Route Transtaïga

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The Route Transtaïga (Trans-Taiga Road) is an extremely remote wilderness road in northern Quebec, Canada. It is 582 kilometers (362 miles) long to Centrale Brisay and another 84 kilometers (52 miles) along the Caniapiscau Reservoir, all of it unpaved.

Though its northeastern terminus is the furthest point from any town (745 km or 466 miles from Radisson) via road in North America, it is nonetheless relatively close (190 km) to Schefferville geographically. It does not, however, provide access to it, the intervening terrain is unpassable even in an all-terrain vehicle. The road's end is also close to the southern limit of Nunavik, Quebec's Inuit region.

The Trans-Taiga Road branches off from the Route de la Baie James (James Bay Road) at kilometer 544. It was built as an access road to the hydro-electric generating stations of Hydro-Québec along the La Grande River and Caniapiscau River. Several outfitters are established along this road, providing wilderness hunting and fishing expeditions, and some may also provide fuel, food and lodging. Otherwise, there are no services along this road.

As the name of the road indicates, this road winds its way through Quebec's vast boreal forest, characterized by stunted spruce and pine, bogs and rocky outcroppings. Taiga is the Russian term for the same type of forest.

It has been suggested by both regional and provincial officials to build a link from the road's northeastern terminus in Caniapiscau to Kuujjuaq, several hundred miles to the north in Nunavik, also accessing Schefferville along the way. As the road east of Centrale Brisay is extremely rough (large rocks on the road surface), part of the existing road would also require upgrade; an extension via Schefferville would likely require crossing the province of Newfoundland and Labrador.

[edit] Waypoints

Km	Mi
0	0	Start of Trans-taiga Road at km 544 of the James Bay Road
23	14	Emergency telephone (only one!)
56	35	Sakami Lake
62	39	Robert-Bourassa Reservoir
100	62	junction with access road to La Grande-3 generating station, 30 km north
286	178	Caladonia Lake, Nouchimi Outfitter, fuel available
292	181	La Grande-4 Airport
311	193	junction with access road to La Grande-4 generating station, 5 km north
358	222	Mirage Outfitter, fuel available
395	245	junction with access road to Laforge-1 generating station, 38 km north
525	326	junction with access road to Laforge-2 generating station, 6 km north
582	362	Brisay generating station
666	414	End of Transtaiga Road, Caniapiscau Reservoir