Saint-Anne River Doubles chutes section



Area: Saint-Raymond Bébé
Interest: ★★★
SufferFactor: ★★★★
Difficulty: Class V
Season: Early June depends on the snowpack or after a little rain.
Level: You wanna have between -0.5 and 0.5 on the gauge at the take out for a first time in there
Time: 3-8 hours Depends on your access
Put in / Take out information: Here
(itinerary is wrong just use the obvious trail to reach the put in)
Google Earth file: Double-Chute-Hike-in.kmz


​Photos are @ -1.5 and -0.5
Video: HERE



Paddler Quebec Connection



Paddler Quebec Connection



The Double chute section has become a myth in the last couple years. With the road closed by the logging company, you have to be highly motivated or being creative with quads/bikes to get access to this waterfalls section. It is sad because the Double chute would probably become a summer run if we had reliable access. We did not do the first descent, but we did the first descent of all the drops in there. We got there after someone posted some photos of waterfalls on the old Quebec kayak forum, without saying where we could find them. After months trying to figure out where the waterfalls where, we got there without any clue of the level nor what it was to go down a river in a canyon. I’m not sure at that time if we even knew what a portage was.



After walking/using the road to the upper GPS point, you will have to cut in and walk through the fallen trees. Not so far away, you will start to hike down the hill to eventually reach the creek. 45 min more or less from the logging road.



After couple smaller rapids, you will see an horizon line with a huge wall in front of you. That means you reached the first double drop. Eddys are small so be careful. This one is scoutable river right. The lead in of the first one can be tricky at lower flow. You can skip the first one by seal launching in the small pool in between the 2 drops. We never walked the second one and I’m not sure it can be done. Second one will need a lot of effort if you wanna see it well too. On our first trip, François Brassard had to go blind and gave the line to all of us after. It’s a nice plug with not much to do. But I still not recommend to run it blind :) .



After the first double drop, you will paddle some boogie, a nice little drop and a manky rapid. River will turn right and the 50-60ft is right on the corner. Again, eddys are smalls so treat carefully. This drop is not clean. It has reconnects and many people have hit the bottom. However, I have always thought that going there with a higher lever could clean the drop and push us away from the wall. Scout and walk river left. You might need to play with your rope a bit. The rapid after is also a portage so I would suggest just to keep going if you walk the first drop.



Not far way of the portage, you will reach another horizon line. Scout walk river right. It’s a nice slide with a 10/15 ft boof at the end. Then, you will be at the top of the last double drop.

This one needs less water and can be a nice park n huck to do when you get there and the run is too low. Scout walk river left. You want to be careful as the last drop land a bit on rocks on the right side.