Matabitchuan River

About

Matabitchuan River is a lesser-known eastern Temagami route linking the town of Temagami to the Ottawa River Valley, offering novice to intermediate paddlers a five- to six-day wilderness experience through wild, scenic terrain full of history. The river features three significant sets of technical Class II rapids with large boulders and drops requiring careful scouting and lining, mixed with flatwater lake sections including historic Fourbass Lake, Rabbit Lake, and scenic Blueberry Lake with old-growth pine hiking trails. The route follows ancient Indigenous portages predating the railroad and provides excellent fishing in smaller lakes; best paddled at higher water levels in early summer. Access is convenient from the town of Temagami, and the route is far less crowded than western provincial park routes.

Highlights

Crown land along this route

Part of this route, roughly 33 percent, runs through crown land. Crown land is public land. In Ontario a resident of Canada may camp on most of it for free, up to 21 days on any one site in a calendar year. Being crown land is not the same as being open to camping: a provincial park or conservation reserve follows different rules.

See the crown land map · Ontario crown land camping rules

Frequently Asked Questions