Chemin de la Rivière Moisie — Côte-Nord Wilderness Forestry Circuit
Moisie River bush — salmon country on dirt.
The Moisie River is legendary among Quebec anglers and even more obscure among overlanders — which is exactly why it rewards those who show up. The main forestry access road pushes northeast from near Sept-Îles along the river’s south bank, cutting through black spruce and jack pine for roughly 120 kilometres before the maintained surface degrades into something the logging trucks have genuinely chewed apart. River crossings at tributary creeks are seasonal gambles; in late spring they can swallow a bumper, and by August they’re manageable boulder hops. The Moisie itself runs below you in stretches — emerald-green, fast, and completely indifferent to your schedule.
This is a remote two-day minimum. High clearance 4WD with a locking differential is non-negotiable; a recovery kit, spare fuel for 200 km, and a sat communicator are standard operating procedure out here. Cell service dies within 20 kilometres of the highway. Best season runs July through September — the blackflies are brutal in June but the roads are drier. No formal permits for vehicle access, but respect active logging operations and yield to industrial trucks. Dispersed camping along river benches is common and unregulated. This is the real Quebec bush.
Trail Specs
| Difficulty | Difficult |
|---|---|
| Trail Type | Backcountry, High Clearance, Overland Route |
| Surface | Dirt, Gravel, Mixed |
| Features | Camping, Remote, Scenic, Water Crossings |
| Length (miles) | 75 mi / 120 km |
| Duration | 2-3 days |
| Max elevation (ft) | 1640 ft |
| Best season | July-September |
| Minimum vehicle | 4WD high-clearance with lockers |
| Nearest town | Sept-Îles, QC |
| Land manager | Ministère des Ressources naturelles et des Forêts du Québec |
| Permit required | No |
| Cell service | None |
| Water crossings | Yes |
| Dispersed camping | Yes |
| Start coordinates | |
| End coordinates | |
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Location
Trail Conditions
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Frequently asked questions
Can a stock Tacoma or 4Runner run the Moisie circuit, or do I actually need lockers?
Lockers are listed as minimum for good reason — the logging road surfaces deteriorate badly after rain and some sections require real traction control to avoid getting stuck in deep ruts. A well-equipped stock truck with a rear locker and at least 33s can manage it, but don't come in a lifted-but-stock rig and expect an easy time.
When does the trail become impassable, and can I run it in June?
July through September is the window. June snowmelt and spring runoff turn the logging corridors into bog, and the river crossings run dangerously high. Early October can work in a dry year but logging truck traffic picks up and conditions flip fast.
Do I need a permit to drive the Moisie logging road, and is there an access fee?
The route runs through active forestry concessions managed by the Ministère des Ressources naturelles et des Forêts du Québec — no recreational permit is required, but you're sharing the road with industrial logging trucks and must yield to them. Fishing the Moisie River itself requires a salmon fishing permit and is tightly controlled; don't assume road access equals river access.
What's the hardest section on this trail and what am I actually dealing with?
The roughest stretches are mid-route where the road drops toward active river flats — expect washed-out berms, blind water crossings with soft clay bottoms, and no room to turn around if you second-guess it. Water depth at crossings varies significantly by rainfall; what's a 16-inch crossing on a dry week can be door-panel deep two days after rain.
How far out do I need to fuel up before the trail, and is there any resupply on route?
Sept-Îles is your last fuel stop — fill completely before you leave town. There is zero resupply on the 120km route, no gas, no services, and no cell service the entire way. Carry enough fuel for the full loop plus a buffer; recovery from this corridor is a long, expensive tow.
Trail track
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