Saint-Louis River (Valin River tributary) facts for kids

The Saint-Louis River is a river in Quebec, Canada. It flows into the Valin River. The Valin River then joins the mighty Saguenay River.

This river is found in the Mont-Valin area and near Saint-David-de-Falardeau. These places are part of the Le Fjord-du-Saguenay Regional County Municipality.

A forest road called R0201 runs along much of the Saint-Louis River. This road helps with logging and outdoor fun like hiking or fishing. The end of the river is close to the Monts-Valin National Park.

The main jobs in this area are related to forestry, which means cutting down trees. After that, tourism, like people visiting for recreation, is the next biggest activity.

The Saint-Louis River usually freezes over from late November to early April. It's generally safe to walk or play on the ice from mid-December to the end of March.

Exploring the Saint-Louis River's Location

The Saint-Louis River is surrounded by many other rivers and lakes. Knowing these helps us understand its journey.

Nearby Rivers and Lakes

• To the North: You'll find the Nisipi River, Shipshaw River, Tête Blanche River, Onatchiway Lake, and Little Onatchiway Lake.
• To the East: There's Martin-Valin Lake, Sainte-Marguerite River, North Arm, and Moncouche Lake.
• To the South: The Valin River, Shipshaw River, rivière des Outardes, and several "arms" like the North Arm, Canoe arms, Arm of Hell, and Fournier Arm.
• To the West: You'll see the canoe arms, Lake La Mothe, Étienne River, Tchitogama Lake, White River, Shipshaw River, and the Péribonka River.

Where the River Starts

The Saint-Louis River begins in an unnamed lake. This lake is about 1.7 metres (5 ft 7 in) long and sits high up at an altitude of 691 metres (2,267 ft). A nearby mountain peak reaches 800 metres (2,600 ft) high.

This starting point is in the Mont-Valin area. It is located:

• 2.0 kilometres (1.2 mi) west of Moncouche Lake.
• 18.7 kilometres (11.6 mi) southwest of Lake Poulin-De Courval.
• 24.2 metres (79 ft) east of a bay on La Mothe Lake, which the Shipshaw River flows through.
• 38.9 kilometres (24.2 mi) north of where the Valin River meets the Saguenay River.

The River's Journey

The Saint-Louis River flows for about 48.9 kilometres (30.4 mi) through a forest. Its journey can be split into two main parts:

Upper Course of the River

This part of the river is about 28.6 kilometres (17.8 mi) long.

• It flows 2.9 kilometres (1.8 mi) north, then west, going through Lac Croteau.
• Then, it travels 3.5 kilometres (2.2 mi) west, making a turn.
• It continues 5.6 kilometres (3.5 mi) southwest, winding its way until it meets the Céline stream.
• Finally, it flows 16.6 kilometres (10.3 mi) southwest, then south, picking up Le Gros Ruisseau and winding until it meets the women's stream.

Lower Course of the River

This section of the river is about 20.3 kilometres (12.6 mi) long.

• It flows 10.5 kilometres (6.5 mi) southeast, collecting the Vimy stream and the Alcide stream, until it reaches the La Raquette stream.
• Next, it travels 5.3 kilometres (3.3 mi) south, going over Savard Falls, until it meets the Savard stream.
• The river then flows 4.5 kilometres (2.8 mi) southeast, entering the town of Saint-David-de-Falardeau. It forms a loop towards the northeast before reaching its end.

Where the River Ends

The Saint-Louis River empties into a small bay on the west side of the Valin River. This spot is located:

• 23.4 kilometres (14.5 mi) southeast of La Mothe Lake.
• 21.7 kilometres (13.5 mi) north of downtown Saguenay.
• 14.9 kilometres (9.3 mi) north of where the Valin River meets the Saguenay River.
• 100.8 kilometres (62.6 mi) west of where the Saguenay River meets the St. Lawrence River.

The Name of the River

The name "Saint-Louis" comes from a French family name.

The name "Saint-Louis river" was officially recognized on December 5, 1968. This was done by the Commission de toponymie du Québec, which is like a special group that names places in Quebec.