Natashquan

Natashquan is a village in the region of Minganie, in the North Shore region of eastern Quebec, also an Innu Indian reserve on the Route des Baleines and the Route Nature aux mille délices (gourmet route).

The main tourist attractions of Natashquan are: From 1996 to 2013, Natashquan was the end point east of Route 138, which runs along the north shore of the St. Lawrence River and Gulf, which generated a tourist development. In 1959, a first segment of road linked Aguanish and Natashquan. In 2013, another segment of Route 138 was opened up to Kégaska, further east.
 * the story of Gilles Vigneault and his work of artistic life: songs, poems, stories... The story of this character is described in museums and told by the elders of the village;
 * museums and historical sites telling the rich history of fishing, shipwrecks, the artist Gilles Vigneault, local arts or recounting isolated life before the arrival of electricity, snowmobiles and Route 138;
 * hiking trails (including boardwalks) or cycling; the "Les Galets" (The Pebbles) and "Le Pas du Portageur trails" are must-sees;
 * campsites: municipal, Nutshimit and wilderness camping;
 * salmon fishing;
 * Pointe-Parent Innu reserve which presents distinctive cultural activities;
 * its vast wild territory allowing snowmobile expeditions in winter, in particular via the Route Blanche which joins Blanc-Sablon.

Understand
The village of Natashquan is the birthplace of the famous Quebec poet and singer Gilles Vigneault. It is thanks to him that all Quebecers know the name of the small village. The name "Natashquan" comes from the word innu-aimun Nutashkuan which means "where the bear is hunted". This name is in fact borne by two distinct entities: the township municipality and the Indian reserve. The municipality has a population of 264 inhabitants and the reserve has 841. However, the reserve only covers while that the municipality covers.

Natashquan is one of the only places in Quebec where the Fête de la Mi-Carême, a traditional French carnival celebration, is still celebrated.

By boat

 * Bella Desgagnés (Maritime service Anticosti Island-Basse-Côte-Nord) - Departing from Rimouski, the vessel Bella Desgagnés offers weekly maritime service to the ports of Port-Menier (L'Île-d'Anticosti), Sept-Iles, Havre-Saint-Pierre and Natashquan, reaching as far as Blanc-Sablon. Operated by the Government of Quebec, this ship makes the connection between the localities of the MRC Le Golfe-du-Saint-Laurent (formerly called "Basse-Côte-Nord") which is part of the municipality of Côte-Nord-du-Golfe-du-Saint-Laurent: Saint-Augustin, La Tabatière (Gros-Mécatina), Tête-à-la-Baleine, Harrington Harbour, La Romaine, Kegaska and Blanc-Sablon. This cargo-passenger ship has eight decks and can accommodate 420 passengers, including around 40 crew members. It has 63 cabins with private bathrooms to accommodate passengers, a cafeteria, a dining room, a bistro and seascape observation lounges. Internet site: - Phone: +1 800 463-0680.

By snowmobile
The municipality of Côte-Nord-du-Golfe-du-Saint-Laurent is also accessible in winter by snowmobile via the route Blanche from Natashquan. This 525 km snow road passes through the villages of Kegaska, La Romaine, Chevery, Harrington Harbour, Tête-à-la-Baleine, Mutton Bay, La Tabatière, Saint-Augustin, Rivière-Saint-Paul (Bonne-Espérance) and Blanc-Sablon. Trail layout and conditions may vary from winter to winter. Users of this trail should act proactively by having enough fuel, geolocation instruments, a satellite telephone system, spare parts in case of breakage, mechanical repair tools, a gun, a map and survival gear. Group travel is recommended.

By plane

 * |Blanc-Sablon, Chevery, Kegaska, La Romaine, La Tabatière, Saint-Augustin, Sept-Îles, Tête-à-la-Baleine
 * |Baie-Comeau, La Romaine, Mont-Joli, Quebec City, Saint-Augustin, Sept-Îles
 * |Baie-Comeau, La Romaine, Mont-Joli, Quebec City, Saint-Augustin, Sept-Îles

By car

 * From Montreal (1263 km, time: 14 hours 37 minutes. Successively take the Pont Jacques-Cartier bridge (towards the east); Highway 132 (east); Autoroute 20 (east to Lévis); Highway 73 (north); Highway 40 (east); Route 138 (east) to Natashquan.

Get around
Route 138 (east-west direction) is the main road through Natashquan. Nevertheless, the municipality has several secondary streets and Chemin du Cinquième (north-south direction) providing access to various bodies of water to the north and wooded areas.

Connect
Radio CKNA inc (FM 104.1) and Radio montagnaise de Natashquan are on the air in Natashquan. Cell phones are functional in Natashquan thanks to three national cellular communication networks.