Where to canoe and kayak in La Petite-Nation

La Petite-Nation is named after a river, so it's no accident that every cottage around here has a canoe on sawhorses out back. Between the Ottawa, the Petite Nation, the Lièvre and a few hundred lakes, you could paddle all summer without repeating a route.

Here are our favourite spots, then where to rent, then where to launch if you've got your own boat.

Where to paddle

The Plaisance marshes

Our first pick, especially for a first outing. The bays of Parc national de Plaisance are sheltered, the water is calm, and you paddle between water lilies and tall grass. Beavers, turtles and cranes don't bolt right away when you glide in quietly. Canoes and kayaks are for rent at the discovery centre in the Presqu'îles sector.

The Petite Nation River in Saint-André-Avellin

In the village, the river is good for an easy paddle. The rental centre at Camping Saint-André-Avellin has canoes, single and double kayaks and paddleboards, no reservation needed, and it's open to everyone, campers or not.

To learn, Aquaventure Petite-Nation teaches kayaking, canoeing, paddleboarding and even SUP yoga, June to September, daily from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. You can stay overnight in a dome.

Lac Simon and its secrets

The MRC's big lake, with Île du Canard Blanc, 3 km long, sitting right in the middle. Two outings worth the paddle:

• Rocher Manitou, on the west shore: an Algonquin sacred site with red ochre pictographs. You see it from the water. Look, don't touch.
• Lac des Étoiles, on Île du Canard Blanc: a hidden little lake said to have been formed by a meteorite. Reach it by boat through the mouth of the creek on the east side of the island, then on foot by the Sentier de l'Aube.

To rent: self-serve kayaks and paddleboards at the town beach, 5 a.m. to 9 p.m., booked on padkay.com or by QR code. Location Sport Duhamel, next to the Sépaq beach, rents canoes, kayaks, paddleboards, pedal boats and more, life jackets included. The Centre nautique Lac Simon has kayaks and pedal boats.

The Lièvre River at Val-des-Bois

Between the Rapides-des-Cèdres and High Falls dams, the Lièvre is navigable for a good stretch. It's a big river with motorboats and anglers, so stay near shore. The Val-des-Bois launch has a free boat-wash station right beside it.

For something calmer, Lac Vert, right in the village, bans gas motors. Pedal boats, kayaks, paddleboards and canoes: it's the lake for a first paddle with kids.

The Poisson Blanc and Papineau-Labelle

For people who want to go further. The Air-Eau-Bois outdoor centre on the Poisson Blanc reservoir has offered canoeing, kayaking and paddleboarding since 1972. The Bowman ramp gets you onto the same reservoir.

And the Papineau-Labelle wildlife reserve means lake-to-lake canoe camping across more than 1,600 km² and 760+ lakes. Canoes and kayaks are for rent, and some gear is free for 17 and under. The Gagnon welcome centre north of Duhamel rents canoes and is open daily, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.

The Ottawa River at Montebello

The big river is wide and the wind can kick up waves, but a calm morning off Montebello is something else. The Château Montebello marina rents kayaks, canoes and paddleboards.

Where to rent, at a glance

Several campgrounds also rent boats to guests: Camping Val-des-Bois, Camp Ozanam, and Pourvoirie de la Lièvre in summer.

Where to launch your own boat

• Papineauville: free public launch on the Ottawa.
• Fassett: free municipal dock for boaters.
• Thurso: public ramp on the Ottawa, close to the national park marshes.
• Lac Simon: the municipal launch. In 2026 it was $10 per launch, May 8 to October 12, with a mandatory wash at 105, chemin du Parc.
• Val-des-Bois: the Lièvre ramp, plus the Lac Vert launch for small boats.
• Lac La Blanche: the LaLièvre Nature campground has water access for canoes and kayaks.

Rules to know

• Wash your boat. Kayaks too. Invasive species hitch rides from lake to lake on hulls. On Lac Simon it's mandatory; in Val-des-Bois the station is free.
• Life jacket, always. Several rental shops include them. Wear it, don't just pack it.
• Wind on big water. Lac Simon and the Ottawa can whip up fast in the afternoon. Head out early.

The best time to paddle in La Petite-Nation is early morning. The water is glass, the motors aren't out yet, and the wildlife still is.

Want to end the day on a beach? Here's our swimming guide.

PlaisanceSaint-André-AvellinLac-SimonDuhamelVal-des-BoisBowmanMontebelloThursoPapineauvilleFassettChénévilleMulgrave-et-Derry

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