Canoeing the Richelieu river from Chambly

Richelieu river is 30 min east of Montreal. The Richelieu name is a tribute to the famous (or infamous) Cardinal that ruled France in the 17th century. It starts in Champlain lake in New York state at its north tip (while the Hudson river that flows toward New-York starts at its southern tip). The French-Indian war say something to anyone? The Richelieu river ends in the St-Lawrence river at around 60 km downstream the island of Montreal. Chambly used to be one of several stronghold along the the Richelieu-Champlain lake axis to defend New-France from English Albany on the the Hudson river. A renovated version of the Chambly stronghold sits at the end of the Chambly rapids. The Chambly rapids ends into an archipelago of small islands and into an enlargement  called the Chambly bassin. The water level on this june 5th was at spring levels because of an unusual wet month of may (debit was around 1000m3/s). The islands of the archipelago were thus all flooded and it was possible to canoe between the trees of the islands while paddling upstream the rapids from Chambly bassin. Be careful, paddling around these islands are prohibited from june 20th to july 20th for fish conservation reasons. Here are some pictures. Landed canoe in old Chambly from a parking spot along the water front. Fastest way to get to Chambly from Montreal is 116 east, exit 30 west, right away from the 30 exit Boulevard Cousineau Chambly direction. Past the bridge and when several lights show up turn left after 2-3 lights. Go strait to water front. Here is the view you should get from Chambly (this picture is a zoom in version).

Above: Canoe landing spot is circled. Colored code map is from canoeing association Fédération Québécoise de Canot-Camping.

Chambly bassin on the Richelieu river. The Richelieu river is a primary tributary of the St-Lawrence river. The mountain on the picture is Mont-St-Hilaire. One of the 6-7 isolated mountains on the Montreal south shore area. There are nice apple orchards on Mont St-Hilaire lower slopes.

Thats the Chambly stronghold. On the picture, current goes from left to right and stops in Chambly bassin that starts on the right side of the stronghold. Old Chambly and water front is on the right side of the bassin as well. Its possible to go counter current when paddling beside the concrete wall on the left side of the stronghold. (see below)

Was able to paddle upstream up to the trees beside the wall. Then cross facing the current toward the other side were there is a line of trees on the left. That is were the flooded islands are.

Big obstacle like this tree were all over the flooded islands to allow for resting ounce in a while.

The lines on the tree tells us the water level at one point this spring was maybe a foot higher. Amazing.

Paddling between trees was such a cool experience.

Thats the most upstream I was able to go. White water section on the picture dont seem that bad from this picture but believe me there were 6-8 feet high waves there. I guess that would have been a real turn on for wave surfers or kayak surfers.

That is another section I was capable to paddle upstream thanks to the irregularities of the shore side of this island.

There are a few country houses on the islands built on pillars  to avoid spring high waters. But this year high waters are so exceptional that these country houses are still damaged. They will need higher and stronger pillars.

This is not  flash flooding. Its been like this from april to early june because of an unusual rainy spring. White water in trees is a first to me. One of the most fun canoe ride ever.

This is what someone could experience every early april. It is kind of neat to experience it in june with leaves on the trees and in short and t-shirt.