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Route Blanche Voyage Tips and guide

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    The route Blanche (English: White Road) is a snowmobile trail in the Basse-Côte-Nord region (Le Golfe-du-Saint-Laurent), in the administrative region of Côte-Nord, Quebec.

    Understand

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    The purpose of the Route Blanche is to provide a means of travel to residents of the Basse-Côte-Nord in winter. In fact, it is the only continuous land link between Kegaska and Vieux-Fort since the Basse-Côte-Nord territory is not connected to the highway of Quebec. Route Blanche is maintained by the Ministère du Transport du Québec and extends over nearly 525 km (326 mi). The route may vary from winter to winter, depending on the obstacles (e.g., lakes, rivers) and weather conditions.

    Steps

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    Departure Destination Distance
    (in km)
    Remarks
    Natashquan Kegaska 24 Via Pointe-Parent. Crossing the Natashquan, Longue and Kegaska rivers.
    Kegaska La Romaine 58 Crossing of the Musquaro, Musquanousse and Washicoutai rivers.
    La Romaine Chevery 97 Crossing the Romaine, Coacoachou, Coconipi, Etamamiou, Darby and La Croix rivers.
    Chevery Harrington Harbour 18 Crossing the Netagamiou River. Note: a secondary path of about 6 km connects the Route Blanche to the southeast to Harrington-Harbour.
    Harrington Harbour Tête-à-la-Baleine 35 Crossing the Petit Mécatina river.
    Tête-à-la-Baleine Mutton Bay 29 Crossing the Gros Mécatina river. Note: a secondary path of about ten kilometers connects the Route Blanche towards the southeast to Mutton-Bay.
    Mutton Bay La Tabatière 35 Note: a secondary path of about 4 km connects the Route Blanche south to La Tabatière.
    La Tabatière Saint-Augustin 58 Via Pakuashipi. Crossing the Véco, Kécarpoui and Saint-Augustin rivers.
    Saint-Augustin Rivière-Saint-Paul 88 Via Vieux-Fort. Crossing the Coxipi, Chécatica, Napetipi and Vieux Fort rivers.
    Rivière-Saint-Paul Blanc-Sablon 83 Via Middle Bay and Lourdes-de-Blanc-Sablon. Crossing the Saint-Paul, Brador and Blanc-Sablon rivers.

    Go

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    The Route Blanche is generally signposted; however, some trail segments may be insufficiently marked.

    Main points of service

    In winter, the Route Blanche has the following service points:

    Locality Accommodation Meal Gas Mechanical repair Cellular network
    Natashquan Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes 5G
    Kegaska Yes Yes Yes No Yes 5G
    La Romaine Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes 5G
    Chevery Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes 4G and 5G
    Harrington Harbour Yes Yes Yes No Yes 5G
    Côte-Nord-du-Golfe-du-Saint-Laurent Yes No Yes Yes Yes 5G
    Mutton Bay No No Yes No Yes 4G and 5G
    La Tabatière Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes 5G
    Saint-Augustin Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes 4G and 5G
    Vieux-Fort Yes No Yes No Yes 5G
    Rivière-Saint-Paul Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes 4G
    Blanc-Sablon Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes 5G

    Note: Cell phone network coverage verified July 4, 2022.

    The trails conditions of the Route Blanche are regularly updated during the winter season by Transports Québec at: Route Blanche

    See

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    Do

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    Buy

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    Eat

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    Drink

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    Stay safe

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    On Route Blanche on the Lower North Shore, snowmobilers must plan to be independent in terms of travel, accommodation, food, repairs, first aid, communication (e.g., satellite phones, geolocation) and safety in general (e.g., wild animals). In winter, the essential snowmobile equipment according to the Ministry includes:

    • spare parts (belt, spark plug, headlight bulb, etc.),
    • firelighter, lighter and matches,
    • candles,
    • metal container,
    • rope (6 metres) 133 mm in diameter,
    • dry food for one day,
    • flash light,
    • canvas tarpaulin,
    • blankets,
    • petrol can.

    The Department also recommends a few tools: kit provided with the snowmobile, knife or penknife, shovel, ax or hatchet. For inexperienced travelers, the presence of an accompanying guide is recommended.

    The Route Blanche circuit has 21 refuges maintained by the Ministère des Transports du Québec. These huts have a wood-burning stove and firewood. These shelters should only be used in an emergency, for example, if the weather conditions deteriorate. Users must replace used items or notify a Ministère des Transports office.

    Go next

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    Routes through Route Blanche
    New York StateElginMontréal  W  E  Kegaska→(discontinued between Kegaska and Bonne-Espérance)→Bonne-EspéranceBlanc-SablonLabrador


    Other tourist routes

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    • Route des Baleines (English: "Whale Route"), a tourist route of Quebec, which follows the northern coast of the estuary and the Gulf of St. Lawrence, in the region of the Côte-Nord, over 1,250 km (780 mi), between Tadoussac and Blanc-Sablon. This tourist route offers opportunities for observing marine mammals, on the coast, in group excursions or in light boats (e.g., sea kayak). This road also includes information centers on marine mammals (eg museum) for public education.
    • Route Nature aux mille délices (English: "Nature route with a thousand delights"), a tourist route in Quebec, designated "gourmet route", aimed at highlighting the agrotourism products of the North Shore. It is located on the Route des Baleines, between Tadoussac and Blanc-Sablon.


    This city travel guide to Route Blanche is a usable article. It has information on how to get there and on restaurants and hotels. An adventurous person could use this article, but please feel free to improve it by editing the page.


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