Lac Témiscamingue is a large lake straddling the Quebec-Ontario border, notable for its dramatic fjord-like character, including spectacular cliffs along portions of its shoreline. Two established paddling trails follow its Quebec shores. The Great Lake Temiscamingue Paddling Trail runs 36.2 kilometres as a linear route in the Notre-Dame-du-Nord area, while the Temiscamingue Fjord Paddling Trail covers 78 kilometres as a linear route near Ville-Marie. Both trails are designated as seasonal.

The lake is accessible from Parc national d'Opémican, which sits at its northern end and encompasses portions of the surrounding waterway network. Paddlers exploring the park can follow the lake's cliffs as part of longer canoe-camping itineraries. The Rivière-Kipawa, which flows into Lac Témiscamingue, offers a notable day run of 16 kilometres from Lac Kipawa, featuring 18 rapids and a 30-metre waterfall — a route suited to experienced whitewater paddlers.

The Fort Temiscamingue-Obadjiwan Historic Site, located at Duhamel-Ouest on a peninsula along the lake, is accessible by boat and relates to the region's fur trade history. The area has been inhabited and travelled by the Anishinaabeg for centuries, and French-speaking communities have been established on both the Quebec and Ontario shores for roughly four hundred years.

Canoe, kayak, and paddleboard rentals are available within Parc national d'Opémican for those looking to explore the lake's northern reaches without their own equipment.