Abitibi River - New Post Falls
Package C
Departs: Smooth Rock Falls, Ont.
2 days/ 1 night
Distance: 21km
Skill Level: Beginner
Trip Itinerary
Day 1-2
Just a beginner in the paddling scene, or in the area with a group or your family? This excellent little package offers a bit of everything: Canoeing, camping, history and one of Nature’s most spectacular water falls.Your adventure starts in Smooth Rock Falls where you will meet your guide, Rick, to discuss your trip over a hearty breakfast. Afterwards, you will pack your gear, most of which will be stored in dry bags and will shuttle down an old logging road (Fraserdale Road) to Abitibi Canyon.
The Abitibi River was a major tributary for the fur trade for the Hudson’s Bay Company in the 17 and 1800’s. The river’s clay bottom is the result of glacial sand, clay and gravel which gives the water a distinct brownish color. On this wilderness river adventure you will be traveling the same water route that the Coureurs De Bois and Voyageurs did. As you move down the river you will notice its high clay banks and quiet waterway as it twists through the dense Boreal Forest of North Eastern Ontario.
You will have about a relaxing two hour paddle to your campsite at the base of the spectacular New Post Falls. First along the way down river you will explore the old New Post grave site that’s hidden in the dense bush along the water. The New Post site belonged to the Hudson’s Bay Company and dates back to the 1800’s, as you will see by some of the dates on the crosses. You'll take photographs and discuss some of the history of this very special spot that’s been lost in time.
Half an hour later you will be at the base of New Post Falls. This breathtaking spectacle would be the highlight of any river expedition! Water gushes through a split rock gorge and then drops some 120 feet below to continue its path towards the Abitibi River. You will climb up the side of the gorge to the top of the falls. The mist, rumble of the water, fog, rapids, barkless trees, all make you realize that you are viewing one of nature’s most precious gems. This will be the time for a group photo in the fog and mist. The group will have shared a moment together that will last a lifetime. Then it will be back down the gorge to set up camp at the base of the Falls.
A healthy meal is on the menu for the evening. Homemade muffins or cookies and fruit will be your desert. Your guide has the expertise on the water and in the wilderness, but, fortunately, his wife, Jocelyne, is in charge of all the pre-prep of meals before expeditions. The lady is an awesome cook! Nutrition is a key component of any wilderness outing. The evening will be spent around the campfire, listening to the roar of the falls, hearing stories about the river, its travelers, New Post grave site and, of course, the mystic Falls. It will have been a relaxing day that provided a wealth of knowledge to all.
Next morning you will start with a healthy breakfast, which might include pancakes, muffins, granola, oatmeal or fruits. You will spend most of the day exploring for fossils, and then relaxing before you start your return paddle up river to the take out at Abitibi Canyon.
If there is a better two day package out there that can match this combination of history, beauty and tranquility that this package offers, please contact Howling Wolf Expeditions because we’d love to book a trip.
