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Major city · Canada

Rivière-au-Tonnerre

Go for one night on a Route 138 run: two short waterfall walks, a wooden church, no cell signal. Skip as a base — it is a stop, not a hub.

Weather
see forecast
Currency
CAD
Best months
Jun–Sep
avoid Nov–Apr (cold, snow, many services closed)
Airports
YZV · YGV
Nights
1
Not field-verifiedbasic guide
Print / PDF guide
3 pages, for the metro and roaming-off days
Map
Google Maps Apple Maps Street View
Rules in force · 6Crossing between the US, Canada and Mexico by land needs …Cannabis is legal in Canada and in many US states, but ta…
  • North America ↗Crossing between the US, Canada and Mexico by land needs your passport even on a day trip; rental cars need the company's written permission to cross, and most US and Canadian rental insurance stops at the Mexican border.
  • North America ↗Cannabis is legal in Canada and in many US states, but taking any amount across the US, Canadian or Mexican border is a federal crime — including edibles and vapes.
  • North America ↗The busiest US and Canadian national parks need timed-entry, campsite or lodge reservations in summer; release dates are months ahead.
  • Canada ↗Visa-exempt travellers flying to or through Canada usually need an eTA; check your passport on the official Government of Canada site (canada.ca) and apply only there.
  • Canada ↗A Parks Canada pass is needed to stop in national parks such as Banff and Jasper; some spots (for example Moraine Lake) are reached only by shuttle or tour, so book ahead.
  • Canada ↗Keep well away from bears, elk and moose; carry bear spray on Rockies trails and follow trail closures.

Rivière-au-Tonnerre is a village of about 300 people on Quebec's North Shore, made up of Rivière-au-Tonnerre and Sheldrake, 100 km east of Sept-Îles and 2.75 h by bus from Havre-Saint-Pierre. It is the closest mainland point to Anticosti Island. There is no cellular network, so plan offline. One night covers the church, the Maison du Tonnerre and one or two easy trails.

Essentials

Quick answers and what things cost

Quick answers

The questions people ask first about Rivière-au-Tonnerre, one line each. Tap a card for the full answer.

Cost cheat-sheet

2026 desk estimate · check

Typical prices for the everyday things, as ranges. Your currency is shown next to the local price.

  • CoffeeCoffee or snack at the general storeC$3–7 (≈ US$3–6)
  • Sit-down mealRestaurant lunch or dinnerC$18–35 (≈ US$14–30)
  • Budget bedCamping or RV pitch, a night, per personC$20 (≈ US$15)
  • Mid-range bedMotel or auberge double room, a night, per roomC$150 (≈ US$110)
  • High-end bedMotel or auberge double room, a night, per roomC$230 (≈ US$170)

A day, not counting the bed: Budget C$90 (≈ US$70) · Mid C$150 (≈ US$110) · High C$260 (≈ US$190)

Local prices, with USD next to them (rates 2026-09 (approximate); change it in the header). Ranges are desk estimates: check locally. Every price and the budget calculator →

Decide

What it is known for, and when the weather works

At a glance

What the city is known for, how you fly in, and where to find the phrases.

Saint-Hippolyte wooden churchManitou and Sault Blanc fallsAnticosti ferry linkRoute des Baleines
Airports
YZV Sept-Îles (About 100 km west by Route 138; the practical air gateway for the region.) · YGV Havre-Saint-Pierre (About 2.75 h east by bus or car; small regional airport.)

Weather and climate

Forecast from Open-Meteo · averages rounded

Rivière-au-Tonnerre: next 7 days

Loading forecast…

Forecast: Open-Meteo (CC BY 4.0), model data for this point.

Air quality

Loading…

Model estimate (CAMS via Open-Meteo), not a street-level station; readings near busy roads run higher.

Jan

−8°C

−18°C

12 rd

Feb

−7°C

−17°C

10 rd

Mar

−2°C

−11°C

11 rd

Apr

4°C

−4°C

11 rd

May

11°C

2°C

12 rd

Jun

16°C

7°C

12 rd

Jul

20°C

11°C

13 rd

Aug

19°C

11°C

12 rd

Sep

14°C

7°C

12 rd

Oct

8°C

2°C

13 rd

Nov

2°C

−4°C

13 rd

Dec

−4°C

−13°C

13 rd

High / low °C · rd = rain days

Arrive & move

Airports are listed under At a glance; this is how to move once you are in

Getting around

You need a car or the Intercar bus. Route 138 runs through both villages; the church, general store and most lodgings are within a short walk of each other. Trails start from the highway. Fuel and groceries are limited — fill up in Sept-Îles or Havre-Saint-Pierre.

See & do

Day-trips, door to door

Day-trips

Door-to-door, not ride time

Anticosti Island (Port-Menier)

overnight

Door to door: Crossing plus transfer; a few sailings per summer season

Boat from the Rivière-au-Tonnerre area, run by Coopérative Voyages Coste

Sailing days are limited — book ahead and plan at least one night on the island.

Havre-Saint-Pierre and the Mingan Archipelagoovernight

Door to door: About 2.75 h by bus

Route 138 east by car, or Intercar bus

Monolith islands and birdwatching; boat trips need a booked slot.

Rivière-Saint-Jean

go

Door to door: About 30–40 min

Route 138 east

River mouth, barachois and Magpie viewpoints.

