We will be traveling to our put-in destination on Saturday and heading off on our trip on Sunday morning. We will be staying at a different site each night as we make our way down the Saguenay River to the St. Lawrence.  We will get off the river Thursday afternoon and plan to camp at a private campground located on the St. Lawrence, Thursday and Friday evening, offering spectacular views and with any luck sightings of whales from shore.  Saturday morning will find us heading home. A more specific itinerary follows as well as notes on additional items you may wish to bring, notes on the campsites and notes in general that may be helpful for you in planning for the trip.

Travel day.  We’ll meet early evening at the campground in St. Rose du Nord, located on the north shore

of the Saguenay River.  Once everyone has arrived, we’ll walk to the nearby restaurant/café for some

authentic Quebec food, maybe a blueberry beer, and entertainment. This will be our starting point for the

trip.

We begin our five day journey down the Saguenay river through the fjord, averaging 8-10 miles a day.  We’ll enjoy breathtaking views each day, keep our eyes peeled for seals snoozing along the river’s edge, and of course, the Beluga whales as we get closer to Arctic waters of the St. Lawrence seaway.  Each night we’ll stay at one of the Provincial Park’s established campsite as we make our way down the Fjord and end in the old trading village of Tadoussac around noon on our final day.  Once we’ve landed, we’ll run the shuttle back up to the put-in to pick up our vehicles, load up the kayaks and head north along the St. Lawrence for approximately 12 miles for our final full day of the trip.  We’ll stay at a campground located on the St. Lawrence, in the heart of whale country.  After setting up camp, getting a much- awaited hot shower and clean clothes, we’ll head to a nearby restaurant for a local meal. (B, L, D, except Thursday night dinner)

Keep your fingers crossed and hopefully today we will paddle with not only Beluga whales and Minke whales but hopefully see Humpbacks and Fin whales feeding along the way.  The water just offshore here is deep, rich with plankton, and very cold, all ingredients that attract the whales.  The smooth granite ledges that slope down to the water surface provide great viewing spots to watch the whales should you decide you’d rather see them from the comfort of shore.  This is a popular destination spot for kayakers and scuba divers from all around. (B, L)