table publishes no position for any rapid. Where a surveyor's note mentions a kilometre, those are their words quoted as written, and the figure was read off a scanned map: use it to follow their description, not to navigate. Most of these surveys were written in French.
Surveyed by André Faubert, 2025-05. MadeleineHauteFaubert2025.pdf
The document describes 1 portage(s).
| Portage | Length | Bank | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tous les portages se font par la rive gauche | not stated | rive gauche | 0 à 5 portages possibles aux embâcles d'arbres |
The document describes 1 campsite(s).
Madeleine (Haute) River is rated Advanced. Whitewater ratings are not exact: grades change with water level and season. Verify current conditions locally before you paddle.
The best time is May-July.
Madeleine (Haute) River is located in the Gaspésie region of Canada.
cartespleinair.org · saumonquebec.com · aventurequebec.ca · paddlingmag.com
Conditions change with water level and season. Grades and positions are for planning, not navigation. Verify locally before you paddle. Terms of use
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