Longue-Pointe-de-Mingan

go

Door to door: About 1.5 h

Route 138 east

Village stop on the way to the archipelago.

Baie-Johan-Beetzcaution

Door to door: About 2 h

Route 138 east

Long run for a day; better as a leg of a longer eastward drive.

Sept-Îlesgo

Door to door: About 1.5 h by car

Route 138 west

Nearest city for fuel, supplies and the airport.

Eat & sleep

Which area to sleep in

Where to sleep

Areas, not hotels: pick the one that fits your arrival time and plans.

Route Jacques-Cartier strip

Motels, cottages and the auberge sit along the main road through the village; walkable to the church and general store.

Sheldrake

The second village of the municipality, a few km away; quieter, fewer services, one Wi-Fi zone.

Rue de l'Église RV parking

No services, maximum 3 days; dump station on Rue du Ruisseau.

Practical

What a day costs, what to watch out for, and the pocket card

Cost per day

2026 estimate, excluding the bed unless stated
Budget
C$90–140 (≈ US$70–110) excl. bed
Mid
C$140–220 (≈ US$110–160) excl. bed
High
C$220 (≈ US$160)+ excl. bed

Trip budget

2026 estimate · converts to your currency
Motel or auberge double room1 × 1 night × C$150C$150
Food, local transport, entries2 × 1 day × C$150C$300
Intercar bus, Sept-Îles to Rivière-au-Tonnerre2 × C$45 · checkC$90
Fuel, 200 km of local driving1 × C$30 · checkC$30
eSIM or data plan for offline maps2 × C$20C$40
Buffer 10%Price creep, a taxi you did not plan, one splurgeC$61
Trip total≈ C$336 per person per day, bed includedC$671≈ US$500

2026 estimate in Canadian dollars; long-distance travel to the region excluded. Your choices stay in this browser.

Prices of common things

Coffee or snack at the general storeC$3–7 (≈ US$3–6)
Prepared meal from the general storeC$10–18 (≈ US$8–14)
Restaurant lunch or dinnerC$18–35 (≈ US$14–30)
Motel double room, summercheckC$95–230 (≈ US$70–170)
Camping or RV pitch per nightcheckC$20–45 (≈ US$15–35)
Fuel, per litrecheckC$1.60–1.90 (≈ US$2)

2026 estimate; check locally.

Watch out

Safety

Very low crime; the real risks are the 100 km of highway to the nearest hospital, no cell coverage, wildlife on Route 138 and cold water. Tell someone your trail plan before you leave.
  • No cellular network in the municipality; three public Wi-Fi zones (Sheldrake, near the church, at the seaport) and a phone booth by the general store.
  • Many lodgings, restaurants and the Maison du Tonnerre are seasonal: confirm before you drive.
  • Distances are long and wildlife crosses Route 138; avoid driving at dusk and after dark.
  • Summer blackflies and mosquitoes are heavy near the falls and the shore.

Emergency numbers

Police, fire, ambulance
911
CLSC (local clinic)
+1-418-465-2146

Pocket card

One page · print or save as PDF

Fill in, then print or save as PDF

Stays in this browser only; nothing is sent anywhere.

Rivière-au-TonnerreRivière-au-Tonnerre

Pocket card · Voykit

My bed tonight

—

—

—

À cette adresse, s'il vous plaîtTo this address, please

Emergency

  • Police, fire, ambulance911
  • CLSC clinic+1-418-465-2146

Embassy

No consulate on the North Shore; US, UK, Canadian and other missions are in Québec City or Montréal (check).

My embassy: —

Fare anchors (2026 estimate)

  • Intercar bus, Sept-Îles → Rivière-au-Tonnerre: about C$45 (≈ US$35), roughly 1.5–2 h (check)
  • Intercar bus, Havre-Saint-Pierre → Sept-Îles: about 2.75 h (check)
  • Anticosti crossing, Voyages Coste: seasonal, a few sailings; price on request (check)

Say or show

  • Bonjour — Hello (bon-ZHOOR)
  • Merci — Thank you (mair-SEE)
  • Avez-vous une chambre ? — Do you have a room? (ah-vay VOO ewn SHAHM-bruh)
  • Combien ça coûte ? — How much is it? (kom-BYEN sah KOOT)
  • Où est le sentier ? — Where is the trail? (oo ay luh sahn-TYAY)
  • Je n'ai pas de réseau — I have no phone signal (zhuh nay pah duh ray-ZOH)

No cell coverage: download offline maps and save the CLSC number before you arrive.

Deep dive

What this guide covers so far, and its sources

Not a trip line yet

This is a basic guide: no airport-to-bed contract, walking clusters or day plans are published for Rivière-au-Tonnerre. Airport, fare and schedule details are unverified; check the operators before you fly.

What we know, and what is coming

On this page

  1. Best months: Jun–Sep · avoid Nov–Apr (cold, snow, many services closed) · month by month →
  2. 2 airports and 3 areas to sleep in
  3. Weather: a 7-day forecast and monthly averages
  4. Cost per day in 3 bands
  5. 6 day-trips, door to door
  6. 4 things to watch out for, with emergency numbers

Coming as the guide grows

  1. An airport-to-bed path that says whether a late landing still works
  2. Walking clusters with bag rules
  3. Day plans checked against opening hours
  4. Field-verified times and fares

Meanwhile

Back to Canada

Sources