The Upper Gatineau Whitewater Festival – What is it?
The Festival above all is a weekend of fun on the majestic Gatineau River. For 25 years, hundreds of paddlers from the four corners of Quebec, Ontario and the United States have made an annual pilgrimage to Maniwaki to participate in the Upper Gatineau Whitewater Festival. With the enthusiasm of our sponsors, volunteers and, most importantly, that of our participants, the Festival has established itself as a ‘happening’ among the most important of its kind on the continent.
Whether you are an experienced high-end paddler or if you have never set foot in a whitewater boat, we have the means to get you on the river. All you have to do is get here. We’ll look after the rest!!!
When ?
August 23, 24, 25 – 2024
AUGUST 2024
Where ?
211 rue Henri-Bourassa, Maniwaki
Title Sponsors
Registration
Registration for 2024 has not started yet. We should begin around the end of june. Patience...
Information on the river
The Gatineau river is not a river for beginners. There are many class 4 rapids and, depeding on flow, a few class 4-5 rapids. It's Éric Leclerc from the Guide des rivières sportives du Québec who describes it best :"The majority of rapids are class 4 and 4-5, but there is always an easier passage, usually class 3. This section is therefore accessible to well-supervised intermediaries.". Also, for all class 4 or higher rapids on the Haute-Gatineau River, there is a portage trail.
Here is a description of what a class 4 rapid can be: "Intense, powerful but predictable rapids requiring precise boat handling in turbulent water. Depending on the character of the river, it may feature large, unavoidable waves and holes or constricted passages demanding fast maneuvers under pressure. A fast, reliable eddy turn may be needed to initiate maneuvers, scout rapids, or rest. Rapids may require “must” moves above dangerous hazards. Scouting may be necessary the first time down. Risk of injury to swimmers is moderate to high, and water conditions may make self-rescue difficult. Group assistance for rescue is often essential but requires practiced skills. A strong eskimo roll is highly recommended."
Please take into consideration the description presented above, your skills and experience before deciding to register for the Upper Gatineau Whitewater Festival.
Four other relevant informations
Child packages are for humans 15 years old or less.
Taxes are included in the prices.
For other details or any other questions, see our frequently asked questions section.
When done, click the cart icon on the upper right corner of the screen to proceed with payment.
The cart and checkout pages are in french only. Our web site provider doesn't allow us to translate those two pages. If you have any trouble going through the process, drop us a line at info@gatineau.org and we'll gladly help you.
FESTIVAL (2 DAYS)
HALF-FESTIVAL (1 DAY)
RAFTING
Rafting makes the Gatineau river accessible to everyone.* Only one thing is necessary to take a rafting trip down the Gatineau river: a taste for thrills!!! Once again this year, it's the Centre d'Aventure Mattawin that takes care of rafting trips at the Festival.
For more information, don't hesitate to contact the Centre d'Aventure Mattawin directly:
- Phone : 819-803-5633
- Email : mattawin@altai-travel.com
Rafting the Gatineau river
The purchase of a rafting trip includes :
- One trip down the magnificent Gatineau river (3-4 hours)
- The gear (helmet, pfd and paddle)
- Shuttles to and from the river
- A professional guide
Build your weekend
You have the possibility to add to your experience, the meals (two breakfasts and Saturday's supper) as well as camping and access to all the facilities and activities of the Upper Gatineau Whitewater Festival. Just add "Meals + Camping" to your cart. You could even decide to take a rafting trip on Saturday, another one on Sunday, meals and camping and live the full Upper Gatineau Whitewater Festival experience !!!
*Rafting is a sport activity of moderate intensity. Participants must weight at least 90 poinds.
Festival Timetable
Friday
Evening schedule
5pm-10pm -
Registration
9pm-10pm -
The Reel Paddling Film Festival
10pm-??am -
Campfires
Saturday
Day schedule
7am-9am -
Breakfast
8am-9am -
Registration
9am-12pm -
Shuttle service to put-in
1pm-5pm -
Return shuttle service
Evening schedule
4pm-7pm -
Gear Swap
6pm-7pm -
Supper
8pm-9pm -
Auction and door prizes
9pm-??am -
Music and campfires
Sunday
Day schedule
7am-9am -
Breakfast
9am-11am -
Shuttle service to put-in
1pm-4pm -
Return shuttle service
Collaborator Sponsors
Major Sponsors
Frequently Asked Questions
The obvious answer is that ‘it’s for paddlers! But we do try to offer something for all levels of skill and experience including…
- the main 9 km run, on the Gatineau River between Maniwaki and Bouchette. This run is for whitewater paddlers with their own boat and equipment.
- a park & play under the covered bridge at Grand Remous, the infamous ‘Guelle du Lion’, for high-end paddlers.
- rafting... no experience no equipment necessary.
For details concerning these four options, go to the "River" page (Coming soon...).
How do we determine the cost of your weekend package?
Our goal is to raise awareness of the importance of protecting our rivers. We think the best way to achieve this is by maximizing participation at the Festival and we do this by minimizing the ticket price of the weekend pass as much as possible. To this end the contributions in goods and services of our sponsors and the efforts of our dedicated team of volunteers are invaluable.
The festival pass includes:
- Shuttle buses for Saturday and Sunday
- Saturday and Sunday breakfasts
- Saturday evening dinner
- A tent site on the Festival grounds
- Access to all our facilities and activities
- Washrooms in the high school
- Showers in the high school (Note – hot water is rarely available)
- Additional ‘Johnny on the Spots’ on the grounds and at put-in and take-out.
- The Reel Paddling Film Festival
- Friday and Saturday nights campfire
- Music and dance floor on Saturday night
Does the Festival make a profit?
It is imperative that we cover our costs and a small profit allows us contribute to river preservation funds as well as ensuring the future of the Festival.
Half the profits are donated to two entities:
- Canot Kayak Québec for the Rivers Preservation Fund
- The Foundations Rivières
Can I save some money if I’m not interested in the complete package?
We offer two alternatives: single day and a no Saturday supper package.
Included with all the options:
- Vegetable soup from the valley (products from a farm in the region)
- Traditional coleslaw
- Rotini salad with vegetables (tomatoes, olives, peppers and parsley)
- A dessert that remains to be determined...
Meat option:
A beef burger (3/8 lbs of dead beef, lettuce, tomato, cheddar and condiments of your choice)
Vegetarian option:
A Vegetarian burger (carrot and chickpea patty, lettuce, tomato, cheddar and condiments of your choice)
Sponsors
Title Sponsors
Collaborator sponsors
Major sponsors
Regular sponsors
Official Media
The Upper Gatineau whitewater festival would also like to thank the following organisations for their help.
