| La Pêche River | |
| Map: | Ottawarivermap.png |
| Map Size: | 250 |
| Pushpin Map Size: | 250 |
| Subdivision Type1: | Country |
| Subdivision Name1: | Canada |
| Subdivision Type2: | Province |
| Subdivision Name2: | Quebec |
| Subdivision Type3: | Region |
| Subdivision Name3: | Outaouais |
| Subdivision Type4: | Regional county |
| Subdivision Name4: | Les Collines-de-l'Outaouais Regional County Municipality |
| Length: | 20km (10miles) |
| Discharge1 Location: | Wakefield |
| Source1: | La Pêche Lake |
| Source1 Location: | Pontiac |
| Source1 Coordinates: | 45.6267°N -76.1892°W |
| Mouth: | Gatineau River |
| Mouth Location: | Wakefield |
| Mouth Coordinates: | 45.6372°N -75.93°W |
The La Pêche River (French: Rivière la Pêche) is a river in western Quebec, in Canada, which drains La Pêche Lake (Lac La Pêche) in Gatineau Park and empties into the Gatineau River at Wakefield.[1]
The south shore of La Pêche Lake is just 7.5km (04.7miles) north of the Ottawa River. The mouth of the lake is at 17.5km (10.9miles) in direct line from the mouth of the La Pêche river.
From its source at La Pêche Lake in the Pontiac municipality, the La Pêche River flows for about 20km (10miles) to the east, partly in the Gatineau Park, sometimes in woodlands, agricultural or urban. La Pêche Lake receives water discharges of several lakes (to the west and north), including: Martin, Serpent, à Guilbeault, Fisher, Trois Monts, Malverson, du Loup and La Loutre. The mouth of La Pêche Lake is at its northern end.
La Pêche river flows towards the north-east, then east, where it will run along more or less the 366 West Main Road to its mouth. On its way to the east, La Pêche River collects various branches dumps lakes:
La Pêche river empties into the Gatineau River at 1.2km (00.7miles) south of the covered bridge of Wakefield, northern sector of the city of Gatineau, and 27km (17miles) upstream of the mouth of the Gatineau River in Ottawa River.
At the beginning of the 19th century, Joseph Bureau, among other explorers, described this lake as a very fishy lake, abounding especially pike and trout.[2] Accessibility of La Pêche Lake, near the Ottawa River and Ottawa city, in (Ontario), favoured sport fishing.
The toponym "La Pêche River" was recorded as of December 24, 1976, at the "Bank of place names" in Commission de toponymie du Québec (Geographical Names Board of Québec).[3] The toponyms of the lake and river are related together.
A grain mill was built in 1838 on the river at MacLaren Falls near Wakefield and is now operated as an inn, the Moulin Wakefield Inn and Spa. A textile mill and a sawmill at the same location helped to provide the impetus for the development of a settlement at Wakefield.