La Croche river and the Hydroelectric Power Plant Route of Beaumont, La Trenche et Rapides-Blanc

This panoramic route presents the wild and agricultural scenery upstream from La Tuque. Visitors take Fitzpatrick Road (northbound) on the east bank of the reservoir formed by the La Tuque dam; then turn to Moisan road (forest road 461 (25)) to cross the bridge and immediately turn right on Beaumont road, to see the Beaumont dam (about 10 km road). Then the visitors come back to the Chemin de la Rivière-Croche (northbound) observing the magnificent landscapes generated by this meandering river, downstream and upstream from the village of La Croche. The Croche River is navigable for more than 90 km by kayak or canoe. At the village of La Croche, visitors can cross on the west bank of the river, in order to access the Zec La Croche reception post and head towards the La Trenche and Rapide-Blanc hydroelectric dam. Visitors can go north on route 450 along the eastern limit of the Zec de la Croche, to cross the bridges of the Trenche and Saint-Maurice rivers, to return to the south by the west shore of the latter; thus, visitors can appreciate the hydroelectric infrastructure. The Rapide-Blanc power station, commissioned in 1934, can be admired from the bridge located downstream of the dam or on the east bank from the old village (1930 to 1974). This power station generates the Blanc reservoir, created in 1930, which extends over 82.5 km², i.e., a length of 54 km. The Trenche power station (end of erection in 1950) is the most powerful and has a dam 53 m high and 442 m long; this plant can be seen from the east bank, along the forest road R0-450 which crosses the dam.

• outdoors
• viewpoint

Getting there

from La Tuque