La Verendrye Reserve
La Verendrye Reserve is located in Quebec north of Ottawa. It is in the boreal forest on Canadian shield and is huge, about 13,000 square km versus less than 8,000 for the much more well known Algonquin Park in Ontario.
Morning mist over a La Verendrye lake
Morning light on a La Verendrye campsite
La Verendrye is relatively close to Ottawa, Montreal, and even Toronto, and in many ways is worth comparing to Algonquin. Both are quite accessible, provide predefined routes many of which are loops, and provided designated campsites. Both can also provide near-wilderness experiences if you can get away from the crowds, however this is much easier in La Verendrye for several reasons:
La Verendrye is larger and not as well known, so is inherently less crowded,
La Verendrye is further away from the large population centres,
La Verendrye has a significant number of gravel side roads that spread out access points more than Algonquin, making it easier to get away from crowds without doing an extended trip, and
La Verendrye has a number of large lakes that again make it easier to spread people out.
Another benefit of La Verendrye canoeing (at least for lazy folk like me) is that the waterways are more defined and portaging less frequent. Algonquin sits on the Algonquin highlands and is at the head of several watersheds, making the lakes generally small and poorly connected. Some Algonquin trips can feel more like hiking trips carrying a canoe! On the flip side, you are more likely to see wildlife in Algonquin. La Verendrye is open to hunting in the fall hence the wildlife is wary, while in Algonquin only portions are open to hunting and in other areas the wildlife can be much less wary.
Like most boreal areas, La Verendrye is made to be explored by water and I have done a number of canoe trips there. Most were 3 to 4 day long weekend trips, but I have also done a 2 week trip and there are many options for short to long routes. The area is beautiful and as a bonus contains a number of eskers, glacial remnants that I have always found fascinating!
Navigating a La Verendrye creek
Approaching an esker
Pulling over a beaver dam
A hammock morning
Setting up camp
An esker campsite
Windbound on Grand Lac Victoria
The following link connects you to the La Verendrye canoe route list. Two of my favourites are routes 70 and 77, but the reserve has many great routes! Note that the ones near Le Domaine are most used as that is where the registration centre is and where you can rent canoes.
La Verendrye is well worth a visit and not overly difficult to get to, I hope you get the chance!