A glimpse of our newest park
Such a magnificent territory leaves few people indifferent! Bordered on both sides by lakes Témiscamingue and Kipawa, Parc national d’Opémican aims to protect a sample of the southern Laurentides natural region. The park is located in the Abitibi-Témiscamingue region, some 5 hours from the Gatineau area and the city of Ottawa, and only 4½ hours from Toronto.
Parc national d'Opémican
Distinctive elements of the park
Parc national d’Opémican is endowed with great biodiversity, particularly because it is a place where the ecosystems of deciduous and large boreal forests meet. It is also home to fascinating geological phenomena, such as the Lac Témiscamingue graben, among the sources of its steep banks and deep abyssals. Many rare species, such as the peregrine falcon, the Pterospora andromeda, and the lake sturgeon find refuge in these diverse habitats.
Located on traditional Algonquin territory, the park includes strategic sites whose many artifacts bear witness to a multi-millennial human occupation. The Algonquins are still very much present on the territory, and the Wolf Lake and Kebaowek First Nations have a strong interest in the park.
Opémican's name comes from the Algonquin word Opemikon, which means "along the path followed by the Amerindians." This how they designated the southern point of Lac Témiscamingue, which, given its geographic significance, was a mandatory stop on their travels. This point was subsequently the location of a major timber floating relay station on Lac Témiscamingue. There are many remnants of this former forest industrial complex, including four buildings that will be restored and included in a heritage discovery circuit. This major historic site will be located at the heart of the park, within walking distance of the main campground at Opémican Point, a facility to be built in a forest massif composed of impressive white and red pines.
Parc national d’Opémican is also distinguished by the presence of two majestic bodies of water: Lac Kipawa (covering over 300 km2) and Lac Témiscamingue (110 km long). Also worth noting is the renowned Rivière Kipawa, which, thanks to its 90 m vertical drop along a 16 km stretch, becomes a high-water paradise for white-water rafting.
The Opémican experience
You’re probably keen to see a little bit of this magnificent protected territory! Here are some exclusive images of the park and of the experiences that await visitors from the moment it opens.
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