Just at the edge of Port-Cartier lies an extensive boreal paradise spanning nearly 6500 km², dotted with 1000 lakes, 15 rivers, and countless mountains. The Port-Cartier - Sept-Îles Wildlife Reserve has been fulfilling the desires of hunting and fishing enthusiasts for decades.

Blessed with exceptional natural attractions, in recent years, it has been drawing an increasing number of hiking, canoe camping, climbing, and cycling enthusiasts. And there's no need to venture far to enjoy these sublime landscapes! Just 30 kilometers off Highway 138 and the town of Port-Cartier, on the road to the Park, you'll arrive at the spectacular Lake Walker, the deepest in Quebec at 280 meters. Cliffs and escarpments of the Canadian Shield plunge densely towards this trench spanning over 30 km... it looks like a fjord! This enchanting site, ideal for water activities and the starting point for several trails, houses the main reception area of the reserve, a campground, and several chalets available for rent, granting access to rowboats, canoes, or kayaks.

Outdoor activities within the reserve include:

Hiking (June to September)*:

- Tower Trail: A brand new 7 km route that traverses three summits from the end of the Chalets du Lac Walker road to the top of the Le Tableau cliff. On clear days, one can even catch sight of the Chic-Chocs massif... an eagle's nest!

- Mountain Trail: A linear circuit of just over 3 km from the Chalets du Lac Walker area (two entry points to the trail) ascending about 150 meters to a viewpoint with breathtaking panoramas.

- MacDonald Falls Trail: Located 15 km north of the Lake Walker reception area, a 1.5 km round trip with a footbridge over a foamy basin leads to a viewpoint where one can observe the torrent being forcefully ejected from the primordial granite.

- Solitude Mountain Trail: Starting on the other side of the footbridge from the MacDonald Falls trail, a brief ascent to the top of a clear cone allows for contemplating the MacDonald River valley and getting acquainted with its glacial past.

*Please note that the Carré Lake trail is closed this summer due to maintenance work.

Canoe Camping (June to September):

Two circuits, both ranging from levels 1 to 6, provide ample opportunities for canoe camping enthusiasts within the Port-Cartier - Sept-Îles Wildlife Reserve:

- MacDonald River Circuit: 42 km during high water with long portage sections.
- Rochers River Circuit: A 10 km high-level route that can be navigated at any time.

Climbing: Walls ranging from 200 to 300 meters, some of the highest in Quebec, stand above Lakes Walker and Pasteur. The climbers of the Côte-Nord Climbing Club are a wealth of information and... inspiration!

Cycling: This vast territory of natural and wild spaces holds plenty of pleasures and discoveries for bikepacking enthusiasts, especially when the stops are punctuated or end with succulent catches of the day! Small loops can be designed from the splendid Lake Arthur. A larger, truly epic route stretching over 300 km from Shelter Bay, also known as Port-Cartier, involves following the Park road to the Northeast Toulnustouc River, at the northern limits of the reserve, then heading east towards the Sainte-Marguerite River, thus incorporating the Matimek ZEC. The return to the river is via the main road of the ZEC, rarely frequented although paved for several years by Hydro-Québec to supply its dam construction sites on the Sainte-Marguerite, including the famous SM3: an 80 km roller coaster ride through the mountains! Just another thirty kilometers along the spacious and silky shoulder of Highway 138 to the starting point and... celebrate the achievement!

By Pierre Bouchard for the Tourist Magazine of Côte-Nord Between Nature and Grandeur

Info:

Port-Cartier - Sept-Îles Wildlife Reserve:

https://www.sepaq.com/rf/spc/

Côte-Nord Climbing Club:

https://www.facebook.com/Escalade-Côte-Nord-2137637353121455/