The Main River is Newfoundland's premier whitewater destination and a Canadian Heritage River, offering 57 km of thrilling paddling through boreal wilderness for expert paddlers only. Flowing from the Long Range Mountains through the unique 'Big Steady' meadow-forest complex before plunging through steep valleys, the Main delivers 700m of elevation drop with continuous whitewater challenges. The river protects critical habitat for endangered Newfoundland martens and features 200-year-old trees, pristine old-growth forest, and exceptional salmon fishing; paddling requires 4-5 days with primitive campsites, accessible May-September via Route 420.
The difficulty of Main River River varies by section.
The best time is May-September.
Main River River is located in the Newfoundland and Labrador region of Canada.
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