Road accesses Although no paved road leads to the Gouin Reservoir, it is nevertheless accessible by several forested pathways, snowmobile trails and by air. The hydrographic slope of the Gouin Reservoir is accessible by: • North side:
route 212 from the village of
Obedjiwan, Quebec and heading northeasterly following more or less the north shore of the Gouin reservoir, to the
Normandin Lake (Normandin River) area. From
Obedjiwan, Quebec, the forested road R1045 and R2046 are serving the North-West area of the reservoir; • East side: the forest road 451 connecting
Gouin Dam, the village of
Wemotaci and
La Tuque to the south; this road section serves in particular the valley of the
Wapous River and Berlinguet Lake; • South side: the forest road 400 serves the south-east part of the reservoir by passing to the
Gouin Dam; Forest Road 404 serves the southwestern portion between the villages of
Clova, Quebec and
Parent; • West side: the forested road R1009 (North–south direction) located west of the
Pascagama River is serving the West coast of Gouin Reservoir.
Access by waterway from the railway Outdoor enthusiasts can reach the Gouin Reservoir by canoe waterway from the
Canadian National line connecting
La Tuque to
Senneterre, passing to the south of the reservoir (railway stops in order from west to east): ;West part of the reservoir •
Kekek River: ride from "Rouleau Siding" downstream to the confluence of the
Mégiscane River; path with R1 and R1-2 level rapids and some thresholds. Note: as a variant, the hobbyists may also take the
Trévet River course (tributary of the
Kekek River); •
Suzie River: to
Du Poète Lake (Mégiscane River) with some obstacles. Note:
Brécourt Lake and
Du Poète Lake (Mégiscane River) are diverted to the Gouin Reservoir via the
Adolphe-Poisson Bay; •
Mégiscane River: to reach the
Mégiscane dam on the
Lac du Poète; route with some rapids that are generally easy to cross; •
Flapjack River: to reach
Mattawa Bay; navigable at all times and in both directions; • Lacs Arcand and
Tessier: to reach the
Saraana Bay, with some rapids. This route is navigable at all times in both directions. ;Centre part of the reservoir •
Oskélanéo River: to reach the South Bay
Bureau Lake (Gouin Reservoir). This route is the busiest, being navigable at all times with river boats and easily in reverse. The village of
Parent and the village of
Clova, Quebec, both now part of the
City of La Tuque. These villages are located approximately south of the reservoir and are accessible by a forested road and by train with
Via Rail. A seaplane base is located at the top of the Gouin dam.
Main tributaries The main rivers flowing into the Gouin reservoir are (clockwise from the Gouin dam): ;South Shore •
Jean-Pierre River (Gouin Reservoir) •
Atimokateiw River •
De La Galette River (Gouin Reservoir) •
Leblanc River (Gouin Reservoir) •
Wacekamiw River (via
Mikisiw Armirikana Lake) •
Nemio River (via
Bureau Lake) •
Oskélanéo River (via
Bureau Lake) •
Mistatikamekw River • outlet of
Tessier Lake (Gouin Reservoir) (via
Saraana Bay) •
Faucher River •
Flapjack River (via
Mattawa Bay) •
Bignell Creek (via
Adolphe-Poisson Bay) ;West Shore •
Mégiscane River (upper part deviated by the dam of
Du Poète Lake (Mégiscane River) to
Adolphe-Poisson Bay) •
Suzie River (course deviated by the dam of
Du Poète Lake (Mégiscane River) to
Adolphe-Poisson Bay) •
Plamondon Creek (Gouin Reservoir) (via
Plamondon Bay) •
Piponisiw River (via
Simard Lake (Gouin Reservoir) and
Du Mâle Lake (Gouin Reservoir)) ;North Shore •
De la Rencontre Creek (via
Du Mâle Lake (Gouin Reservoir)) •
Toussaint River (via
Kamitcikamak Lake) •
Mathieu River •
Kakospictikweak River (via
Omina Lake) •
Pokotciminikew River •
Wawackeciw River •
Kakiskeaskoparinaniwok River (linking
Omina Lake and
Verreau Bay) •
Eau Claire Creek (Gouin Reservoir) (via
Verreau Bay) •
Ohomisiw River (via
Eau Claire Creek) ;East Shore •
Verreau Creek (linked to
Verreau Bay) •
Sakiciw River (linked to
Magnan Lake) •
Barras Creek (linked to
Magnan Lake) •
Oskatcickic Brook •
Papactwe Creek (linked to
Magnan Lake) •
Kiackw River (linked to
Magnan Lake) •
Wapous River (via
Déziel Lake) •
Au Vison River (via
Au Vison Bay) •
Au Vison River West (via
Au Vison Bay)
Main bays This large reservoir has many bays and islands making navigation complex. Before the existence of geolocation systems that developed in the 2000s, many navigators lost their way on the water. (Clockwise, from the mouth) ;South Shore ;West Shore •
Hanotaux Bay (linked to
Du Mâle Lake) • Wacapiskitek Bay (linked to
Du Mâle Lake) ;North Shore ;East Shore ;Bays of Islands
Main islands (Clockwise, from the mouth) ;South area ;North area ;East area • Tciman Island (in
Magnan Lake) • Amérique Island (in
Brochu Lake) •
Oasis Island (forming the boundary between
Marmette Bay South and
Nevers Lake (Gouin Reservoir))
Main lakes The main lakes included in the reservoir or related are:
Toussaint,
Magnan,
McSweeney and
Du Mâle Lake. (Clockwise, from the mouth) ;South area •
Nevers Lake (linking
Chapman Lake (Gouin Reservoir) and
Brochu Lake) •
Chapman Lake (Gouin Reservoir) (linking
Du Mâle Lake) •
Kaackakwakamak Lake (linked to
Magnan Lake) •
Mikisiw Amirikanan Lake (linked to
Ganipi Bay) •
Bureau Lake (linked on North to
Toussaint Lake (Gouin Reservoir)) ;West area •
Saveney Lake (linked to
Adolphe-Poisson Bay) •
Miller Lake (linked to
Du Mâle Lake (Gouin Reservoir)) •
Simard Lake (linked to
Miller Lake) •
Lacasse Lake (linked to
Miller Lake) •
Du Mâle Lake (linked to
Plamondon Creek and
De la Rencontre Creek) ;North area ;East area •
Brochu Lake (linked to
Kikendatch Bay, which is related to
Gouin Dam) •
Little Brochu Lake •
Déziel Lake (Gouin Reservoir) (linking
Wapous River to
Gouin Reservoir) •
Du Déserteur Lake (Gouin Reservoir) • Minikanakik Lake (linked to
Déziel Lake) • Duchet Lake (on an island of Center-East part of the reservoir) • Kamoskosoweskak Lake (on an island of Center-East part of the reservoir)
Main passes The many passes between the islands or peninsulas facilitate navigation on the reservoir.(Clockwise, from the mouth) ==Fauna==