I'm considering doing the Missinaibi next year.  Its not flat water tripping, though it starts out in lakes- something like 40 or 50 rapids to run or portage - the IIIs all have portages, but not all of the IIs do.   350 miles to Moosonee. return by train.

Guidebook - (You need to Login or Register to view media files and links)

myccr.com; search on the Ontario forum, route descrtiptions, and trip reports pages


  outfitter/ route info     (You need to Login or Register to view media files and links)

"575 km in length with no dams, crossed only twice by roads and railroads.
-A Canadian Heritage River because of its outstanding natural and human history.
-1000 years of use as the trade route. from the Great Lakes to Hudson's Bay
-Trips from 3 to 30 days possible, all with road or rail access."

copied from that website

ps  if you start in Champleau Game Preserve, don't worry - they think they got the man-eating bear taken care of
(er, I guess I should say woman eating bear)

been on missinapi river twice some years ago.
i didn't plan trip as it was another guy's choice of spot's.
remember outfitter dropped us off and we caught the wilderness train back out.
can't remeber details off hand but WHAT i do remember that both times we went was in spring and the black flies cut the trip short both times!!
not my choice but the guy's who planned it!!
even with 100% deet, they couldn't deal with the bugs.
on the lake's it was better but the river sections were bad!!
not to discourage just something to consider??
would look into bug shirt or similar item just in case??

i checked some old pictures and the two trips i made were in the early part of june??
i alway's go to the Q about the 20th of may and the bugs are just starting to get real active.
everybody seems to have a different tolerance to blackflies, even on the two trips i went on i was wearing shorts and t-shirt, sometimes no shirt at all.
i alway's doped up before i left tent in morning and every couple of hours during the day.
my paddling partners usually waited till they had been bit numerous times before doping up.
i'm not a bug expert but i think it's sort of like shark repellant?
once the bugs bite you and draw blood i think the repellant isn't as effective?? just my personal observation!
if your going to be on a lake just pick a point opened to the wind and you should be okay??
i just use Cutters bug dope and only go to the 100% deet in a real emergency??
i also have a set of mesh pants/jacket that i carry.
about $40 at Cabela's.
so far i've never used them or the deet.
i think your personal body chemistry has something to do with it as well??
i read were people take garlic tabs before trips and it seems to help??
i eat lot of garlic(love italian) so maybe that helps??
main thing is don't let them bite the hell out of you before putting on SOME kind of dope.
i think that's the key??
have a good trip and plan on catching some big eye's and monster pike!!!

I have paddled the Missinaibi from Dog Lake to Moose Factory on James Bay. It is an excellent wilderness trip. We went mid July. Bugs? Yeah, it's WILDERNESS!  If your tripmates areg oing to let a few bugs affect your trip you need different tripmates.

You need skills to negotiate the rapids. This river CAN kill you. Haps book is the best guide and you can use his hand drawn maps to travel the river. There are no UTM coordinates however. I still have my Canadian topo maps and would be willing to sell them if you are interested. Contact me offline with a PM.

Once again the Missinaibi is one of the best river trips you can take in Canada, but it is a serious trip.  BTW, last year water levels got very low after July and the lower river was almost unnavigable.

Feel free to contact me if you have any specific questions.

The May 2006 Field & Stream features Missinaibi. The trip report includes a scary-sounding capsize...lots of fish....sounds like too much fun. I am definitely researching it for a trip next year.

Now if I could only find someone to join me...

The Beaver