FINISHFINISH CANOEING THE RICHELIEU - 15 KM

START Parking is available at the foot of Jordi Bonet Bridge (on Highway 116), on the Mont-Saint-Hilaire side. Across from the parking lot, putting your canoe in is a snap. SAINT-MARC-SUR-RICHELIEU FINISH Opposite the Saint-Charles-sur-Richelieu church, parking is available along with a ramp for taking your canoe out of the water.

SAINT-CHARLES-SUR-RICHELIEU The Richelieu River winds its way through the region’s history. Named after , the river flows 130 kilometres from at the United States border to the north, finally emptying into the Saint Lawrence River. Over the centuries, the river has been a Native American trade hub, a major access route for the first European settlers, an important economic thorough- fare and the scene of battles between the French and English.

The water’s brownish surface hides an astounding variety of species, some of which—like the longnose gar—are exceedingly rare. The Richelieu is one of the few in to contain copper redhorse, a species of fish that is endemic to the area, meaning it is found nowhere else on earth. The Richelieu ranks among Quebec’s top rivers in terms of the number of fish species. SAINT-MATHIEU DE-BELOEIL Paddling from Mont-Saint-Hilaire towards Saint- Charles-sur-Richelieu offers visitors a one-of-a-kind view of the region. Imposing churches, estates, century-old residences, more modest homes, restaurants and a marina dot the river’s shores, for the most part private property. Depending on the owners and historical period, the Richelieu’s banks have been lined with stone, filled in or returned to a natural state. Modifications to the shoreline have had a considerable impact on water quality and the surrounding flora, and at times have even contributed to flooding. Autoroute 20 In Saint-Charles-sur-Richelieu, you will also spy the seasonal cable ferry and two islands, Île aux Cerfs and Île Jeannotte. In 1665, Fort de l’Assomption stood on Île aux Cerfs and kept a close watch on river traffic. Later, the island was purchased by rich landowners and used as hunting and fishing grounds by their guests. In the 6 e 11 Rout 1930s, tourists flocked there to lounge at a hotel, which MONT-SAINT-HILAIREMONT-SAINT-HILAIRE eventually gave way to a facility for people with BELOEILBELOEIL epilepsy. Today, the peaceful island is once again home to trees, flowers, wild berries and even the deer that gave it its name.

Thanks to its long, colourful history and its capital role in the region’s development, the Richelieu River is consid- ered a “heritage corridor.” Take the time to discover everything it has to offer by canoeing the section border- ing the Mont Saint-Hilaire Biosphere Reserve. STARTSTART