Batiscan

The upper (class III) section of the Batiscan runs during the summer after periods of rain. It is located about one hour northwest of Quebec City in Reserve faunique de Portneuf (Portneuf Wildlife Reserve). This is a wonderful wilderness park of 300 square miles (775 sq km) with 375 lakes and 11 rivers.

Directions

From Quebec City, head west thru Saint-Raymond to Rivière-à-Pierre; from Trois-Rivieres head North thru Grand-Mere to Riviere-a-Pierre.

Go thru Rivière-à-Pierre (don't blink), following Rue Principale north, turn left on Rue Du Lac-Vert and find the Ranger Station and Reception Area (Poste d'accueil).

Check in there and pay your entrance fee. You can also get park maps and directions to the put-in/take-out. Go here for a
map
of the park.

The put-in and take-out are easy to find since there are so few roads in the park and they are located along the main routes. A vehicle with high ground clearance is recommended as the road has deep potholes and can be slightly flooded after heavy rains.

A reverse-shuttle is also recommended to the long shuttle time and long length of the river. Go to the take-out first and drop a car, only then return to the ranger station and proceed to the put-in. This way you'll be off the river before dark.

Take-Out

From the ranger station, the take-out is a 20 minute drive to the northwest. Follow Rue Du Lac-Vert and then Chemin Talbot to Park Entrance Talbot (Entree Talbot). Continue along Park Route Number 1 to the take-out where the road passes over the river.

Put-In

From the ranger station, the put-in is about a 45 minute drive north. Take Rue Du Lac-vert back to Rue Principale. Follow Rue Principale then Chemin St-Laurent north into Park Entrance Rivière-à-Pierre (Entree Rivière-à-Pierre). Continue north along Park Route Number 2 to

...