The Legendary White Route

Welcome to Natashquan: A Cultural Gem and Gateway to the White Route

This is where you’ll spend the night before setting out tomorrow morning on the snowmobile adventure of a lifetime!

Rest up and get ready!

After breakfast, the adventure truly begins. Leave Natashquan and head toward Kegaska, where Route 138 comes to an end and the legendary White Route begins. From there, the kilometres unfold through a landscape of isolated villages and vast open spaces, where winter conditions shape every journey.

Head to Kegaska, the last village accessible by road before setting out on the White Route. This is where you’ll leave your trailer and prepare your snowmobiles for the expedition. A symbolic stop marking the transition from the road network to this vast winter corridor connecting the communities of the Lower North Shore.

Continue toward Chevery, travelling through the Innu community of La Romaine, also known as Unamen Shipu. As you make your way along the White Route, the landscape gradually changes, immersing you in the vastness of the Lower North Shore. Boreal forests, snow-covered expanses, and coastal landscapes unfold along the way.

After several kilometres of snowmobiling, take a break for lunch at a survival camp or one of the establishments in the villages along the way. These stops are an integral part of the experience, giving you a chance to recharge while discovering the way of life in communities that rely on the White Route as part of their daily lives.

Continue to Harrington Harbour, accessible by snowmobile in winter. Located on an island, this English-speaking village is best known for serving as the setting for the film La Grande Séduction. Cars are absent here, and wooden walkways connect the different parts of the village. Take some time to explore on foot and admire the colourful houses that give Harrington Harbour its unique character.

End this first full day in Harrington Harbour at Gîte Jean Boarding House. After several hours on the trails, enjoy a homemade dinner and some well-deserved rest at this welcoming guesthouse before continuing your adventure the next day.

This third day offers one of the most varied routes of the expedition. Between coastal villages, scenic viewpoints, isolated communities, and long stretches of trail, you’ll cover nearly 300 km along the White Route. A day where the diversity of the landscapes gives you a true sense of the vastness of the Lower North Shore.

Take to the skies on an approximately 10-minute helicopter tour. From above, Harrington Harbour and the surrounding landscapes take on a whole new dimension. This experience offers a unique perspective on the village’s isolation and the vastness of the Côte-Nord.

Continue along the White Route toward La Tabatière and stop at Baie-des-Moutons. The elevated viewpoint offers a great opportunity to take in the village and its coastal surroundings. Take a few photos before continuing on your journey.

Continue toward Pakua Shipi and Saint-Augustin. The trail gradually becomes more rugged, adding an extra dose of adventure to the journey. Once you reach the village, take a break for lunch before continuing east.

Continue to Vieux-Fort, where a visit to the general store offers a glimpse into another side of life on the Lower North Shore. Through this everyday gathering place, discover the heritage and history of the municipality of Bonne-Espérance.

The route continues through Rivière-Saint-Paul and Middle Bay. These small communities punctuate the journey and highlight just how far apart the villages of the Lower North Shore are. Take in the passing landscapes before reaching Blanc-Sablon at the end of the day.

After a long day of snowmobiling, settle in at Auberge Motel Quatre Saisons. Spend the evening relaxing and enjoy a good meal at one of Blanc-Sablon’s restaurants.

After covering long distances along the White Route, today offers a change of pace. With approximately 83 km to travel, there’s more time to connect with local communities, discover the area’s heritage, and head off-trail into a wild and remote environment.

Head to Rivière-Saint-Paul and meet with a local Coaster who will share the history of the community and the region. This encounter offers a glimpse into the lives of people who call the Lower North Shore home and the close connection between these communities and their territory.

Continue with a visit to the Whiteley Museum, a must-see for discovering the heritage of Bonne-Espérance. Explore the area’s history and discover the stories and artifacts that offer a glimpse into the life and development of this northern community.

Spend the afternoon on a guided off-trail expedition through the Rivière-Saint-Paul Archipelago. Accompanied by a local guide, set out to explore this wild and remote area. This experience takes you beyond the usual trails and into an environment accessible only through an excursion adapted to the local terrain and conditions.

Back in the village, settle in at the Whiteley Inn. Enjoy a comforting dinner and a relaxing evening before heading back onto the White Route the following day.

Today, the White Route takes you toward Tête-à-la-Baleine on a journey of approximately 190 km. This leg of the trip immerses you once again in the vast open spaces of the Lower North Shore before introducing you to an area rich in history and heritage.

Upon arrival, set out to explore the Toutes-Îles Archipelago on a guided tour. Accompanied by a local guide, discover this island environment shaped by history and religious heritage. Between the islands, maritime landscapes, and traces of the past, this excursion offers another way to experience the Lower North Shore

End the day at Auberge de l’Archipel. After another day on the trails, enjoy a warm dinner and some well-deserved rest before the final long stretch of your expedition.

For your final full day of snowmobiling, get back on the White Route and head toward Natashquan. With approximately 254 km to cover, this journey offers one last immersion in the vast open spaces of the Lower North Shore. Take the time to enjoy the landscapes one last time before returning to the village where your adventure began.

You’ll reach Natashquan in the afternoon after this long journey. Settle back in at Auberge La Cache and enjoy a quieter evening to relax after several days of adventure.