Page 67 - 2024-25 Travel Guide to Canada

TURSUJUQ NATIONAL PARK
Wilderness adventures into Tursujuq—
Québec’s most massive park (26,107 sq. km)
and an ancient crossroads where Inuit and
Cree have coexisted for more than 3,000
years—begin in Umiujaq, a tight-knit Inuit
community on the shore of Hudson Bay.
Year-round, guided excursions start at the
thundering waters of majestic Nastapoka
Falls, a spot renowned for its plentiful
wildlife. In summer, hike the Hudson coast’s
signature cuestas, paddle campsite-to-
campsite while sea kayaking on the inland
sea that is the vast Tasiujaq Lake. Or journey
further to Lake Wiyâ shâ kimî , the second
largest lake in Québec. With its sandy
beaches, rocky hills and plateaus, it is an
ideal place to explore on a fat bike. The white
blanket of winter transforms the region into
an outdoor playground for backcountry
skiing, snowshoeing and snowmobiling. At
night, nature may pull out all the stops with a
showy display of northern lights while
visitors gather in the tupik (the traditional
Inuit tent) to listen to guides tell of how the
land and culture are intertwined in rich Inuit
traditions (www.nunavikparks.ca/en/
parks/Tursujuq).
ULITTANIUJALIK NATIONAL PARK
Ulittaniujalik National Park is the newest
park in Nunavik, offering opportunities to
embark on a canoe-camping expedition
down the legendary George River and hiking
around the park’s iconic Pyramid Mountain.
It also provides a sanctuary for caribou
calving grounds (www.nunavikparks.ca/
en/parks/ulittaniujalik).
Nunavik Parks offers all-inclusive packages
of outdoor adventures, cultural discovery
and shared experiences with the Inuit
people. Packages include transportation
from Montréal, meals and accommodations
(www.nunavikparks.ca or call Voyages
FCNQ at 1-800-463-7610).
For more outdoor and ecotourism experi-
ences offered by other Nunavik tour
operators, please refer to the Québec chapter,
the Great Outdoors section.
FANTASTIC ARCTIC WILDLIFE
Nunavik is also the realm of amazing Arctic
wildlife, on which rules the revered polar
bear, a truly remarkable marine mammal that
can be observed in its natural coastal habitat.
It is also possible to observe the great caribou
migration of one of the largest herds in the
world. Exclusive encounters with the musk
ox, a prehistoric specimen straight out of the
ice age, as well as with other members of the
Arctic fauna, such as the elusive tundra wolf,
are also among the highlights of a journey to
Nunavik. See the Wildlife chapter and
Québec’s What’s New section for wildlife
observation opportunities.
WORLD CLASS FISHING
This pristine land presents countless lakes
and majestic rivers, where swarms of
salmonidae and other plus-sized fish species
swim in its clear waters, all worthy of great
fishing tales. The famous Arctic char and big
Atlantic salmon will be sure to give fishing
enthusiasts an exciting challenge at the end
of their line, not to mention other great
catches such as giant lake trout, frisky brook
trout or delicious speckled trout. A true
fishing adventure awaits.
A VIBRANT INUIT CULTURE
A friendly people of many legends, it’s with
your Inuit hosts that you will discover this
Far North region of Québec. Proud of their
unique ancestral heritage, the Inuit of
Nunavik are more than happy to share their
way of life with visitors keen on discovering
their vibrant culture. Whether you visit the
national parks, track wildlife or fish with
them, head out on the land on a dog sled to
sleep in an igloo beneath the northern lights,
or simply visit one of their tight-knit
communities, you’re in for a truly authentic
experience. Their elders’ stories, mesmer-
izing throat songs and legends coming to life
in soapstone will offer you a lifetime of
memories. To live an authentic Inuit
adventure, see the Indigenous chapter for
more details.
For more information on Nunavik:
www.nunavik-tourism.com
QC
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MUSKOX • ISABELLE DUBOIS (TOP LEFT); NORTHERN LIGHTS AND IGLOOS • PIERRE DUNNIGAN (TOP RIGHT);
FLY FISHING FOR ARCTIC CHAR • FLY ROD CHRONICLES (ABOVE)