Outaouais

Vérendrye - Tomasine River

Intermediate
★★★☆☆ 3.0

About

The Tomasine route offers intermediate paddlers a journey through the lesser-known northern sections of La Vérendrye, featuring clear waters and variable Class I-III rapids across interconnected lakes and rivers. This 32-rapid route with only 5 portages provides access to pristine Algonquin territory where the river's name derives from 'Tom's Rock,' reflecting its Indigenous heritage. The serpentine waterway flows through classic Canadian Shield landscape with rocky shores and boreal forest, offering excellent fishing and wildlife viewing opportunities. While less documented than major circuits, this route rewards adventurous paddlers with solitude and authentic wilderness experience in the Outaouais region's backcountry.

Highlights

Crystal-clear waterIndigenous heritageRemote wildernessClass I-III rapidsLimited documentation
Best season: June-September

The rapids this document describes

The document describes 32. The map shows 0, because it only places rapids a national survey publishes a coordinate for. The two counts measure different things.

RapidClassPortageSurveyor's note
Rapids near Lac PourcubeauR3yesPortage available
Rapids sequenceR2-3, R2, R, R7, R2 R2-3Multiple rapids in sequence near Rivière Tomasine
Rapids with danger markingR3, R2 R2-3DANGER marked, with barrage notation
Rapids near barrageR1-2yesNear dam/barrage structure
Rapids near SavaryR2, R2, R2 R2Multiple R2 rapids, one marked with 500m
Lac Rond section rapidR2Single rapid mentioned in note - not navigable in very high water, possible in medium water
R2107m
R230m
R38m
R28m
R1yes
R3yes
R276m
R261m
R223m
R222m
R1-2yes
R2yes61m portage available
R2yes23m portage available
R2yes457m portage available
R3yes152m portage available
R1-2yes609m section
CascadesR1-2yes53m section
R2yes16m portage available
R2yes457m portage available
R2yes305m portage available
R1-2yes609m section
R1yes15m section near barrage
R2yes15m section near barrage
R1yes229m portage available
R2yes15m section at end
R2yes23m section at end

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 Réserve Faunique, 2009-03. TomasineVerendrye1969_1989.pdf

The portages this document describes

The document describes 5 portage(s).

PortageLengthBankNotes
Portage near Lac Pourcubeaunot stated
Barrage portagenot stated
R1 R3 portage457 m
R1-2 portage609 m
Section dangereuse - portage obligatoirenot statedMandatory portage for dangerous section

The campsites this document describes

The document describes 2 campsite(s).

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the difficulty level of Vérendrye - Tomasine River?

Vérendrye - Tomasine River is rated Intermediate. Whitewater ratings are not exact: grades change with water level and season. Verify current conditions locally before you paddle.

When is the best time to canoe Vérendrye - Tomasine River?

The best time is June-September.

Where is Vérendrye - Tomasine River located?

Vérendrye - Tomasine River is located in the Outaouais region of Canada.

View interactive map View original PDF map

Sources

cartespleinair.org (maps from 1969 and 1989, in French) · grandquebec.com · myccr.com · infodelavallee.ca · wikimapia.org

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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